How to Migrate Windows Server OS to a New Drive (HDD/SSD) [2022 Full Guide]

• Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour.
• Applies to: Migrate Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2013/2008/2002 to a new HDD/SSD.

A server OS migration can be performed on the same server, making it a convenient option for upgrading or transferring the Windows Server OS to a new disk. This process involves using a reliable Windows Server migration tool to transfer the operating system to the new disk, effectively upgrading the OS disk.

This page provides a comprehensive guide on how to successfully migrate a Windows Server OS to a new disk.

# 1. Prepare New Disk for Windows Server OS Migration

1. Disk partitioning and 2.

• 1. Which type of disk to select?
• 2. How to make the new disk ready?

I apologize, but it seems there was a misunderstanding. This conversation just started, and there is no previous text to rewrite. If you'd like to discuss Windows Server OS migration, I'd be happy to help!

• To upgrade Windows Server to a bigger disk, you'll need to replace the existing hard disk drives (HDDs) with newer, high-capacity ones. This will provide more storage space for your server to operate efficiently.
• To optimize Windows Server running speed, consider using Solid-State Drives (SSDs) with sufficient storage capacity.

A hard drive with 32GB - 4 TB or SSD with 2-4TB or even bigger storage size is recommended for Windows Server installation.

To get the new disk ready for Windows Server migration, you need to format the disk and install the Windows Server operating system on it. This involves booting from the installation media, selecting the disk as the target drive, and following the installation prompts to complete the setup process. Once the installation is complete, you can configure the server settings, such as network and time settings, and install any necessary drivers or updates.

Step 1.1. Connect the new disk to the server via a SATA cable and a power cable.

Step 2.Once connected the new disk to your computer, open Disk Management in Windows Server, where you can initialize the disk and assign a drive letter to it, making it ready for use in your system.

Step 3.The old system drive's disk partition style should be checked by right-clicking on it and selecting "Properties", and confirming whether it is set to MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table).

Step 4. To initialize a new disk, locate it, right-click, and select "Initialize Disk" from the context menu, which will display as "Unknown or Not Initialized".

Step 5.To set up a new disk, choose the disk style that matches the old system disk, whether it's Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT), and confirm the selection.

Once done, your new disk is ready for Windows Server migration. You can now move on to the next guide for further operation.

#2. Pick and Download Windows Server Migration Tool for Help

Windows Server Manager's Windows Server Migration Tools can assist with server migrations, but its complex process is more suitable for transferring the system to another computer, not for updating the OS within the same computer.

To do an in-To upgrade the Windows Server system disk, you'll need to use a professional system migration tool or software to assist you in the process.

Qiling Partition Master Enterprise offers a reliable Migrate OS feature that enables Windows Server and Windows users to efficiently migrate their operating system to a new hard drive or SSD with success, requiring no technical background.

Aside from OS migration, this tool also helps you to:

• Manage hard drive space in Windows Server
• To extend the System C drive or fix the low disk space error in C drive, you can try the following methods:
• Merge or split hard drive partitions
• Create, format, convert, delete, and even wipe disk partitions
• Performing tasks such as recovering partitions, ensuring 4K alignment on solid-state drives (SSDs), checking and repairing disk errors, and more.

After installing the Windows Server migration tool, you can proceed with the system migration guide to transfer your system between old and new disks.

#3. Migrate Windows Server OS to a New Hard Drive or SSD

Here are the steps to migrate your Windows Server system to a newly added hard drive or SSD in one paragraph: To migrate your Windows Server system to a newly added hard drive or SSD, start by backing up your system and data to an external drive or cloud storage. Next, disconnect the old drive and connect the new one, making sure it's set to the correct boot order in the BIOS settings.

Note:When migrating your operating system to an SSD or HDD, be aware that the process will erase and remove existing partitions and data on the target disk if there's not enough unallocated space. If you have important data on the target disk, back it up to an external drive before proceeding.

Step 1. Select "Migrate OS" from the Tools and utilities page.

Step 2. The system partition will be selected automatically, and then click "Next".

Step 3. Select the SSD or HDD as the destination disk and click "Next".

Step 4. Preview the layout of your target disk, and optionally customize it. Click "Proceed" to begin migrating your operating system to the new disk.

Step 5. To proceed, click "OK" after acknowledging the warning message. This action will erase all data and partitions on the target disk, so it's essential to have backed up any important data beforehand. If you haven't done so, it's recommended to do so immediately.

When the system migration procedure completes, enter the Windows Server BIOS settings to configure the system drive boot order. Follow the next guide for the steps.

#4. Set The New Disk as System Boot Drive

Step 1. To reboot your Windows Server computer and access the BIOS settings, simply restart the machine and immediately press the F2, F8, or Del key, depending on your computer's specific model, to enter the BIOS settings.

Step 2. To access the Boot Menu, you'll need to enter the Boot Menu, find the Boot Order settings section, and click it.

Step 3. Select the priority boot drive as the new drive and save the changes.

Step 4. Exit BIOS and restart the computer.

After the computer boots up and you enter your Windows Server system, you'll see the login image. At this point, enter your account and password to access your Server computer, and you can start using it on the new disk.

You Can Migrate Windows Server Computer to A New Hard Drive or SSD Now

We've simplified the Windows Server OS migration process into four separate guides on this page, making it easier to navigate.

To migrate and configure Windows OS to a new disk, you should first prepare the disk and use a reliable OS migration tool like Qiling Partition Master for help.

To migrate the OS, apply Qiling Partition Master to migrate the OS and configure the new disk as the boot drive.

Following the full guide step by step will allow you to successfully migrate Windows Server systems to a new disk, resulting in optimized Server computer performance.

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