How do I clone Windows partition (not drive) to bootable SSD?

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  1. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #11

    Do you mean dual boot configurations?

    The tutorial says:
    If you dual boot Windows 10 with any other operating system, then do not use this tutorial. This tutorial is only meant for a standalone Windows 10 installation on a PC.
    If you have, for some reason, random Windows partitions on your disk that are not part of any installation, I'd ask why.

    In any event, I would very strongly say clone your disk or create a disk image before attempting such a conversion.

    The tutorial does list some indicative error numbers.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #12

    Don't be confused. It is simple, you copy all partitions except the large data partition. Windows will work exactly as before but you won't have the large partition. You can then put the original disk as second, make sure you change the hard disk priority in BIOS so the SSD is first (to boot from the SSD) and use your data in the large partition from the original disk. You can even change the drive letters and give it the old drive letter so you are not confused.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
       #13

    dalchina said:
    Do you mean dual boot configurations?.

    The tutorial says:


    If you have, for some reason, random Windows partitions on your disk that are not part of any installation, I'd ask why.

    In any event, I would very strongly say clone your disk or create a disk image before attempting such a conversion.

    The tutorial does list some indicative error numbers.
    Dalchina,

    Back when Microsoft had this free upgrade to Win 10 program, I had some unused Win 7 licenses because the company I worked for back then was part of a Microsoft Developer program that included these free licenses. I asked the owner and he said he didn't need them, and that I could use them.

    So I figured, "ya never know," and I always wanted at least one "scratch" system where I could test out either free or trialware utilities before buying them, without messing up my system with all these unused or worse yet expired software. Once I had this old laptop that I used for that purpose, but then it just stopped working. it was pretty old and not worth the $$$ to get it repaired. So this opportunity for extra Windows partitions that I could use with Multibooting with EasyBCD really worked out for me.

    Looking back, I wish that I had installed these extra Win partitions on a GPT drive, not an MBR drive.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #14

    You could use a WinPE or Linux Live CD to convert MBR to GPT and then repair Windows, but I'm not sure if this will work. I have done the opposite in some occasions where a customer's Windows cannot be fixed. I booted first with Windows 10 DVD to install Windows without formatting so I can later retrieve his data from Windows.old But Window Setup won't install on a partition of a GPT disk. So I used WinPE to convert the disk to MBR, deleted the extra useless partitions and then Windows Setup would proceed and create the appropriate partitions. This successfully worked for a Legacy (BIOS) installation. I haven't tried it with an UEFI installation, and I would not risk it with a perfectly working Windows 10 installation as repair might not work. So do it at your own risk. If you do please share your results and how you did it.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
       #15

    spapakons said:
    You could use a WinPE or Linux Live CD to convert MBR to GPT and then repair Windows, but I'm not sure if this will work. I have done the opposite in some occasions where a customer's Windows cannot be fixed. I booted first with Windows 10 DVD to install Windows without formatting so I can later retrieve his data from Windows.old But Window Setup won't install on a partition of a GPT disk. So I used WinPE to convert the disk to MBR, deleted the extra useless partitions and then Windows Setup would proceed and create the appropriate partitions. This successfully worked for a Legacy (BIOS) installation. I haven't tried it with an UEFI installation, and I would not risk it with a perfectly working Windows 10 installation as repair might not work. So do it at your own risk. If you do please share your results and how you did it.
    Sounds like good advice.

    Your approach seems like a good one, but you better believe that I will try this on a clone of the 1 TB drive that has these three Win 10 partitions. Fortunately I have a leftover 1 TB drive, because I upgraded my system from 1 TB drives to 2 and 4 TB drives years ago. (All HGST drives, by the way. Very reliable.)

    I don't have any real experience with WinPE. Can I use it to convert the MBR disk to GPT with the three Windows partitions still place? When you say "repair" after the conversion what specifically do you mean?

    This one goes on my "when I get around to it" list, so it could easily be a few weeks until I actually get to it. Right now I'm on a business trip for the next 8 days. Business travel really cuts into the time I have for doing non-essential system work.

    x509
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 3,506
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #16

    WinPE is Windows Live CD with diagnostic tools and utilities. You can try the one in this thread. Back in Windows XP era we used Digiwiz MiniPE XT which is based on Windows XP. The one above is based on Windows 10. It has tools to fix almost any Windows problem, burn a DVD or create a USB Flash Drive, boot with it and have a look.
      My Computer


 

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