Forum Discussion
Can I move Win 11 Pro for Workstations insider preview to a different drive?
Thanks for the detailed comments, let me reply.
The issue is successfully transferring Windows from one drive to another, both installed in the same chassis. Insider preview editions get automatic updates pushed as builds are released so I don't want to disturb that process. Eventually, I'll move off insider preview to standard releases of Win 11 Pro for Workstations.
The P520c is a tower workstation, not a laptop, hence the availability of the PCIe slot where I installed the 1 TB M.2 SSD using an AMPCOM PCIe 4.0x16 adapter. The workstation boots from a factory-installed 256 GB M.2 SSD that is not accessible without tearing down the entire machine; my goal is to have Windows running from the 1 TB drive and leaving the 256 GB drive for other use. (That is, no dual-boot.) I have already successfully moved the user folders, Documents, Downloads, etc., from the 256 GB drive to a 2 TB HDD also installed in the same workstation; Windows, Program Files, ProgramData, etc. remain on the 256 GB drive.
I've upgraded several Lenovo ThinkPad laptops from factory SATA HDD to larger and faster SATA SSD by cloning (using Apricorn EZ Gig, MiniTool Partition Wizard, etc.), then physically replacing the SATA HDD with the SATA SSD, a one-for-one swap. In this case, I want to make the new M.2 SSD that is installed in the same machine -- not an external USB drive like the ThinkPad clones -- the Windows boot (C:) drive, then reformat the original factory boot 256 GB drive. (If the factory boot drive were physically accessible I'd simply repeat the laptop cloning process and swap it out with the new larger capacity SSD. I understand updating the boot order in the BIOS, that’s not a problem.)
I want to use a commercial tool like the one mentioned above with a “Move OS from HDD to SSD” function software to do the move rather than the image and VM-based methods you mentioned.
So for me, the issue is still open. (In macOS this whole process is pretty trivial; in Windows not so much.)
It sounds like you're still struggling with the issue of transferring your Windows operating system from one drive to another, and I'm here to offer some additional guidance. As you mentioned, this can be a challenging task, especially if the original drive is not easily accessible.
You mentioned that you want to use a https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/data-recovery-software/free-hard-drive-data-recovery-software.htm with a "Move OS from HDD to SSD" function to do the transfer, and that's certainly one option. However, it's important to choose a reputable tool and follow the instructions carefully to ensure a successful transfer.
Another option is to seek assistance from a professional, such as a computer technician or IT specialist. They can provide personalized guidance and support to help you transfer the operating system and ensure that everything is functioning properly.
In addition, it can be helpful to do some research on the specific tools and software available for this task, and read reviews and user feedback to gauge their effectiveness and ease of use.
I hope this information is helpful, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.
Cameron_Mertz30 Thanks for the note but I solved this ages ago.