How to Migrate Windows 7 to SSD in Two Easy Ways
Installing an SSD as the system disk is a quick way to upgrade your Windows 7 computer and improve performance. And the most direct way to get the SSD into your system is to physically install it, connect the right cables, and reinstall Windows from scratch. But most users don't want to reinstall because this process needs to set up Windows, all the apps, and get all the critical files and folders back on the new hard drive.
There are also other options that can help you move Windows 7 to SSD without doing a fresh installation. Here, we will show you two ways to transfer Windows OS. Both solutions are available for use under the condition that your system partition and boot partition are not on the same disk.
Method 1. Move Windows 7 to SSD with System Migration Software
To copy Windows 7 from HDD to SSD, you need an OS migration tool. Here we recommend Qiling Partition Master. It provides users the "Migrate OS" function to help to clone Windows 7 OS and SSD applications without reinstalling Windows. Let's check what Qiling Partition Master can do for you.
- Move system partition to SSD along with the boot partition.
- Extend system partition. Create, format, copy, and delete partitions.
- Support converting GPT to MBR or from MBR to GPT.
Now, download this Windows OS migrating tool and follow the step by step guide to finish moving Windows 7 to SSD.
Steps to migrate OS to HDD/SSD:
- Run Qiling Partition Master, select Migrate OS from the top menu.
- Select the SSD or HDD as the destination disk and click Next.
- Check Warning: the data and partitions on the target disk will be deleted. Make sure that you've backed up important data in advance. If not, do it now.
- Then click Continue.
- Preview the layout of your target disk. Then click Proceed to start migrating your OS to a new disk
Note: The operation of migrating OS to SSD or HDD will delete and remove existing partitions and data on your target disk when there is not enough unallocated space on the target disk. If you saved important data there, back up them to an external hard drive in advance.
After transferring Windows 7 OS from HDD to SSD, you can also use Qiling Partition Master to resize/move partition on SSD.
Method 2. Migrate Windows 7 to SSD by System Clone
Another choice to migrate Windows OS to SSD is using Qiling Backup to clone Windows 7 system to SSD. This software enables you to complete the transfer with the "System Clone" feature. This function helps you resolve many complex migration affairs, especially when you need to upgrade hard disk from an old to a new, from a smaller to a larger, or from a hard disk drive to a solid-state drive without reinstalling OS.
Now, let's see how to clone Windows 7 to SSD with detailed guides.
Step 1. On the main page, find and click "Tools and utilities" page, system clone and other utilities are here.
Step 2. Qiling Backup will automatically select the boot and system partition, choose the target disk and click "Next."
*System clone will wipe out all data and does not support cloning MBR disk to GPT or vice versa. Make sure that the partition style of the source disk and the target disk are the same.
Step 3. If the target disk is a SSD, choose optimize for SSD in the advanced options.
Step 4. Click "Proceed" to start cloning.
Summary of Transferring Windows 7 to SSD
You can migrate Windows 7 from HDD to SSD easily using either of the above methods. The main function of Qiling Partition Master is disk management that can help you manage drive/disk more easily and flexibly. The primary feature of Qiling Backup is file backup and drive/disk clone that can protect your data smartly and efficiently. And that's the only difference between these two methods. If you just want to reinstall OS, go to check how to fresh install Windows on SSD.
Bonus Tip: How to Install a New SSD
If you need to install a new SSD on your computer, you can follow these steps:
Install an SSD on the laptop
- Shut down your laptop, unplug the power, remove the battery and uninstall the old hard drive
- Connect SSD to the motherboard using a SATA cable
- Reinstall battery, plug-in power, and restart the laptop
Install an SSD on a desktop computer
- Open your desktop computer case
- Connect SSD to the motherboard using a SATA cable
- Connect the power cord to the SSD
- Install the new SSD into the computer's drive bay
- Replace the computer case cover
- Plug in all the cables and power on the computer
- Format the new SSD to use.
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