cloning to a m.2 drive
I did a search prior to posting, but didn't find a definite answer. I have a MSI PE60 2QD laptop with a 1TB spinning drive (NTFS/Basic) setup of partitions: 600mb(recovery) / 300mb(EFI System partition) / 558.91GB(OS Install C:) / 353.38GB (Data D:) / 18.22GB (Recovery Partion). I purchase a Samsung 850 m.2 drive (SATA) 500GB and want to use my Acronis True Image 2016 software to clone the spinning drive to it. I created the bootable media (DVD) and can force a boot to it through windows, but not directly boot to it even though I have the DVD drive first in the boot order. Anyway, I've watched many YouTube vids and done the google searches and all I'm getting is a lot of conflicting info about how to do the clone. I know I have to open up the laptop and install the m.2 in it's slot, but do I have to dismount the spinning hard drive and connect it to a sata to usb connector, or can the clone be done with the m.2 and the spinning drive in place? Also, if and when I get the clone to work will it pick up the recovery partitions and clone them in the same order as is on the spinning drive? There isn't a problem of going from the larger drive to the smaller as I will empty the data drive beforehand as I plan to reformat the spinning drive and use it to store data. I also have full backups of said drive on an external hard drive done with Acronis. Thanks...Andy
Since it's an 850, it "should" pick it up like a regular SATA drive as M.2 is only form factor. However, if not, Enchantech is correct and WinPE may be needed so the system can locate the drive in order to be able to clone to it and/or take an image of it and restore it.
I have a feeling that cloning may not work with this one since were going from a spinning drive to an SSD though - "should" work, but if sector/cluster size is different the clone will not work either.
As long as the Acronis offline bootable recovery media can see both drives, you do not have to remove the internal drive now. Duffyfs, you do need to get your ability to boot to the media sorted out as you will want to do your clone and your full image and restoral with it in most cases. You can start in Windows if ATIH is installed, but it will reboot your machine to do the clone so if things go south, your bootable media would be your only option (and I'd recommend using bootable offfline media anyway since it keeps Windows "stuff" out of the equation).
Duffyfs. this is just my personal preference, but I would always recommend taking a full disk image of your source drive (it is also recommended in the documentaion even before cloning), just in case. Your image, if you take one of the entire disk, is your saving grace in case things go south at any point.
Otherwise, assuming your system can see both drives with your bootable media, clone away and see how it goes. As long as you don't mix up the source and destination, you will be OK, it just won't complete the clone if something doesn't match up on the disks. However, if you get the source and destination backward with your clone, you could end up with 2 blank disks (hence the recommendation to take a full disk image first and then clone or just deploy your image back to the new drive instead).
If/when the clone completes successfully, you do not want to boot the system yet though as both drives wil have the same hardware ID which can confuse the system and cause boot issues. You'd really want to only have the new clone in the system when you boot up, verify all is well, and once that is done, then format the old drive and use it as an extra drive for data, your Acronis backups, etc.
Thank you for the prompt replies. It looks like I'm between a rock and a hardplace. Spent $180 on the m.2 and would really like to get it to work. I have the Samsung migration software but was reluctant to use it because I didn't think it would clone the restore partitions. Could you address when doing the clone whether it will be necessary to remove the boot drive from the laptop, reattach via usb and clone?
A clone tool by design makes a bit for bit copy (clone) of the entire drive. The Samsung Migration tool should do this just fine just as I think True Image would.
If you place the M.2 drive in the M.2 slot in your machine and then boot to the bios does the drive show up there? If it does I would say your chances at success are good. If it does not then it may be questionable. Only an attempt will prove it one way otr the other.
Have you checked your laptop documentation to see if the M.2 slot in fact supports storage devices? In some cases these slots do not so you should find this out.
If you want to run the clone without removal of the current boot drive my suggestion would be to run the clone with the Shutdown Computer at completion box selected. Once the clone completes and machine shuts down remove the current boot drive from the machine and attempt to boot to the new drive. If it works great if not well you will have to try something else.
