How to Move Windows 10 to Another Drive Without Reinstalling Windows

Can I copy my Windows 10 to another hard drive for Windows 10 migration before the end of support? The answer is YES. Transferring Windows 10 installation to another is a common practice to upgrade to a larger or faster hard drive, as the Reddit post reads.

How to transfer Windows to another drive and keep files?

I just bought a new M.2 SSD with 128GB of storage; however, my OS is still on my old HDD. Can I transfer it over without having to install all my files again? ---from Reddit

How to move Windows 10 to another drive? You can migrate OS manually or clone Windows 10 OS to SSD. Generally, you can try the following 2 methods to transfer Windows from one hard drive to another:

• Method 1. Use dedicated disk cloning software to move Windows 10 to another drive
• Method 2. Use Windows System Image Tool to transfer Windows 10 to new hard drive

What to Do Before Moving Windows to Another Drive

Before you start migrating your Windows installation to a new HDD or SSD, please make the following preparations to ensure a successful and smooth OS migration:

• ➡️Buy a New Hard Drive. SSDs outperform HDDs in read & write speeds. An SSD with a capacity of 1TB is preferred for OS installation and data storage. Also, pay attention to the SSD interface and form factor, regardless of whether you want to use an HDD or SSD.
• ➡️Run a Surface Test of the New Drive. When you get a new drive, you'd better run a surface test of your hard drive to verify its health condition, because some new hard drives still contain bad sectors.
• ➡️Clean up Source Drive. You'd better clean up your source drive before transferring Windows OS to another drive, such as deleting seldom-used apps, duplicate or corrupted files, caches, etc, thus reducing OS migration time.
• ➡️Prepare a Connection Cable. You may need a USB to SATA cable or an external disk enclosure to connect the new drive to your PC for data or Windows transferring.
• ➡️Download OS Migration Software. If you want to clone OS to a new drive, you need to download a disk cloning tool to migrate Windows to another drive, because Windows lacks cloning features. EaseUS Disk Copy, a dedicated and easy-to-use disk cloning program, can help.
• ➡️Prepare a Screwdriver. You may also need a screwdriver or a pry tool to help you open the PC's back case or remove the old hard drive.

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Method 1. Clone Windows 10 to Another Drive Without Losing Data

• Suitable users: All users, especially for computer novices.
• Supported features: Migrate all data, including Windows, personal data, programs, and settings.

Disk cloning is the most effective way to transfer Windows to another drive without reinstalling Windows or losing data. To clone a hard drive, try EaseUS Disk Copy, a safe and reliable disk cloning tool for Windows 11/10/8/7, which simplifies the disk cloning process while increasing the success rate.

EaseUS disk cloning software can help you move Windows to another drive without losing data and migrate OS from HDD to SSD, SSD to SSD, and SSD to HDD. It can also help you clone hard drives of different sizes and clone OS from a larger hard drive to a smaller one, as long as your target disk can hold data on the source drive.

EaseUS Disk Copy can help you clone C drive to SSD Windows 10 without losing anything. Its System Mode lets you clone C drive and all system-related partitions to another drive and its Disk Mode lets you clone an entire hard drive to another drive.

Get this powerful OS migration software to move Windows to another drive without reinstalling!

Video tutorial on how to move Windows from one drive to another using Disk Copy:

Step-by-step guide on copying Windows installation to new drive using EaseUS Disk Copy:

Step 1. To clone OS from one hard drive to another, choose the target disk in "System Mode" and click "Next".

Step 2. Adjust the disk layout of the target disks. You can manage the disk layout of the destination disk by selecting "Autofit the disk", "Copy as the source" or "Edit disk layout". Then, click Proceed.

• "Autofit the disk" makes some changes by default on the destination disk layout so that it can work at its best status.
• "Copy as the source"does not change anything on destination disk and the layout is the same as source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" allows you to manually resize/move partition layout on this destination disk.

Tick the "Check the option if the target is SSD" option to put your SSD in its best performance.

Step 3. A message now appears, warning you that data on the target disk will be lost. Please confirm this message by clicking "Continue".

Step 4. Wait for the cloning process to complete.

Method 2. Copy Windows to Another Drive via System Image Tool

• Suitable users: For users proficient in computer skills who don't want to install software.
• Supported features:  System image backup and restore; need to reinstall apps.

We also cover you if you want a Windows built-in tool to transfer Windows from one hard drive to another. You can create a system image on one external disk and restore it to another. With the Windows system image tool, you can migrate Windows 10 to new hard drive for free. To do so, you need to create a system image, create a recovery USB or system repair disc, and restore the system image.

Part 1. Create a Windows System Image Backup

Step 1. Connect the external drive to your computer.

Step 2. Input control panel in Windows search bar and click Open.

Step 3. Click Backup and Restore under System and Security.

Step 4. Select Create a system image.

Step 5. Select the external drive as the location to store the backup and click Next.

Step 6. Select the drives you want to back up (By default, the system partition will be selected) and click Next.

