Solved Backup and Restore Windows to a new disk and cleanup partitions

Jeroquee · Sep 26, 2023

Hello,

im getting a new 2TB SSD and want to restore my current OS to this new disk while changing the size. The old 1TB SSD will be removed from the computer when everything is done.
Just installed Macrium Reflect Free to make an image of the current state hope this is sufficient. Disk 4 (1TB) is the OS

I would like my new Disks partitions to look something like this (ESP / MSR / ~500GB OS / 1,5TB free / recovery? )
Im not sure how i can achieve this and dont want to destroy any boot related things so i hope someone can help me here.
Also if there are better ways of structuring the Data im open to suggerstions i just find 2TB for the OS hard to manage / backup in the future and feel like i have to do something.

Also while im at it Disk 2 has some unused Space i guess this is some old Recovery partition somehow before everything else. Is there a way i can merge it with the data?

zbook · Sep 26, 2023

Windows now has the recovery partition immediately to the right of the C: to allow expansion and contraction of the adjoining partitions.

Code:

The recovery tools should be in a separate partition than the Windows partition to support
automatic failover and to support booting partitions encrypted with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption.

We recommend that you place this partition immediately after the Windows partition. This allows Windows
to modify and recreate the partition later if future updates require a larger recovery image.

UEFI/GPT-based hard drive partitions

learn.microsoft.com

Ghot · Sep 26, 2023

Hello @Jeroquee and welcome to ElevenForum.

It would be much easier to just do a clean install of Windows 11, on the new 2TB SSD, with all the other drives unhooked.
But, if for some reason you don't want to do that...

1. Get Minitool Partition Wizard (free) and install it on the C:\ drive.
2. Open Minitool and right click the C:\ drive and choose: Move/Resize
3. This will open a window with two grab bars. One on the left edge of C:\ and one on the right.
4. Grab the one on the right and slide it to the left, until the C:\ drive is 500GB.
5. Click OK, then click Apply (lower left). Computer will need to reboot to do the resize.
6. After reboot, open Macrium and choose: "Image selected disks on this computer (top left).
7. Put check marks in the first three partitions on Disk 4. (Don't check mark the Recovery partition).
8. Make the backup of those first three partitions.
9. Then (in a similar way) make a backup of just the Recovery partition.
10. Install the new 2TB SSD into the computer. Boot from the Macrium rescue media and "restore" the first backup we made to the 2TB.
11. That will give you the first three partitions on the new 2TB drive.
12. Then reboot the computer to the 2TB drive, and use Minitool to create a storage partition using all the rest of the space, except for 642MB.
13. Then use Macrium to "restore" the Recovery partition backup, to the leftover 642MB unallocated space.

When you're all done, your new drive will look something like this...

In step #12... if the computer won't boot to the new 2TB drive, do this...

1. Unhook the old Disk 4 from the computer, and then boot from the Macrium bootable rescue media.
2. Once in the bootable Macrium program... use the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" tool.

Like so...

OR...

1. Get Minitool Partition Wizard (free) and install it on the C:\ drive.
2. Open Minitool and right click the C:\ drive and choose: Move/Resize
3. This will open a window with two grab bars. One on the left edge of C:\ and one on the right.
4. Grab the one on the right and slide it to the left, until the C:\ drive is 500GB.
5. Click OK, then click Apply (lower left). Computer will need to reboot to do the resize.
6. Once back on the desktop, use Minitool to "slide" (with the grab bars), the Recovery partition up against the new 500GB C:\ drive.
7. Then use Minitool to create a new storage partition on all of the remaining space on the new 2TB drive.
8. Then open Macrium and choose: "Create an image of the partitions required to backup and restore Windows".
9. Make that backup. Now shut the computer OFF, unhook Disk 4 and hook up the new 2TB disk.
10. Boot from the Macrium bootable rescue media and restore the backup you just made... to the new 2TB SSD.
11. Then reboot and see if the 2TB SSD will boot. If it doesn't...
12. Boot from the Macrium bootable rescue media again, and run the "Fix Windows boot problems" tool. (see 2nd pic above).

Jeroquee · Sep 27, 2023

Thanks, i will try the second approach as this will solve the problem @zbook mentioned too. I wasn't sure how to hande the recovery partition.
This looks relatively easy. Is there a reason you are recommending a clean install for just a ssd switch?
I installed Windows like ~6 month ago and just dont want to waste time getting my work environment up and running again.

Regarding Disk 2 is there a way to get the 600MB back? Maybe somehow delete / recreate the msr?

Scannerman · Sep 27, 2023

You may even wish to consider purchasing the license for the full lifetime version of Minitool Partition Wizard and unlocking all the options. This is one app I can vouch for and can say that it has never failed me. A reasonable investment if you work with partitions frequently.

Regarding Disk 2, if you have a spare SSD of equal or greater capacity you could just clone the Disk first before you start altering the partitions on Disk 2. Once you have validated that you have safely retrieved the 600MB and deleted/recreated the msr you can delete the clone. I'm not certain that the free version will let you do this, but my licensed version will let me move a partition to wherever I want it to be.

TM21 · Sep 28, 2023

Why do so many folks want to make something difficult out of something comparatively SIMPLE?

To replace a small HD with a bigger HD, just CLONE * the little drive to the larger drive. Then remove the old drive, and boot up with the new drive.
* Many Backup programs have the Drive Cloning option. I still use Ghost, that I started using in 1997.

Then at your convenience, while running your OS on the new drive. You can run any Hard Drive Manager program, and resize the partitions to your liking. Yes, the Mini Tool program works great. as does 'EaseUS Partition Master'. I have them both, and I use them both.
To answer the inevitable question....NO, Windows can't do that by itself....NON Windows software is required.
And, in most cases, At least EaseUS Partition Master FREE, will let you resize partitions, create new partitions, format new partitions, etc.
** At no time, should you have to BUY any program to do what we've been talking about here.

Cheers Mates,
TM

Scannerman · Sep 28, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
Why do so many folks want to make something difficult out of something comparatively SIMPLE?

To replace a small HD with a bigger HD, just CLONE * the little drive to the larger drive. Then remove the old drive, and boot up with the new drive.
* Many Backup programs have the Drive Cloning option. I still use Ghost, that I started using in 1997.

Then at your convenience, while running your OS on the new drive. You can run any Hard Drive Manager program, and resize the partitions to your liking. Yes, the Mini Tool program works great. as does 'EaseUS Partition Master'. I have them both, and I use them both.
To answer the inevitable question....NO, Windows can't do that by itself....NON Windows software is required.
And, in most cases, At least EaseUS Partition Master FREE, will let you resize partitions, create new partitions, format new partitions, etc.
** At no time, should you have to BUY any program to do what we've been talking about here.

Cheers Mates,
TM

I don't mind paying for a license for software after I've tested the software enough to confidently be assured that 1) I'm not dealing with a fly by night company. 2) The software serves my needs safely and adequately. 3) I'm not going to be inundated with adware as a result of paying for it. I am not averse to rewarding the dedication and work of software developers. I'm not averse to open source programs either. I certainly have zero regrets paying for a lifetime license for Minitool Partition Wizard (although I think they should get the "Mini" out of it because it does so much more than mere partitioning.)

Nonetheless the Magemeister nailed it. This is a simple process. The only reason I suggested cloning the drive first is to put Jeroquee at ease. I recall the anxiety I experienced when I first started playing with partitions. Having a cloned copy of the original on hand allows the novice to proceed with confidence.

Solved Backup and Restore Windows to a new disk and cleanup partitions

Jeroquee

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zbook

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Ghot

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Jeroquee

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Scannerman

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TM21

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Scannerman

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