Cloning C: to mSATA - "Set active"?

I'm using EaseUS to clone my current C: drive onto an mSATA (currently A: ) which is already fitted and recognised in the BIOS.

During the cloning setup there is a box above the target mSATA "Set active" - I would think that this is so that the system can boot from it, which is what I want.

However, EaseUS's Help has confused me, it gives me the impression that I only tick "Set active" if I want the laptop to boot from "the cloned partition on another hard disk"

I think this is the last little query that's stopping me getting this done, I'd be so grateful for instructions.

clemenzina said:

However, EaseUS's Help has confused me, it gives me the impression that I only tick "Set active" if I want the laptop to boot from "the cloned partition on another hard disk"

What exactly confuses you about "the cloned partition on another hard disk"? Can you clarify that?

I agree that the EaseUS instructions aren't well written and the intent is not crystal clear.

The active partition typically contains the loader for an operating system, but I often see situations where partitions are marked "active" unnecessarily.

ignatzatsonic said:

What exactly confuses you about "the cloned partition on another hard disk"? Can you clarify that?

I take it to mean that I do NOT tick the "Set active" box because I want to boot from the A: drive I'm cloning to, not from "the cloned partition on another hard disk".

Is that right?

My guess is that the instructions are rather generic and intended to fit all cases.

Therefore my take would be that you should tick it to set active.

I'd think you could later correct it if wrong---or even re-clone if necessary and make the other choice.

Have you rejected using an image rather than a clone?

clemenzina said:

EDIT - or maybe I'll wait a little while, in case someone comes along who has experience of this. I'm OK with the 1TB 5400rpm, it's just a little slow.

OK, nothing wrong with that. I'll admit to not having any experience with mSATA, but I don't know why that would be different than an ordinary SSD.

Yeah, imaging means burning disks or bootable flash drives, so a clone is worth a shot.

I assume that mSATA gizmo did not include any type of cloning software?

Additionally--you might take a look at Macrium to make a clone. It's very well thought of and is noted for clarity and a straight-forward interface. Unless you are wedded to EaseUS for some reason.

I've done lots of imaging with Macrium, but no cloning.

OK, just saw your new picture.

You're already into the "cloning" choice, so I'd figure that you just highlight the partitions you want to clone (copy) and choose next. "Copy selected partitions".

You need to include the system reserved partition as well as C.