Migrating to M.2 - Best Software/Tips for Cleaning and Optimizing Windows Before Migration

[Deptacon]

Hi All,

Just upgraded my Mobo, CPU, and other hardware. I decided to do the Samsung Migration to my new M.2 SSD instead of a "clean" install of windows. Win10 has been running great since I have had it and I would like to just do a migration this time instead of a clean install and re-setting up my desktop and all the software.

I want to do some system cleaning etc. before I do the migration. Any recommendations for software or tips to get my current main drive as clean and ready as possible before I do the migration???

I ran CCCleaner. I do not currently have any AV.

Thanks.

 

[RLGL]

You would be better served with a format and clean install. I do it every 12 to 18 months.

 

[Deptacon]

yeah I usually do that but decided not to this time.

 

[Deptacon]

Well.... the migration didnt work. Tried everything and multiple programs. It simply wont boot.

Looks like im formating with a clean install anway.

 

[mikeymikec]

I would have been curious to know what the bluescreen error code was. I'm guessing it was the standard unmountable boot volume one.

 

[Deptacon]

no blue screen....just not bootable. tried lots of things....nothing. I will just format.

2018 and we cant copy a boot drive easily. Programmers need to step thier game up.

 

[mikeymikec]

no blue screen....just not bootable. tried lots of things....nothing. I will just format.

So it just gave you a blank screen?

I assume you've tried the Windows diagnostic (booting from USB/DVD)? Did SrtTrail.txt have anything worthy of note, or did it do the supremely frustrating thing of stating that Windows booted just fine?

 

[Deptacon]

After 3 hours of troublshooting and unplugging the old SSD and replugging it in to get to windows....I whipped out the Win10 Image USB and went from scratch. Im not sure what the problem was....but the migration sure as hell wasnt seemless

 

[RLGL]

Make sure the M.2 is formatted GPT

 

[Deptacon]

thats honestly probably what it was but alas. I have a new clean install now and Im up and running

 

[F-5]

I learned a hard lesson awhile back when I tried upgrading the OEM 128 GB NVME M.2 drive to a Samsung 950 Pro 512 GB model. Using the cloning process seemed like the way to go but it was fraught with pitfalls. After several failures, I eventually cloned the OEM drive, shutdown the system, swapped out the old with the new drive, turned it on and voila it worked. Nowhere could I find this in the cloning software instructions, I came up with it myself through hours of research. Turns out there was a disk signature collision where both of my drives had the exact same disk signature from the cloning process, which won’t work.

I’m happy for you that you figured it out on your own. Most people give up and throw their hands in the air in submission. It’s these scenarios that teach those who are not willing to give up to continually advance their knowledge in PC/laptop repair.