How to Move Windows to Another Drive: Complete Guide

Are you running out of space on your current drive and need to move Windows to another drive? Whether you're upgrading your storage or replacing an old hard drive, transferring your operating system (OS) can seem like a daunting task. But with the right tools and a clear plan, the process can be smooth and straightforward. In this guide, we will walk you through how to move Windows to another drive efficiently.

Preparing for the Migration

Before you start the migration process, please make the following preparations:

1. Choose a right SSD

Ensure that the new drive you’re moving Windows to meets the following criteria:

l  Sufficient Space: The new drive should have enough space to accommodate all the data on your current drive, including your OS, installed programs, and personal files.

l  Compatibility: If you’re moving to an SSD, ensure that your computer supports it and the connection type (SATA, NVMe) matches your system’s capabilities.

2. Choose a reliable cloning tool

AOMEI Backupper is one of the best solutions for moving Windows to another drive. It comes equipped with a range of powerful features that make it a versatile disk clone software for system migration:

👉System Clone: Automatically clones the operating system and essential system partitions, ensuring a seamless transfer of your Windows OS to another drive.

👉Disk Clone: Copies the entire disk, including all partitions and data, ideal for upgrading to a larger drive or replacing a failing one.

👉Partition Clone: Allows you to clone individual partitions, which is useful if you only need to move certain partitions without transferring the entire OS.

👉SSD Optimization: AOMEI Backupper includes built-in SSD alignment technology, which helps improve SSD performance after migration, ensuring faster boot times and longer drive lifespan.

👉Disk Space Management: The software allows you to resize partitions during the cloning process to fit the new drive, ensuring no wasted space.

👉Bootable Media Creation: AOMEI Backupper lets you create a bootable USB or CD/DVD to clone data without booting into Windows, offering flexibility in case of system failure.

How to Move Windows to Another Drive (6 Steps)

Step 1: Download and Install AOMEI Backupper

Download AOMEI Backupper from their official website. Install it on your PC after downloading.

Step 2: Connect the New Drive

Physically install or connect the new drive to your computer.

l  For desktops or laptops with two slots: Connect the new drive to your motherboard via SATA or an NVMe slot.

l  For laptops with only one slot: Plug the new drive into a USB port.

Step 3: Select "System Clone"

Open AOMEI Backupper and navigate to Clone > System Clone. This feature automatically selects your system partition (where Windows is installed) to be cloned, ensuring that your operating system and crucial boot files are transferred correctly.

Step 4: Select Destination Drive

Select the new drive where you want to move Windows and click Next.

💡 Note: You’ll be prompted that the destination partition will be overwritten. Backup important files as necessary.

Step 5: Start the Cloning Process

Once you’ve selected the destination drive, click Start Clone to begin the cloning process. If the destination disk is an SSD, remember to check the SSD Alignment option to optimize SSD performance.

The cloning process may take some time depending on the size of the data being moved and the speed of your drives. It's crucial not to interrupt the process once it starts.

Step 6: Boot from the New Drive

After the cloning process is complete, boot your computer from the new drive with one of the following methods:

l  Shut down your computer, uninstall the old drive and install the new drive there. Then boot your computer normally.

l  Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings. Change the boot order to make sure the computer boots from the new drive.

Once Windows loads up, you’ll find everything is just as it was on your old drive, but now running on a fresh, upgraded storage system.

Conclusion

Moving Windows to another drive doesn’t have to be a complicated process. With the help of AOMEI Backupper, you can easily transfer your entire operating system, along with all your programs and files, to a new drive with just a few clicks. This ensures that your system is running on a faster, more reliable drive with minimal downtime.

In addition to cloning, AOMEI Backupper is the best Windows backup software providing comprehensive backup and restore options to ensure your data is protected throughout the migration process.

 

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