clone larger hdd to smaller ssd using macrium reflect

Find and install a third-party software package that will shrink your existing C: drive's Partition down to the same size as (or slightly smaller than) the SSD you plan to move to.

Back up all your C: drive, just in case the next step fails and ruins your data.Ĥ. BUT this still probably leaves some files in odd places.ģ. Defragment the C: drive so all the files are grouped together in very few areas. You will have to remove files, if necessary, so that its total file space in use if a bit LESS than the size of the SSD you plan to move to.Ģ. Consider carefully what is already on your C: drive. IF you insist on doing it with a stand-alone cloning machine, here is what you will have to do FIRST using other software.ġ. Just check first whether the cloner you consider can do exactly this job. By far the simplest path would be to use a cloning software utility on your computer. It is even more challenging moving to a smaller destination unit. If you're having problems seeing your drive, make sure you check out our troubleshooting guide on how to fix an external hard drive that won't show up.Most of the stand-alone cloners I've looked at do not contain software sophisticated enough to change the Partition size. You can find out how to install and connect your drive using the manufacturer's instructions.

The first step is to ensure you have your new disk or drive installed in or connected to your computer. Read on for detailed instructions regarding each step.ġ. Ensure the new drive is installed in or connected to your computer.īut if you're only cloning a single drive one time, it's probably better to go with the free option, right? How to clone a hard drive on Windows This app offers all the basic functionality you'll need if your goal is to simply clone one hard drive to another, though there are a number of paid apps with more advanced features such as quicker cloning speeds, including O&O DiskImage (opens in new tab) and Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (opens in new tab).

The software we would recommend using when cloning drives is Macrium Reflect Free (opens in new tab), which, as its name suggests, doesn't cost a cent.

Clone larger hdd to smaller ssd using macrium reflect