How Migrating System to Larger SSD Impacts Folder Redirections

SoFine409 · 07 Dec 2015

I have a Dell XPS 8700 with a 256GB SSD and its time to migrate to a larger SSD. I intend to keep the small SSD after the migration is finished. I have a couple of question. The new SSD is a Samsung 850 Evo so I understand that the Samsung Magician software that's included should take care of the migration without problems. If anyone has experience using the Magician I like to hear from you if there are any gotcha's I need to look out for.

I'm also concerned about some of the directories that I've redirected to a larger HDD (My Documents, Downloads, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos) will still function properly as long as I don't change the drive letter on the destination HDD, correct?

I'm also assuming that I should change the drive letter on the old SSD to allow me to use "C" for the new SSD, correct?

I'm also assuming that the Samsung Magician is smart enough that it won't duplicate the "signature of the old SSD to the new one, correct?

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

LordSnow · 08 Dec 2015

if you boot your computer form the new cloned larger ssd, it will automatically use the C for the new ssd. if the (My Documents, Downloads, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos) were stored in C: drive, they will be migrate to new ssd.

SoFine409 · 08 Dec 2015

Thanks for your response. The redirected folders (My Documrnts, etc) are currently on my D-drive (a large HDD) so I'm assuming the when I reboot after cloning the redirection should be just fine. I plan to deactivate the old ssd before I reboot to avoid any problems. when I'm sure everything is working OK then I'll reformat the old small ssd and use it as a scratch disk got Photoshop.

Ranger4 · 08 Dec 2015

I have used Samsung magician to migrate from an old drive to the new Samsung SSD without any problems, but other users have experienced problems.

You may be better off using Macrium Reflect & cloning the old drive to the new one. I have used Macrium as well & that also worked perfectly. Macrium is probably easier to use & if you install it you can also use it for doing back up images.

A free version of Macrium can be downloaded from here.

Macrium Reflect Free

SoFine409 · 09 Dec 2015

Hi Ranger4, I've been using Acrionis for many years for full drive backups but never for cloning. I suppose that I could always just restore a full disk backup after formatting and aligning the new ssd. I'll probably stick with Acronis since I'm familiar with it. I understand that like Magician, Acronis sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. I expect that truth be told the problems might be "operator error." At least I have several options. I'll probably start with Magician and hold Acronis as a fall back if things go poorly. New ssd should arrive tomorrow so I'll repost with my results. Thanks for your response.

Ranger4 · 09 Dec 2015

Thanks for getting back. Yes it is probably sensible to use Acronis if Magician fails, as you are familiar with it.

How Migrating System to Larger SSD Impacts Folder Redirections

Questions About Migrating System to Larger SSD