[Full Guide] How to Clone NVMe SSD without Reinstalling
Maybe you might clone NVMe SSD for some reasons. In this tutorial, you can find the way to clone it with a professional NVMe SSD cloning master AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Scenario: How to clone a NVMe SSD with only one slot?
Hi! I have a 128GB NVMe SSD that I used both as a boot drive and installed some programs on it. But I just bought a new one to replace it, I want to keep all my files/programs of the old NVMe SSD. If someone could help me with a guide to clone NVMe SSD with only one slot, I would be greatly appreciated.
- Question from linustechtips.com
Why do you want to clone NVMe SSD to another?
NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory express) is a standard interface protocol developed for PCIe, which has advantages like low latency, low energy consumption, high performance, etc. Therefore, many computer users choose to use it to enjoy high PC efficiency. However, some people may want to replace it after a period of use!
Why does this happen? Because when the NVMe SSD is running out of space, users may encounter low disk warning which will cause computer slowdowns. To fix it, they need to replace a larger hard drive, so cloning NVMe SSD to another one is inevitable.
On the other hand, because of the advantages of NVMe SSD, some Windows users will clone NVMe SSD for backup in advance.
Clone NVMe SSD with a professional disk cloner
How to clone an m.2 NVMe SSD? Although we can create a system image with the help of Windows built-in tools, the process is so tedious that many users cannot do it. So, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, a simpler and more practical NVMe SSD cloner will be recommend.
With the help of this powerful disk cloner, you can clone NVMe SSD to a larger SSD with two methods, including "Clone Disk Quickly" and "Sector-by-Sector Clone". In addition, it supports mutual conversion between MBR and GPT, preventing cloning failure due to partition table.
Here's why I became a hardcore fan of it:
✯ High compatibility: suitable for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP. ✯ Perfect interface: Display a concise and clear user interface. ✯ User-friendly: Provides operation guidance for users. ✯ Wide range of services: Not only can clone disks perfectly, but also provide users with many hot functions, including Allocate free space, Move Application from one partition to another, Convert FAT32 to NTFS, etc.
Step by Step: How to safely clone NVMe SSD even with single slot
If your computer has two M.2 PCle slots, the process of cloning an NVMe SSD shouldn't be too difficult. But how to clone a NVMe SSD when there's single slot? If you are still confused about this issue, please read the content below carefully and follow the instructions for practical operation.
│ Part 1. Preparations
Before implementing NVMe SSD clone, please make sure you have completed the following preparation work:
☝ Prepare an M.2 SSD to USB adapter, connect the computer and the destination disk.
☝ If the destination disk is a new disk, please initialize the disk first, otherwise you will not be able to recognize it in the computer. ☝ Double check the power connection
│ Part 2. Detailed Steps: Clone NVMe SSD to another
Once everything is ready, follow the steps below to clone NVMe SSD to another:
Step 1. Install and run this professional disk cloner, click "Clone" in the main interface, and select "Clone Disk".
Step 2. Choose the NVMe SSD as the source disk and click "Next".
Step 3. Select the destination disk to store the data on the source disk, and then click "Next".
Step 4. Then, you can check the source and destination disk in the next window or change to "Sector to Sector clone", and click the "Confirm" button to continue if there is no problem.
Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk or tick "4k alignment" to improve the reading and writing speed of the SSD.
Step 5. After returning to the main interface, check the pending operation and click "Apply" and "Proceed" to commit the operation.
│ Part 3. Install the new disk
When you have successfully cloned all the data on the original NVMe SSD to the new disk, you need to install it on your computer, please install your new drive according to the following.
Step 1. Unplug and then remove the battery from the laptop, press the power button for about 10 seconds to release the remaining power. If it is a desktop computer, please disconnect the power directly and open the host computer.
Step 2. Remove the case cover and locate the M.2 SSD on the motherboard. Loosen the screws and unplug the old NVMe SSD.
Step 3. Install the new NVMe SSD into the slot.
Step 4. Tighten the screws to secure the bracket.
│ Part 4. Follow-up: Change boot drive
If there is only one slot on your computer, you can boot from the new hard drive after installing it.
If your computer has two or more slots, we'll show you how to change boot drive to set up a new drive as a boot drive.
Step 1. Restart your computer, press F1/F2/F3/F5/Esc repeatedly to enter BIOS settings (because the settings of each computer are different, please press the corresponding key according to the specific situation).
Step 2. After entering the Boot Menu, set the destination drive to boot your PC.
Last words
The above is about clone NVMe SSD. I believe you have a preliminary understanding of the reasons for migrating NVMe SSD and the specific method of using AOMEI Partition Assistant to achieve it.
For Windows server users, you can use the Server Edition; and the Unlimited Edition can satisfy users who want to use AOMEI Partition Assistant on multiple computers at the same time.