Question New Xmas build, thoughts on Windows migration

[Shmee]

So I will be doing an Xmas build for a family member soon, currently this is the build I have come up with: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nk3GbL

Overall a fairly simple SFF build, the RX 570, which we already have, isn't for gaming but just for multiple display outs. The current system that this will replace has an X58 board with Windows 10 running on an 850 Evo. Since X58 uses legacy BIOS, the drives uses the MBR partition table. The Windows 10 install is fairly fresh, I think from just a few years ago. If possible, I would like to attempt to migrate the current install to the new system NVMe.

Obviously there are several hurdles here: cloning/imaging drives to start with, converting form MBR to GPT, and of course driver changes. What would be the best way to do this? Can this be done in Macrium Reflect free version? I can't recall all the features and limitations there. Alternatively, since the system drive in the new build is a Samsung, I could try using Magician. Thoughts?

 

[Tech Junky]

Just clone it and then convert it. How you get there can be simple or somewhat complicated. I had to convert my Linux disk when upgrading to ADL.

There's a one liner for windows though and you reboot, change the uefi, and life is good.

I use clonezilla and ventoy for the multiple os capability and drop the images into the USB drive.

 

[Shmee]

What is the best way to convert to GPT? Still using Diskpart? Also I assume I would expand the partition after?

 

[Tech Junky]

I do things the hard way so.....

I would clone / convert and then boot into linux usb and change the partitions. UEFI / Windows / really any OS left to its own devices likes to take up way too much space for simple stuff. EFI on linux by default during install will take ~10% of the drive space when all that is needed is 50MB even though the EFI file only take up ~5MB of space. Windows is even worse with the default 4-5 partitions if you don't go back and do some cleanup after the install.

Linux / GPARTED makes it simple to move things around on a budget but, you can also use things like Paragon HD Manager within Windows to script the changes and moves and then just wait it out to complete them.

It just depends on how much effort you want to put into it and how picky you are about your disk layout. For something like what you're doing though it might just be quicker to do a clean install and let things automatically happen and copy over the program files folders and user data when done. Some stuff can work just fine w/o needing to run through the install process again and others don't. Just depend son how deep the app has hooks into the OS.

 

[Shmee]

Yeah I was thinking of using Macrium to do whatever it can, possibly using the bootable recovery media version.

 

[Tech Junky]

Macrium

Many people do. I don't recall ever using it though. Just pick whatever you're comfortable with and it's only going to take a few minutes. Then go back and expand the partitions as needed w/ Linux being the easiest / cheapest way. You can queue up all of the change in Linux like you can w/ Paragon if you want to shrink / move / expand things.

 

[Brainonska511]

I wouldn't bother cloning and converting. Better to just start fresh, lest you want to invite something weird happening and they will then bother you about the gremlins. Also, eliminates any weird things that may have accumulated on their OS over the years.

If they were on W11 (not sure if W10 has the feature), you could use the built in backup and restore with OneDrive and Backup to help transfer settings, to help get them back quickly with a fresh install.

 

[nOOky]

I'm in the fresh install camp. My general rule of thumb is if I change drives, just clone. If I change the motherboard, reinstall. What with high speed downloading and the speed that you can install the new OS and start adding in the latest versions of all programs it's a wash imho.