30mins of geekdom answers on google and i'm going in circles...
i have a pc, that i set up from new, with an ssd that runs my os (windows 10) and software. C Drive
the original hd is just file storage. A Drive
i now need more storage and the ssd i'm looking at does not come with any cloning software.
is it a case of disconnecting the A Drive, plugging in the new SSD then finfding some freeware cloning software, cloning one to other, then putting the new ssd on the C and reconnecting the A?
or more complicated than that?
Pretty much, yes. Linux boot disc with gparted is as good as any.
Is it really drive A:? That's normally reserved for floppy drives.
Of course it wont be the A drive Cougar but you know this.
If you don't want a boot disc, I've used Mini-tool partition wizard for years and you can just clone the drive and expand the partition to fill the disc.
I'd say its as easy to use as Gparted (which is great) but from inside your Windows environment
I know it's possible (I've done it plenty of times with Acronis), but cloning a live system partition always gives me the willies. I'd always do it offline given the choice.
Not come across mini-tool before, I might have a look at that. Ta.
I've always taken the opportunity to do a clean install when swapping HDD for SSD or increasing size. All laptops in the past so needed a cheap external 2.5" case to transfer files back across - in a PC you can obviously use a spare bay. Really doesn't take that long as unlike a clean install onto the same drive you have the original data on the old drive still.
Swings and roundabouts really. If you've got an old drive full of cruft then a clean install can be preferable, but then you've got the task of setting everything back up again, reinstalling software and so on. It's often more hassle than it's worth, but I'd judge each case on individual merit. I'm doing one at the weekend, my OH's laptop, and it'll be a clone otherwise I expect I'll spend a week doing post-rebuild tech support.
This is a nice straight forward piece of software that should help you out: http://www.todo-backup.com/
Yeah, EaseUS is pretty decent these days.
Not come across mini-tool before, I might have a look at that. Ta.
Just Googled this and I know it as Partition Wizard. I didn't get on with it at the time, but that time was a very long time ago so I can't really comment on its current incarnation.
Many ways to skin the cat Cougar, as I said used for years with no issue but plenty out there that do the same job just as well.
I do use Gparted for flash drives in my dumb devices (telecoms kit) though as Windows in general doesn't like multi partition flash drives.