How can I clone a Win Server 2012 install to a SSD?

[Doomer]

I've googled this and all that comes up is how to clone a "Virtualized Domain Controller. My install is neither virtualized nor is it a domain controller, it's an ordinary install on a real HDS with nothing else on the HD except Win Server 2012 Standard. I just want to move it to a SSD. Nothing fancy, just want to move it. I suspect that "Home" cloning programs won't work with Server flavors, right? I only need to do this once so it's not worth spending big bucks to do it.

thanks

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've googled this and all that comes up is how to clone a "Virtualized Domain Controller. My install is neither virtualized nor is it a domain controller, it's an ordinary install on a real HDS with nothing else on the HD except Win Server 2012 Standard. I just want to move it to a SSD. Nothing fancy, just want to move it. I suspect that "Home" cloning programs won't work with Server flavors, right? I only need to do this once so it's not worth spending big bucks to do it.

thanks

As long as it isn't in a RAID config, any number of free disk cloning programs should work. Your SSD probably even came with a cloning utility. Just make sure that you check partition alignment once it is done and align it if necessary.

 

[Stas]

Get Acronis Home as 30-day free trial.
Install on non-server OS.
Connect your server HDD to that computer and make a backup of the disk with boot sectors.
Disconnect HDD. Connect SSD.
Restore previously created backup as disk restore with boot sectors but don't do the disk signature.
Check to see, if SSD boots up correctly.
Uninstall Acronis (because it really sucks aside from cloning, too intrusive and too broken).
...
Profit.

 

[Gunbuster]

Windows 8 and Server 2012 share a kernel. Anything that works on windows 8 should be fine for 2012.

 

[Doomer]

Thanks. i was thinking that a non server clone program wouldn't work. Apparently it will as long as it's not installed on a server machine. I have Acronis and agree, it blows chunks. Used to be a great little program but not anymore.

 

[Bubbaleone]

The free open source Clonezilla bootable ISO is an excellent imaging/cloning tool. Just be sure to take a look at the Clonezilla live doc , and check out the screenshots to familiarize yourself.