M.2 data transfer on laptop.

Feb 27, 2018
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0
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I have an MSI laptop with a 128gb m.2 ssd in it, and i wanted to upgrade the ssd to a bigger one and not lose my windows copy or all my data and programs installed. The problem is that the laptop only has one m.2 slot and i cant just put the other one in and copy over stuff. Ive never done cloning or anything of that sort and have no idea how to do it. So can you guys help?
 
Solution


Obtain an external drive. 1TB will work.
Using Macrium Reflect, create an Image of the current drive on that external. Select all partitions of the current drive.
Create a Macrium Rescue USB or DVD.
Physically swap the drives.
Boot from the Rescue USB or DVD, and tell it where the Image is, and the target drive.
Go.

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


Obtain an external drive. 1TB will work.
Using Macrium Reflect, create an Image of the current drive on that external. Select all partitions of the current drive.
Create a Macrium Rescue USB or DVD.
Physically swap the drives.
Boot from the Rescue USB or DVD, and tell it where the Image is, and the target drive.
Go.
 
Solution

Dugimodo

Distinguished
Sep 22, 2011
67
0
18,610
I've never tried one of these but something like this https://www.amazon.com/ZTC-Enclosure-Adapter-SuperSpeed-ZTC-EN004-BK/dp/B00KQ4LNJC
should let you connect your M.2 drive externally and clone directly to it. Then you could use the old drive as a really fast portable drive. after swapping the drives and confirming everything works.

Edit: also as USAFRet mentioned, you also have to check the enclosure supports the right drive type as well as the laptop
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


Specifically, that enclosure will NOT work with an NVMe drive.
"Supports SATA B keyed, B+M keyed M.2 NGFF SSDs. However, it does Not Support M keyed nor PCIe NVMe devices. Please Check your M.2 SSD type first for compatibility. "

Again...m.2 is simply the physical connection. There are two types...SATA based and NVMe based.