Step 7. Confirm the backup information and click Start backup.

Part 2. Create a Recovery USB or System Repair Disc

If Windows cannot boot up independently, you may need to create a system repair disc. You will need a disk, since the feature still does not support using a USB drive. If your computer does not have a disk, you can use an external DVD and connect it via USB. Insert a blank CD or DVD into your PC and click the Create a system repair disc under the Create a system image section. Confirm your DVD drive appears, then click Create disc.

To create a system recovery USB, you can follow the guide below:

Part 3. Restore the Windows Image to New Drive

Now, you can restore the Windows system image to the new hard drive. Ensure that the backup drive (containing the Windows system image backup) and the new hard drive (the drive you want to install Windows on) are connected to your computer.

Step 1. Restart your PC to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.

• In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery and tap Restart now.
• In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery and tap Restart now.

Step 2. On the Choose an option window, click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Image Recovery > See more recovery options. And then select System Image Recovery.

Step 3. Select Use the latest available system image(recommended).

Step 4. Choose Format and repartition disks (to restore to a new drive) > Click Next.

Then, follow the wizard to restore the system image.

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What to Do After Migrating Windows to Another Drive

After the OS migration, you need to do the following to use the new disk on your PC.

#1. Replace the Old Hard Drive with New One

After cloning your Windows or restoring your system on the new hard drive, you can replace your old drive with the cloned one. Refer to the article below for more detailed information:

After replacing the hard drive, you can format the old drive and use it as your external storage drive.

#2. Boot Windows from a Cloned SSD/HDD

After swapping hard drives, you need to boot your PC from the new drive in BIOS/UEFI settings. Here is how to go for it:

Step 1. Restart the PC and press a key (F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) to access the BIOS setup screen.

Step 2. Go to the Boot tab using the arrow key in the BIOS screen.

Step 3. Top the new hard drive on the boot order list using the arrow key.

Step 4. Click Yes to save the changes and then exit the BIOS setup screen.

Step 5. Reboot the PC, and it will boot from the new drive.

Troubleshooting Tips:

#3. Testing and Verifying OS migration

When you clone OS to another drive or migrate OS to a new hard drive, the migration can raise network, configuration, interface, and compatibility challenges. You can do the following to ensure whether it is a successful migration.

1️⃣Verify System Files and Data Integrity.

1. Check Critical Directories:

Open File Explorer and confirm:

• User folders (Documents, Downloads, Desktop) are intact.
• Installed programs are accessible.

2. Run System File Checker (SFC):

• Check for corrupted/missing system files and repair them.

2️⃣Test Functionality

1. Software and Drivers:

• Launch critical apps to ensure they work.
• Verify drivers are functional in Device Manager.

2. Peripherals:

• Test USB ports, external drives, printers, and other hardware.

3. Network/Internet:

• Confirm Wi-Fi/Ethernet connectivity and test browsing.

3️⃣Test Performance

1. Boot Time:

• Compare boot times between the old and new drives.

2. Task Manager:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check Performance tab:

• Disk activity (ensure the new drive is active).
• CPU, RAM, and disk usage are normal.

3. Benchmark Tools (Optional):

• Use tools like CrystalDiskMark or UserBenchmark to test the read and write speeds of the new drive.

4️⃣Check Activation

1. Windows Activation:

• Go to Settings > System > Activation.
• Ensure Windows is activated (drive changes rarely affect activation, but you can also verify).

To Wrap Things Up

Transferring your Windows 10 to another drive is not a challenging task. By following the 2 methods, you can ensure a smooth Windows OS migration without data loss or system issues. If you want to transfer everything, including Windows, applications, settings, and files, disk cloning is the best choice. You can use EaseUS Disk Copy to clone a hard drive and migrate OS to another disk. Get the best cloning software to move Windows to another drive without reinstalling!

FAQs on How to Move OS to Another Drive Windows 10

1. Can I install Windows 10 on another drive?

Absolutely. You can install Windows on a new hard drive by performing disk cloning or doing a clean installation of Windows on a new hard drive. Cloning will be the easiest way to install Windows on a new disk, as you do not need to worry about backing up or losing any data.

2. How to do a fresh install of Windows 10?

• Download the Windows ISO file.
• Create bootable installation media using Rufus.
• Replace the old hard drive with the new one.
• Boot PC from the installation media.
• Install Windows on the new hard drive.
• Set the new disk as the primary boot drive in BIOS/UEFI.

3. How do I move my operating system from one drive to another?

To move an operating system from one disk to another, primarily, you have 3 methods:

• Use a disk cloning tool to copy the operating system from one disk to another.
• Create a system image of the PC and restore it to another drive.
• Download an ISO of your Windows OS and fresh install it on a new drive.

4. Will I lose my Windows 10 license if I change hard drive?

The license is usually tied to PC's motherboard, not the hard drive. Changing the hard drive, such as replacing an HDD with an SSD, does not affect the hardware ID of the PC. Windows will still activate from the digital license.