How Do I Transfer DUAL-Boot Setup to New SSD?

Hello,

I have only one computer, and yet, I want to be able to run some programs in Windows 7…and some in Windows XP.

To solve this problem, I used EasyBCD to set up my computer so that following the (optional) BIOS screen, a Windows Boot Manager screen appears, allowing me to choose whether I want to boot into Windows 7 or Windows XP.

Now, here’s my question: I would like to transfer an image of my C: drive to a new SSD and keep my dual-boot setup.

I realize there are many sets of instructions on the Internet on how to copy a C: drive (and Operating System) to a new HDD (or SSD), where a computer uses a single Operating System.
However, as my rig is a dual-boot system, are there any additional steps I need to take to keep the dual-boot setup when transferring my Operating System (and other C: drive files) to the new SSD?

As I’m even less tech-savvy than I probably appear , I would very much appreciate step-by-step instructions.

Please note: Setting up my system, I partitioned a single SSD into logical drive C: (containing Windows 7 OS) and logical drive D: (containing Windows XP OS).

(Also, while it might be nice if I had the extra money and the extra space, please don’t suggest I buy a second computer …and please don’t suggest I use Compatibility Mode, as I have tried Compatibility Mode and it just doesn’t work well for me.)

Thank you for any help you may be able to give me.


Here’s a break-down of my system:

- Dual-boot Windows XP Professional 64-bit (with Service Pack 3) and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (with Service Pack 1);
- Asus DDR3 2400 Intel LGA 2011 Motherboard P9X79-E WS;
- Intel Core i7-3820 Quad-Core Processor 3.6 GHz 10 MB Cache LGA 2011 - BX80619I73820;
- Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B CPU Cooler;
- 4 x CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9;
- Mushkin MKNSSDRE1TB Reactor 1TB SATA III 6Gb 2.5inch SSD;
- Crucial M550 1TB SATA 2.5" 7mm (with 9.5mm adapter) Internal Solid State Drive CT1024M550SSD1;
- Crucial M500 480GB SATA 2.5-Inch 7mm (with 9.5mm adapter) Internal Solid State Drive CT480M500SSD1;
- MSI RX480 8GB GDDR5 Gaming X Twin Frozr VI graphics card;
- Seasonic PRIME 850 Titanium (SSR-850TD Active PFC F3) power supply;
- Corsair Carbide Series Air 540 High Airflow ATX Cube Case CC-9011030-WW;
- CyberPower 1285AVR, 1285VA/750W (UPS)

Note: My C: drive is currently stored on the Crucial M500 480GB SSD, and I would like to transfer it to the new Mushkin MKNSSDRE1TB Reactor—and keep my dual-boot setup.

Easy, just clone the drive. I usually use acronis, but that's not a free software.
I have heard good about macrium reflect, though.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Why not just use a Windows XP VM?

Most cloning software should work, you could also do it via dd from a Linux boot CD.

Thanks for your help.

As I would like to keep the current Crucial SSD in my system (as drive D: instead of its current C: drive status), do I simply reconnect it after unplugging it and rebooting the computer? ...And do I simply reconnect it to the same port it was originally connected to...or do I need to connect it to a different port so that it doesn't reappear as drive C:?

Stereoeggs said:

Thanks for your help.

As I would like to keep the current Crucial SSD in my system (as drive D: instead of its current C: drive status), do I simply reconnect it after unplugging it and rebooting the computer? ...And do I simply reconnect it to the same port it was originally connected to...or do I need to connect it to a different port so that it doesn't reappear as drive C:?

Click to expand...

Just change your HDD boot priority to the new disk in the BIOS. Once you boot to it the old one should appear as another drive. If you don't like the letter Windows automatically assigns it, just change it in disk management.

Hey, thanks so much for taking the time to help me with this in more detail!

With the additional information you have provided, I should be good to go.

I have used and still use AOMEI Backuper. This is a straight forward clone tool and it will give you the option to keep the SSD aligned on clone.


You can go about this one of two ways. The first is using a SATA to USB adapter like this: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Conv...F8&qid=1480751029&sr=8-5&keywords=sata+to+usb

You would plug in the SSD to the cable, run AOMEI and chose the destination drive as the SSD.

The other option is to plug the SSD into your current free SATA port in the computer and clone to it that way.

Hopefully your boot loader doesn't get messed up. If that should happen you will need to pull out your OS disks and do a repair of the boot loader. I had to do this with a Dell computer that had a recovery partition. For some reason after the clone the OS wouldn't boot. I just popped in my Win 7 disk and did a repair. Then I used EASEUS partition master and deleted the recovery partition. Wasn't needed. Especially since I have a OS disk.

Does everything you need for free https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

From that link. https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/migrate-os-to-ssd-hd.html

I guess this is a clone?

Does more than that.

I know that. I was asking a question. Is that a clone mode?

Yeah mate, plus many other things.