need to migrate Win7 64bit from one SSD to another SSD

[stasvernon]

Hey guys, I need to migrate Win7 64bit from one SSD to another SSD, but the original drive has MBR and I want GPT on the destination drive.
Anybody knows a free or with trial period utility that can do this?
I don't care about data on destination drive (its new). I have acronis true image HD 2015 license from crucial, but its very limited in functionality (several functions are locked, e.g. "Acronis universal restore" not available).
Thank you.

 

[Megahertz07]

You haven't mentioned if you have a Laptop or Desktop. To use GPT your BIOS MUST be UEFI and Win MUST be 64 bits.
Always make a BACKUP of your data files before playing with your running disk.
I never done it before, so I don't guarantee it will work. Try this:
Detach all other HDD and SSD and leave only the new SSD.
On BIOS set:
- SATA=AHCI (Or RAID if you have a RAID array)
- OS=Other
- Storage Boot and PCI device to UEFI only
- XHCI Hand off to disabled
- Fast boot to disable

- Boot your Win 7 64 installation on UEFI mode (important), go to install, custom, advanced, delete all partitions, create a new one (Win will create 3 partitions) and ABORT (don't proceed). You have created a GPT disk with 3 partitions. One UEFI -100M FAT32, one MSR - 120M raw and one large NTFS partition.
Now you have to copy your C: drive to the new disk on the large partition.
To do so you can do an image of C: drive and restore it to the new drive.
Once restored, detach all other HDD and SSD and leave only the new SSD.
Boot your Win 7 64 installation on UEFI mode (important), and launch start up repair.

 

[stasvernon]

Thank you!
Its a laptop, don't really see why it is important.
It does support UEFI. Its Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.

- XHCI Hand off to disabled

do you mean AHCI?

 

[Osprey]

The following copied from the Lenovo T430s manual.

How to install Windows 7 64-bit in Legacy BIOS mode (MBR disk)

- Startup > UEFI/Legacy Boot > Legacy Only

How to install Windows 7 64-bit in UEFI mode (GPT disk)

- Startup > UEFI/Legacy Boot > UEFI Only

 

[Osprey]

How to download Windows 7 SP1 ISO.

- You can use either Retail or OEM disks to install Windows 7 (with Retail and OEM licenses), it doesn't matter which one you choose.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool



How to use Rufus to create bootable Window 7 USB for Legacy BIOS or UEFI.

USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Option Two: Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI

6. To Create Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 with UEFI

7. To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 using Legacy BIOS (without UEFI)

 

[stasvernon]

The following copied from the Lenovo T430s manual.

How to install Windows 7 64-bit in Legacy BIOS mode (MBR disk)

Thank you. The thing is I don't want to reinstall it from scratch. I need to do migration to new SSD.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here's one:


Free Convert MBR to GPT Without Data Loss - EaseUS

I don't know how well it works. I'd certainly back up data first.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
I don't see how you can avoid not clean installing going to gpt

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html#option2

It's a lot easier to clean install these days with the unofficial sp2
There are essentially 3 updates needed for a clean install of windows that will get you updated through April of 2016

KB3020369 & KB3172605 & KB3125574 all can be downloaded from the M$ catalog using internet explorer
Microsoft Update Catalog

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...17/simplifying-updates-for-windows-7-and-8-1/
When manually installing updates you need to switch your update settings to Never check for updates and restart the machine first.

After restart you will need to ensure the built in windows update service is stopped and set to manual first or it will conflict with the stand alone installer.

Afterwards reset you windows updates service to what it was before and update settings to your preference and check for updates
Should be about 50 or so update left to install.

 

[Megahertz07]

I've asked what kind of computer you have to see the tools that you have. With only a laptop it's much more difficult to transfer a working MBR SSD to another GPT SSD.
Do you have a desktop where you can attach the SSD's (Old an new)?
Do you have a external 2.5" enclosure?
A clean 1G (or bigger) flash drive?