I do recommend that you perform a full disk backup of the current boot drive before you make any attempt at cloning so that you have something to fall back on if things go south big time on you!
i had problems getting M.2 working on a new motherboard until I figured out what settings had to be done in bios. I'd recommend taking your spinning drive with your current OS install and data out of the machine, install the M.2, and with all external devices unplugged, install an operating system on it. With a complete working install and bootable to the desktop then look at your restore options. At least at this point you will know for sure your system can successfully boot to the M.2, you can always over-write it with your restore image
i say this because had I gone this route from the start, I would have known what settings needed to be in place before attempting any sort of restore and it would have been much less headache.
Good points, unless the manufacturer has published what settings need to be made and/or the M.2 slot in the machine is actaully tied to the SATA interface in this case its anyones guess if or not the device will actually work in the machine.
I have an M.2 drive installed in a desktop on an ASUS board, fortunately ASUS outlines all settings in the manual. That made for an easy install. Unfortunately most laptop manufacturers don't like users poking around inside so they are far less than candid about how such an install can be achieved.
Ultimately I installed Windows fresh then restored all my files from the last boot drive by plugging it into an external USB dock and reinstalled my programs. Cleaner this way and Windows will run better.
Thanks again...I found a YouTube video showing my m.2 drive being installed on a Dell XPS 13. The clone was from a 128GB m.2 to the 500GB M.2 as the Dell has no spinning disk, but I still think it would work in my situation. The guy in the video put the m.2 drive in a external m.2 enclosure and plugged it into the laptop's usb 3.0 port much the same as you would do with a SSD drive. He used the migration software to clone the drive then opened the notebook and swapped out the m.2 drives. I have the enclosure. I plan on booting to the acronis bootable media and see if it picks up all my partitions. If not I'll give the Samsung software a try.
duffyfs,
If the drives you are working with are both Samsung brand then the Samsung Migration software will do the clone admirably. The Samsung software will only work if the destination disk is Samsung.
Thanks...Got it done. I put m.2 into the external enclosure and connected via usb 3.1. Booted to Acronis 2016 bootable media (Linux?) and used it to clone drive. Removed bottom of laptop (fun), installed m.2 and upgraded ram to 16 GB. I had a 500 GB 850 EVO in my stash so I swapped out the spinning hard disk for it. I'll keep the spinner in tack as a drop in backup in case the m.2 ever fails. I know the second ssd is redundent, but the laptop now sings. Appreciated your wisdom...Andy
Just curious, but has anyone found an external m2. PCIE NVME adapter for say the Samsung 950 pros that are NVME and not SATA? There are lots of the SATA version exteranal m.2 adapters, but haven't personally found anything for the PCIE ones (perhaps not possible, or maybe just not on the market yet since these drivers are still fairly new and not quite mainstream yet).
Here is one:
USB 3.0 C type for PCI-e M.2 B+M key devices:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-2-NGFF-PCI-E-SSD-6Gbps-To-USB-3-0-Converter-A…
Yeah, I saw that on Amazon too, but the 3 reviews say it is definitely not for PCIE and only for SATA m.2 drives - be careful with the ebay one as it seems to be the same one and mislabeled as PCI-E.
http://www.amazon.com/NGFF-PCI-E-LANE-30mm-Enclosure/dp/B00QA1QD7W/ref=…
I think the reviewers are mistaken. The device is slotted to accept both B and M key devices so it should work with any PCIe M.2 drive.
I may take a chance on the one from Amazon and verify for myself - the picture of the board does look like the right fit. It's not uncommon for 3rd party resellers to bait and switch (or do so unkowningly when they've replaced stock). It's a third party seller but fufilled by Amazon so a return would be easy enough if it didn't have the correct adapter. If I ever get around to pulling the trigger on it, I'll post back and let you all know. Could be useful for M.2 pci-e ccloning if your mobo only has one slot (or if the mobo goes T.ango U.niform).