How To Replace A Hard Drive or SSD Without Losing Data

Just dual boot. Forget cloning and copying shit each time.

I wasted days trying to clone a win11 drive in any usable way, I finally went to the new drive's site and used their free migration software, it took no time at all and everything worked perfectly first try. didn't feel great.😕

Well the data loss part shouldn't be much of an issue to begin with: Data protection 101: Backup thoroughly and frequently and in multiples! It's been practiced in computing from day 1, and nothing has changed. For those of us who do just that, any data lost is at least in very small quantity if a drive fails in between backups.

On that note: You made no mention at all of backing up first! Sure, you explained all the steps… but how many people may, and even will make a mistake somewhere and if disaster hits have lost all of their data for not taken the one and most important first step?

I also noticed you are cloning the drive, are you saying you can't just copy a drives content to another drive of any size equal to or larger in/for Windows, and cloning takes hours, not minutes? Daaaaaaaaang!!!

You just reminded me of a few of the many reasons I hate Windows on top of the fact it makes YOUR computer a corporation controlled spyware ridden, easily breached hacker target, add server and fund fleecer! You don't own Windows, nor your PC anymore Microsoft does!

I use Linux exclusively (for 1 1/2 decades now) and there are plenty of free tools to be had for these kind of operations, and even on the live install media you can use, because it doesn't just have the OS, it runs one you can use to brows the web for helpful info, while doing all kinds of hardware checks, maintenance, troubleshooting… so you can make it all part of the OS install.

Unlike on Windows reinstalls, where you have no good way to keep all of the OS and program settings and customizations you have changed and want to reapply, in Linux it's just a matter of keeping your /home, or /home/USERNAME folder (great to have on it's own partition, best on it's own drive), and after install setting it back up as your home folder again by "mounting" it, which one can even have some distro installers do for you with ease. Only when switching between major base distro's many minor distro's are based on, or switching to a new desktop environment will some stuff not be reusable, almost all OS related, your programs will use the same files and locations and everything just finds it's stuff on first launch. Reinstalling Windows is always a terrible and very time consuming experience, and it doesn't end there, as every app you add, will be more neck pain, going to many web sites to download, dealing with adds and licensing, dongles and keys… Oh and when they make you need new ones and make you pay…!

I can install my OS and all Apps and be back using it as if nothing ever happened in an evening, Even mass app install can be scripted and hands off for the most part! I used to spend days and even weeks getting Windows and all my applications back to where and the way I had them. Add to that how many times an OS or App update took away your customizations, and made you have to work hard to get them back, and the fact that over time Windows sort of self destructs and requires frequent reinstall because of it, for nothing else really works! Linux, even if a bit daunting can almost always be fixed without having to reinstall, and actually gets leaner and meaner over time thanks to most developers following good programming practices, and aim to improve the performance and security, not just add features! They don't just disable old code no longer needed (Looking at you Microsoft and your bloatware), they take it out.

You cannot convince me to ever use Windows again, and will have to pry Linux out of my cold dead hands!

The usb adapters will power a laptop 2.5 inch hdd spinning disk

I lost ALL my data on my Windows 10 "upgraded" from Win7, no recover, corrupted boot and non-bootable BRICK after doing a clone.

I tried your MBR recovery method and it did nothing…I still have a brick.

i mostly use AOME for cloning my stuff for how i never used thaat one

Wow, the expert recomending Hirens Boot cd!?

Is this 2017 still?
Can YOU vouch for the contents of that cd/download?

Plenty of free HD clone software. Check the free backup sw.

An expert would know for SURE that regular a USB port cannot provide more than 5 watts and ANY 3.5in HD uses at least 7 watts at idle!

Nyc Information Sir G