New m.2 ssd cloning

Hi all, so I just received a replacement ssd for my 17R4 due to an overheating Toshiba 1 tb m.2. Dell very kindly replaced it with a Samsung PM961 nmve of the same size. I plugged it into the second full size m.2 pcie slot and figured I could use the Samsung data migration software to clone the Toshiba onto the Samsung.

Unfortunately, the migration software isn't recognizing the new drive. Any suggestions on how best to completely copy the existing ssd onto the new one? I read about switching the sata in the bios from Raid to AHCI, but when I do this I just get blue screen and no boot.

thanks in advance.

 

Use Macrium Reflect (free).....

https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 

Clonezilla
http://clonezilla.org/

 

Issue with clonezilla is the fed to action drive has to be equal or larger than the source. So lost people clone from larger spindle drives to smaller ssd drives. Clonezilla works great for mass imaging though.

 

thanks for recommending Macrium Reflect. Worked like a charm!

 

When you clone a drive and have both connected at the same time, how do you prioritise one as the boot device? On my 15R3, I struggled with this as I wanted to format the old one.

 

I generally clone, shut down. Remove the new drive that will be the new drive. Boot off my tech pe or windows install disk and format the old drive in the system. Shut down install the new cloned drive in the HD space 0 or whatever and move the formatted drive to the second drive space.

 

I usually go in the bios and just switch from the windows partition boot to the other one. They both have the same name but once you change it, should work like a charm. The whole remove the drive you don't want to boot from works too, you can usually boot up a few times with it out, then pop it back in and format it for storage or whatever. Done that a million times but prefer just doing the bios one as I don't have to pull things out as much.

 

Hello, I own an Alienware 13 R3, that came with a Toshiba ssd, and has another (empty) NVME m.2 slot.
So I have just received my new 960 EVO ssd, and was planning the best way to use it. My first idea was to do as you said:
Insert the new drive in the free m.2 nvme slot, then clone the toshiba to the 960 EVO, and then ... change the booting device preferences in the BIOS as @MSGaldenzi said; so I wanted to be sure about the following:

-Are both slots of the machine the same speed or protocol?
- or should I re-open the laptop and switch the drives instead of making the bios operation?

Also I've read in some threads I should check if the drives are not in RAID mode or the samsung nvme controller wont work....
And that's another question. Is it ok to install all the Samsung Magician controller etc?,
I hope you can help me. And any other thing you tink I should be aware of in this process.

Thanks Very much!

 

Modiolo, if you want a fail-safe method to do this, I strongly recommend doing a full cloning using Linux. Any linux will really do, if you boot from it from USB or DVD drive, you can use the terminal to do what's called "dd". Personally cloning software ALWAYS ALWAYS failed on me, and I only trust the linux method.

RAID mode should really be an option in BIOS, and laptop should not have that option at all.

As for speed on the nvme slots, they should be identical, and even if they aren't it won't be noticeable. BIOS operation sounds just about right, no need to switch them around physically.

If you choose to do linux-dd method, it's been done here:
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/514114-Cloning-an-entire-SSD-Step-by-Step-Instructions

 

Why do people clone? Its much easier to put windows on a thumbdrive and reinstall. Just have a backup of all the games on a separate hdd.

 

Hello there
Thanks @SJLPHI
for your helpful reply

I was about to do all this...and I just in case sent a support request to dell.. to be sure about everything, and also because I have my premium support still available.
So this very nice lady sent me that I should use macrium reflect and how to do it , very helpfull, I will post it here,
but.... she told me , before even knowing I had this particullar ssd.... "-Keep on mind that Samsung EVO or Samsung PRO SSD's are not compatible with you Alienware 13 R3."



WHAT??

why do I learn about this now?
and why would it NOT work...
Its so bad for me as I waited a lot to buy this and...chose it carefully....I did not find a warning ANYWHERE
has anyone find one?
Is it possible it does not work??
Thanks for your help

 

@Modiolo

Was wondering what happened to your newly installed NVMe SSD. Were you able to install it without any problems at all? I've been searching all over the internet for Alienware 13 R3 fellow owners who have 2 NVMe SSDs installed in their two slots. Need to clarify if they would work... I hear that the second SSD slot (not the main slot) only reads M.2 and not NVMe PCIe. Hope you could clarify it once and for all since it's really confusing to see different reviews and feedback online.

Many thanks! I'll await your feedback.

Jæce

 

The original 13 r1 and r2 had ssd limitations in the m.2 slots. The r3 doesn’t. I am running 2 x 2tb toshiba xg5 nvme drives in my r3 without issue.

 

That's awesome @pathfindercod! Great news. I might have to find myself a 1TB/2TB NVMe PCIe SSD soon! I currently have my 512GB and it's real fast. I want to keep it that way so I will make sure I get the NVMe when I increase my storage.

 

Just want to update this thread. I finally got myself a 1TB Samsung 970 Evo NVMe SSD and plugged it in my slot 1 and transferred my Toshiba 512GB. Works like a charm. I am happy to have my 1TB for my OS boot and running most of my games there while I use my 512GB for storage. I am planning to eventually upgrade the 512GB to a 1TB but I am not rushing as of now. Still find the 2TB SSDs too expensive. Hahaha

For those who are thinking of upgrading their SSDs these link will help you a lot: https://hetmanrecovery.com/recovery...the-bios-without-reinstalling-windows.htm#id2

For cloning what was previously on my Toshiba 512GB to my new Samsung 1TB, I used Samsung's Data Migration software which was very handy and easy to figure out.

Hope this helps all those who are thinking of upgrading their SSDs. Good luck and enjoy a way faster PC!