Upgrading My M.2 SSD - Will This Method Work?

GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 21:44
Last edited 04/08/2021 - 09:59

I am planning on upgrading my 256GB M.2 to a 1TB M.2 SSD. My Dell computer (Windows 10) has only one M.2 slot. So I need to transfer the whole OS and data from the old to the new M.2 drive. Being a good ozbargainer, I'm too cheap to buy a USB connected M.2 adaptor board ($20?) which I'd probably only use once. So, I came up with this idea, do you think it will work?

Here would be the steps:
1. Image my 256GB M.2 drive with Macrium Reflect (on a 4TB HDD I have).
2. Create a bootable USB stick with Windows 10 Microsoft Media Creation Tool.
3. Swap the M.2 drives (so now have a never used 1TB M.2 drive in computer).
4. Boot computer using bootable USB stick.
5. Once booted back into windows, use Macrium reflect to copy saved image onto new M.2 SSD.
6. Job done!!

Will this work? Thanks guys and girls.

EDIT: many folks are suggesting that it would be better to do a clean install instead. It’s hard to argue against that, but I just wanted to know if the method I suggested would actually work.

Poll Options

  • 13
    YES
  • 0
    NO
  • 2
    No idea, I don't even know what an M.2 SSD is.
Computing Computer Component SSD

Comments

  • Pelicannn on 03/08/2021 - 21:50
    +13

    Yeah but what do you have on your PC that you desperately want to save?

    I’d just do a fresh install and put the files you want to keep on a USB etc if you have one big enough?

    Fresh installs are good every now and then.

    • PR0r on 03/08/2021 - 21:52
      +3

      agreed, much easier to just backup anything worthwhile and do a clean install.

      • GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 22:31

        Ok guys, I agree with that. Its just it would be somewhat quicker my way rather than having to reinstall everything again.
        But I do agree your suggestion would be better ideally. Ta

        • Gunther on 04/08/2021 - 02:20
          +3

          Your original m.2 drive is only 256GB…..it seriously wont take that long and run 1000% better with a clean install.

  • mskeggs on 03/08/2021 - 21:59
    +1

    $20 adapter will get you a fast 256gb back up drive…

    • GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 22:32

      well that's true! but limited not by the M.2 drive, but the USB3.1 I guess!

      • spal on 04/08/2021 - 08:21

        Instead of an adapter can you get a case for M2 drive, which would a USB3 connection?

  • Serpentis on 03/08/2021 - 22:06

    So, where is the recovery image going to be stored then? I have Macrium Reflect (great software) and those images are quite large. The bootable drive you create with Macrium doesn't contain the image, in order to recover your computer you need that image stored somewhere on a different drive connected to the computer. But if you've got that then sure, it'll work.

    I've used Macrium to restore to an entire drive from an image. Worked great, but just a note from my experience you may need to fix the boot order in the BIOS after you do the recovery. It may try booting from the wrong disk and make it look like it failed.

    • GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 22:35

      Spot on, I didn't bother mentioning that. After I swap the drives I have to change the boot device to USB rather than the ''HDD'".

      I also didn't mention that yes, I would store the Macrium image on a small 4TB USB HDD that I have.

      • Serpentis on 03/08/2021 - 22:41

        Also I'm not sure why you mention "Windows 10 Microsoft Media Creation Tool" as that won't do anything. You need to open Macrium Reflect and use their tool to create a Macrium Bootable USB. Then you boot off that, it has the Macrium software on it, you point it to where the image is stored and do the recovery. I've done it, it works great.

        • GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 22:45

          Good tip, I obviously didn't know how to use MR fully. I wasn't aware it can create its own bootable USB with MR on it (that's why I mentioned the Media Creation Tool) - sounds like a much better way to go, ta again.

  • Elegant Giant on 03/08/2021 - 22:12

    You mention being "too cheap" to buy the USB m2 caddy, but consider it instead a $20 256GB super fast external drive for a second copy of any important files on your PC (set up Windows file backups for your documents / pictures / videos). Investment is a better term.

    • GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 22:36

      I'm starting to be convinced….. There goes my OZbargain badge!!

      • Kangal on 03/08/2021 - 22:51

        Well, did you have other plans for that 256GB m.2 SSD ?

        Like to sell it, doubt you'd get paid much.
        Unless you have another machine that's currently HDD, then throwing that in will make a huge performance uplift, even if it isn't an nVme drive.

  • Elegant Giant on 03/08/2021 - 22:17
    +1

    Also, Macrium won't restore directly onto the new drive without the use of a WinPE boot USB, which you can create through the Macrium reflect software. As such, you'll need another boot USB to host this. You should be prompted to create the boot USB when you try to restore at point 5.

    Macrium have their video on restoring here: https://www.macrium.com/restoring-a-system-image-with-macrium-reflect

  • GOCAT9 on 03/08/2021 - 22:39

    Wow, I wasn't aware of that subtlety. I'm not sure what WinPE is, but I will be Googling and Youtubing that!! Thanks for the tip and your link.

    • Elegant Giant on 03/08/2021 - 23:15

      Nothing too complex, WinPE = Windows Pre-Installation Environment, basically a lightweight version of Windows, same as the screen when you'll be booting off the Windows 10 USB. The key part is that it will have the Macrium software on it suitable for your hardware configuration (it copies any needed drivers when you build it during your step 5.

      So new list of requirements:

      1. New 1TB drive (for replacing the current drive)
      2. 1x 256GB+ external drive for the backup of your current M.2 drive
      3. 1x 16GB+ USB drive
        ** This is used for either the macrium boot USB or the Windows 10 USB. If you plan on using the macrium boot usb, you don't need to install Windows on the new M.2 drive first
        ** If you plan on reinstalling Windows cleanly, instead of making the Macrium backup copy all of your important files onto the 256GB drive (or make sure you've got them backed up to your preferred cloud storage).

      Best thing is if something goes wrong, you keep your current m.2 and revert to that while you fix it up.

      • GOCAT9 on 04/08/2021 - 10:10

        I like that! Thanks.

  • kusama on 03/08/2021 - 23:06
    +1

    I think it’s always better to have a clean install, and I would buy a case/adapter for old drive

  • CodeXD on 04/08/2021 - 09:53

    Where's the poll option for clean install? Cos that's the recommended method for installing a new bootable drive.

  • saliya on 04/08/2021 - 13:02

    If you're not changing any other hardware and you're not having any problems I recommend the image > restore process.
    It's already working fine now, just not enough space.

    This keeps all your existing software and drivers in place. "Missing drivers" or "Not having the installers / instructions for app X" can make your day not fun.

    Boot from USB > image to 4TB disk > power down > swap M2 disks > boot from USB > image from 4TB disk > job done.

    Doing a clean install onto the new drive will often give you a less-bloated Windows; but then you have to:

    • wait for several weeks while Windows updates are applied; and
    • find / install all the apps you want; and
    • reconfigure Windows/those apps to your liking …; and
    • copy all the data you want to preserve from the old disk to the new one
    • GOCAT9 on 04/08/2021 - 13:31

      all good points for the ''just image onto new M.2 drive'' camp - thank you.

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