The Best Way to Move Windows 10 to SSD without Cloning

Why Move Windows 10 to SSD?

Now more and more people want to replace their disks with SSDs, and then migrate their systems to SSD disks. So what are the advantages of SSD compared with traditional HDD disks? You can read on to learn about several key advantages of SSDs.

• Boost performance: After transferring Windows 10 to SSD, the performance of your computer will be greatly improved. It will run faster than before.
• Enhanced Security: Storing data on SSD is more secure than HDD.
• Less noise: SSDs don't have the noise of spinning metal platters.
• More durable: Compared with HDD, SSD can work in harsher environments (SSD can work normally between -10 and 70°C, while HDD can work between 5 and 50°C).

How to Move Windows 10 to SSD without Cloning

Many users want to move Windows 10 to SSD but don't want to clone it. Then, you can choose a new installation or a backup and restore method to help you solve the problem. But it is more recommended that you use the backup and restore method. Because a new installation has the following inconveniences.

First of all clean installation is not easy for everyone. 70% of people give up when creating a bootable disk. Beyond that, you'll need to partition again in order to do a clean install. And the clean install process can be confusing, with lots of jargon you've never heard of.

The Best Way to Move Windows 10 to SSD without Cloning

Therefore, backup and restore is the best way to move Windows 10 to SSD. To use this method to achieve your goal, you need a free professional backup and restore software to help you. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a good choice.

• As a professional backup and restoration software, it provides four major functions of system backup, disk backup, partition backup and file backup to meet various backup needs of users.
• In intelligent mode, the software only backs up used sectors. Since SSDs usually have a smaller capacity, it enables you to easily restore Windows 10 to a smaller SSD drive.
• It allows you to restore a Windows 10 image directly to an attached SSD without installation discs or a recovery drive.

Before starting, you also need to complete some preparatory work to ensure that the subsequent process goes more smoothly.

• Connect the SSD to the computer and make sure the computer detects it.
• If the target SSD is not empty, please backup files to external hard drive or other locations in advance. Because the files on the target disk will be erased during the restore process.
• Make sure the total disk space of the SSD is greater than the used space of the HDD.

Then you can download and install AOMEI Backupper Standard to your computer and follow the graphic steps below to start the operation.

Create Windows 10 System Backup

1. Open the software, navigate to Backup > System Backup. 

2. The system partitions will be selected automatically. You just need to select the destination location and click Start Backup.

In daily use, you can also click Schedule Backup here to set an automatic backup for continuous protection. Also, you set incremental or differential backup or automatic backup cleanup in the Backup Scheme (supported by Pro version) to greatly reduce disk space and image size. 

Restore Windows 10 to SSD

1. To restore Windows 10 image to SSD, click Restore > Select Task or Select Image File to locate the system backup you want to restore.

2. Select Restore this system image, tick Restore system to other location and click Next.

3. Select the target SSD as the destination and click Next to continue.

4. Tick the SSD Alignment checkbox to make the SSD perform better. Then confirm the operation and Start Restore to restore Windows 10 image to SSD.

Summary

This post explains why you should move Windows 10 to SSD and the best way to move Windows 10 to SSD without cloning. The free professional backup and restore software AOMEI Backupper Standard can help you easily back up Windows 10 and then restore Windows 10 to SSD.

In addition, if your computer fails to start, you can also create a backup from another working Windows 10 computer, and then use the Universal Restore function to restore this system backup to your computer. You can download this software to explore more useful functions.