How can I transfer a windows install to an ssd?

Question

My workplace purchased 5 Acer E15 laptops, along with 5 compatible m.2 ssds. They've asked me to clone the windows install over to the SSDs they purchased. I have found some tools online that claim to do so for a fee, but I would rather find a functionality within windows, or the bios, that can do it instead. I have found a few articles online that instructs re-installing windows to the ssd from the disc, then formatting the HDD, but having no disc, would that route be possible?

Answer 1

You need an SSD to USB dock and Macrium Reflect(the free version will do what you need) to clone each laptop to each SSD. Then install that SSD in that laptop.

Answer 2

I used clonezila to do that on my laptop, and it worked fine. You must take care to clone the HDD to the SSD for each laptop individually, because Windows 10 knows what hardware it is installed on.

Answer 3

If you have windows 8 or 10 you can download windows media creation tool and create a USB installer that will do for all machines.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO#

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows8ISO#



This would give you a fresh install.

Your alternative is to get some cloning software such as macrium reflect, easeus todo, acronis true-image (google any of them for more details) the first two have free versions, acronis has to be paid.



You could install the cloning software on one machine and create a bootable USB cloning flash drive that could then be used on any of the machines to clone the drives.



As long as each machine has an existing valid copy of Windows there will be no problem

Answer 4

First, unless they have a site license, it is illegal to use a windows installation disk on more than one computer.



Second, if they DO have a site license, I don't think you can simply clone an operating system from hard drive to hard drive. I may be wrong about that, but I have never heard of that, and I would think you would need to install each PC with it's own copy from the original installation disk.