new pc arrived but im confused about windows drive location

[SpyderTracks]

yeah the drive im copying to has no partitions, just the windows drive. I also saw with this software doesn't look like free version has cloning?

Oh, must have posted the wrong link:

Migrate Operating System to SSD without Reinstalling - EaseUS Partition Master

5 Star operating system migration software. Transfer your OS to SSD/HDD without any data loss or reinstalling.

www.easeus.com

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

nah sadly looks like il have to pay

 

[SpyderTracks]

nah sadly looks like il have to pay

I don’t think you’re on the same product, it’s free, you want partition master pro as in the link above, you're downloading the free trial:

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

i dont get anything like that image you have posted? the link you gave has this page https://www.easeus.com/ppc/partitio...3aRVwWcVS3ya0CsqFOGwKf1apKpW9hCIaAoFBEALw_wcB

When i click on that i see this and i do click on the free trial it downloads and installs. When i click on clone i cant go to proceed without a key. If it was a free trial maybe they expect payment info first? im very confused

 

[SpyderTracks]

i dont get anything like that image you have posted? the link you gave has this page https://www.easeus.com/ppc/partitio...3aRVwWcVS3ya0CsqFOGwKf1apKpW9hCIaAoFBEALw_wcB

When i click on that i see this and i do click on the free trial it downloads and installs. When i click on clone i cant go to proceed without a key. If it was a free trial maybe they expect payment info first? im very confused

Ooooooooo, maybe they've discretely changed it.

Ok, forget that one, it's a bit dodgy at the best of times when it comes to paying for it.

Try MiniTool, it's also free and very good:

Best Partition Magic Alternative for Windows PC and Server

As the best partition magic alternative, MiniTool Partition Wizard is the latest partition manager software for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.

www.minitool.com

There's directions, they call cloning "copy disk":

Use Hard Drive Cloning Software to Clone a Hard Drive

How to clone a hard drive to HDD free in Windows 10/8/7? MiniTool software offers the best way to clone a hard drive to HDD.

www.partitionwizard.com

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

nope sadly this ALSO now asks for you to pay :/ so much for free trials for copying disks

 

[SpyderTracks]

nope sadly this ALSO now asks for you to pay :/ so much for free trials for copying disks

Ok, works fine for me.

In that case, you'd need to use one of clonezilla or Macrium Reflect. They're open source so definitely free.

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

Ok, works fine for me.

In that case, you'd need to use one of clonezilla or Macrium Reflect. They're open source so definitely free.

perhaps coz u existing version has a license of sorts? maybe they changed it. I will check out macrium, clonezilla says ur drive that u clone to has to be equal to or larger than source drive which sadly isn't the case for me

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

ok started macrium reflect, cloning in progress, wish me luck!

 

[SpyderTracks]

ok started macrium reflect, cloning in progress, wish me luck!

All the best 👍🏼

One that’s done, you need to make sure it boots successfully. Shut down, boot into BIOS and change the boot priority to the new drive, boot windows, if it’s working ok, then you can completely wipe the old drive. Then you’re good to go.

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

ok noob question but with the asus bot menu i didn't see anywhere to set boot priority, i just set the 500 to position 1 and the 2tb in position 2 but when i restart the c drive is still the 2tb? will that only change when i format the 2tb?

 

[SpyderTracks]

ok noob question but with the asus bot menu i didn't see anywhere to set boot priority, i just set the 500 to position 1 and the 2tb in position 2 but when i restart the c drive is still the 2tb? will that only change when i format the 2tb?

It may be that the 500Gb isn't booting correctly.

Take the 2Tb out of the boot list and see if it boots.

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

it still has the 2tb as c drive, even if i select the 500gb, is it always going to be that?

 

[SpyderTracks]

it still has the 2tb as c drive, even if i select the 500gb, is it always going to be that?

C is just the windows partition of the booting drive. so if it's booting off the 2Tb then that drives windows partition will always be C

If you're booting off the 500Gb drive, then that windows partition will be the C drive.

Can you take a screenshot of your disk management window? Just want to make sure it's actually cloned the disk rather than copying a partition?

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

hope this helps, i dont know what im doing wrong

 

[SpyderTracks]

hope this helps, i dont know what im doing wrong

Looks ok, so yeah, you either need to remove the 2Tb from the boot priority, or physically uninstall the drive temporarily to test the new drive boots ok

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

i dont understand how to remove it from the bios tho, this is really more advanced than id like :/ why cant it be like the old days with a simple boot menu.....this bloomin asus board is insane! only got it coz it was recommended for the card and cpu on here. I really dont know what to do. I dont want to try and take hardware out, esp since il have to take out the graphics card to get to the m.2 to disconnect it.
I feel like this was more hassle than worth i really dont get why they didnt put the os on the smaller drive :/ Now if i find this hard i dont think id be able to do a clean windows install if i cant even handle the bios.

 

[SpyderTracks]

i dont understand how to remove it from the bios tho, this is really more advanced than id like :/ why cant it be like the old days with a simple boot menu.....this bloomin asus board is insane! only got it coz it was recommended for the card and cpu on here. I really dont know what to do. I dont want to try and take hardware out, esp since il have to take out the graphics card to get to the m.2 to disconnect it.
I feel like this was more hassle than worth i really dont get why they didnt put the os on the smaller drive :/ Now if i find this hard i dont think id be able to do a clean windows install if i cant even handle the bios.

Try spamming F8 when booting instead of F2, that may load the boot menu.

 

[EmmaWilliamson688]

It still shows the 2tb at c :/

 

[SpyderTracks]

It still shows the 2tb at c :/

What do you mean? After booting from the 500Gb? If so then it means the 500Gb is failing to boot so it's moving through the boot priority to the next device in the list.

TBH, a clean install is going to be a lot simpler and like I said, it's something you're going to have to know how to do anyway as you'll be doing it at least once a year with windows version upgrades.