Home Installation Guides How to clone the data from your old hard drive to a new SSD on a PC laptop

How to clone the data from your old hard drive to a new SSD on a PC laptop

Last updated on May 28, 2026

To clone your computer we recommend Macrium Reflect X Home 30 day trial

It is hard to create a guide for software that is always changing. Here are the fundamentals.

You have to register the trial with Macrium, you need to give up an email address but they are a legitimate business, you will not get spam.

Before you clone you must turn off or pause any antivirus software.

Once installed, click on the clone link below the drive you want to clone.

Then choose the drive to clone too. If it does not appear, cancel and refresh. Check your cables.

Once you have the target drive on screen it will show all the partitions and a long grey block for the target, this means there is nothing on the drive. If you are doing the clone again then you might see data on the target drive. Right mouse click and choose delete until you have a long grey block.

Click clone link under your original drive. A small window will pop up that says Shrink or Expand, choose this option.

All the partitions should be copied onto the new SSD. They should look similar but the main C: drive will have more space. If you see a grey block after the paritions you made a mistake, cancel and repeat.

Click finish and the clone will start. Once it is finished, shut down and replace. It should boot into windows. If you get a blue screeen, repair or recover then the cloen did not work. There is no work around, you have to redo the clone.

Troubleshooting

If you must turn off any antivirus software.

Check if Bitlocker is on. Turn off.

Are there any other encryption or management software installed?

You can call me on 02 9391 5201 and we can troubleshoot