How to Migrate OS to SSD Free

by Paul | Last Updated: July 5, 2022

Improving the Performance of your Operating System by migrating your OS to your SSD drive for free.

Migrate OS to SSD free

Migrating OS to SSD free is a process that uses a partition assistant (built-in or third-party) to transfer your operating system to a solid-state drive. They are various methods of doing this, some require making a purchase and others are free. As the title suggests, we will be highlighting free methods to make this happen.

Migrating your operating system (OS) is not like just transferring data from one disk to another, it requires a more complex process. This makes it easier to use your SSD as you do not have to reinstall your OS. Your operating system is not just a file you can easily transfer, there are specific files you need.

Also, there are crucial steps to take before you start the migration process and during the process to ensure it is successfully and poor execute could led to sabotaging the process and losing your files or worse, damaging your PC. Please these methods are not all the methods available, we will just share a few in this article.

Method 1

The first is using a Cloning tool to transfer your OS to SSD. Now, you can clone your entire system i.e., OS and all data to your SSD but people prefer just cloning the OS as HDDs usually have a larger storage capacity in comparison with SSDs. There are a few professional partition tools that are free and a popular one is AOMEI Backupper.

With a capacity to clone a large disk into an SSD drive, this tool properly copies all important files for your OS including MBR/GPT. This tool has a paid version, so the free version is limited to a data disk clone. Remember, before you copy your OS from one disk to another, the disk style of both must be identical i.e., GPT or MBR.

Method 2

The second is to create a windows system image. This process backs up all drives that are crucial to the operation of your system into an image file, you can also add other drives. The process is simple, search for “backup and restore”, then create a system image. Save it on an external drive (USB drive) or a blank disc. This should be saved as a bootable drive, then at the first use of your SSD in your PC, insert the drive and boot the drive.

Important Steps for a Successful Migration

Virus Check

When you move from one house to a new one, you do not pack dirt, you ensure that you carry clean items to this new precious space. This is the same process with migrating your OS, you want to run a full check ensure that your files are clean before you transfer them to the SSD.

Defragment Disk

HDDs writes and stores data with moving parts i.e., a moving needle places data in different sectors. Over time, this process creates fragments of the disk. There is an option on your PC to defragment and optimize your disk, do this before you migrate your OS.

Clean Disk

Delete all unnecessary files and before you say all your current files are necessary, please do a proper check, delete all those temp files, duplicate files, failed downloads, and all files that are just taking up space.

Backup Data

This most come after the first three that were mentioned. Get an external disk (SSD or HDD) to backup all your files i.e., clean, and necessary files. Remember, you are only transferring your OS and if you want your files to be intact, you need to keep them in a separate drive that will not be used in the migration process.

Other Precautions: It is also a good step to update all necessary firmware, ensure that your system is on all through the process, so this is not the time to leave you PC on battery power. Once this process stops it cannot be continued, it must start all over. Also, there is no telling the type of errors that might occur if it stops abruptly.

Benefits of OS to SSD Migration

SSD performs better reading and writing speed as well as a better system security in comparison to HDDs. Experience faster processing speed, faster boot times.

For Students

If you are not a student that uses design software like photoshop and other storage demanding software, an affordable option will be to purchase the 128GB. With this upgrade, you will experience faster response in all your applications, software. This speed will increase overall performance and speed.

For Professionals

It depends on your field of expertise, generally you will need a storage space of not less than 256GB, for design professionals a safe option will be 500GB. The benefits of this migration include but is not limited to boost in performance and speed time.

As a busy person, you might not always want to shut down so you might put your PC to sleep frequently, unlike the HDD that begins to have a poor response time in the long run, the SSD will always respond quickly. Remember, put to sleep, and not hibernate as the latter will cause problems for your disk in the long run.

Gamers and Video Creators

The required capacity is a minimum of 500GB, this is non-negotiable as the work and space required cannot be allocated to anything less. Gamers refer to heavy-duty gamers, video creators i.e., 4k, 8k, and other high definition videos. For gamers, as technology advances, game creators are always adjusting the graphics to make them more realistic. With these upgrades come a higher criterion for PC requirements i.e., storage and graphics card.

Bearing this in mind, the best option to maximize your games to avoid glitching and overworking your disk is an SSD with sufficient storage. For designers, photoshop, illustrator, After Effects, and others require sufficient space to boot properly and navigate smoothly, this is guaranteed with an SSD that has sufficient storage. You surely need a good graphics card to compliment this in both cases.