Install new SSD for EUFI and still save all programs & settings?

I've been getting the Windows alert, "UEFI: The disk layout for UEFI firmware isn't supported" for a while now and I think I'm ready to take care of that problem. I have purchased a new 500GB SSD and will use that to replace my current C: drive (also a 500GB SSD). However, it isn't just the many laborious hours of reinstalling all my programs, it's also that a few of them are old, but dear and frequently used and I don't have the disks for them anymore. If I lost those programs, I'd be hurtin' fer certain.

Is it possible for me to take some kind of backup or image of the entire C: drive, install the new drive with a clean Windows 10, then restore the backup and have access to all my programs the way it was before? What would be the step-by-step procedure for that?

I also have another SSD and a 5TB HDD installed on this system that has all my Library files, but C: is set up with all the program folders & files and the Users data.

Thanks for any guidance you can give me.

Jim

dalchina said:

Hi, yes you can clone your drive.

I'm sure that's the easy answer. My system was custom built several years ago and Windows 8.1 was installed. I upgraded to 10 for free, then to 10 Pro. There's probably remnants of 8 on here that I don't need and may even be the cause of my UEFI problem. See below for a screen shot of the partitions.

Hopefully you are already using disk imaging routinely as we so often recommend here, in which case you have an image you can restore (Macrium Reflect (free) + external storage for disk image sets).

That covers you for disk failure and replacement - you said you don't want to lose things.

Ummm... sure. Well, you'd think a guy who has built custom computers and worked tech support would be right on top of that, but truth is, that was part of my regular routine back in the 90s and early aughts - my Windows 95-XP days - but I've been pretty lax for more than a decade. I got a backup around here someplace... ya know?

Note- most programs are downloadable...

Yes, but I have a couple that aren't anymore, like one of my favorites, Adobe Fireworks CS6. I might be able to live without the others, but that one I use every day.

Considering the message:

See e.g...

Perhaps a safe approach would be to clone your drive onto the new SSD, then try this using that disk.

I'll check out those links, but I've been reading a lot of forum posts and articles for over a year now and it all just makes me feel less confident, not more.

AddRAM said:

It would be nice if you could post a shot of Disk Management and a shot using a program like Partition Wizard so we can see what`s going on here. Partition Wizard will show any hidden partitions, which it sounds like you are missing one.

If it`s just the windows disk that`s giving you the error maybe we can get it fixed.

I don't have Partition Wizard installed, so I hope you can see the same with Macrium Reflect. If not, let me know and I'll get PW. Here are 2 screenshots:

You do not have to clean install W10 on the new drive, you just reimage or clone the older system to it.

That sounds less complicated.

A proper UEFI GPT setup should look something like this.

Like what? Did you forget to post an image? [edit: oh, I see the screenshot now.]

I decided to grab Partition Wizard, so here's a screengrab of that:

Hi there

@Jim McClain

It looks like your old system was MBR -- it's easy enough to clone it to GPT without losing any data.

Do the following

1) get into cmd -->run as administrator and type the following in.
2) diskpart
3) list disk
4) select disk xx (where xx is the disk number of the new SSD)
5) clean
6) convert gpt
7) create partition efi size=100
8) format quick fs=fat32 (note efi partition must be formatted fat32)
9) create partition primary
10) format quick fs=ntfs (that formats the rest of the SSD)
11) assign
12) exit.

Now you should have SSD and accessible with Windows file explorer.
I'm slightly confused because I can only see 1 500GB SSD in your layout --the other one is a 128 GB SSD - and I thought you said new SSD was 500GB.

However assuming you can attach an SSD simply copy the "C" partition to the "C" partition on the new SSD.

Now this won't boot yet properly so you need to do the following :

1) make bootable media (usb or whatever) of Macrium reflect and boot it.
2) go into Fix windows boot problems pointing to the Windows installation on your new SSD,
3) Macrium will correct / create the boot EFI file.
4) your new SSD should now boot properly and it's a GPT installation - no data loss.

BTW you can do most of this with the SSD connected as an external drive (e.g via sata-->usb3 connector).
however for the actual real Windows boot the ssd must be mounted internally before doing the boot.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

Hi. Just to touch base before I go down for the night (it's getting close to 5am and I haven't gone to bed yet).

Do the following

Each one of those was a command I type into the prompt?

I'm slightly confused because I can only see 1 500GB SSD in your layout --the other one is a 128 GB SSD - and I thought you said new SSD was 500GB.

It is and it's still sitting in my desk drawer - I haven't installed it in the system yet.

Thanks. I'll check back in late morning.

Hi there
@Jim McClain

yes each is a separate command within the diskpart program. enter the command, hit enter and wait for response then the next one.

diskpart is left at the exit command.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi there @Kari

also a good and well explained way to do it.

"You pays your money and takes your choice " !!!!!. kari's tutorials though are always an exemplary model of clarity and definitely work 100% of the time.

Cheers
jimbo