Solved C drive cloned to a larger NVMe SSD, but recovery was not cloned, is this a problem?

Just need to check if my thinking is correct about not needing the recovery sections after cloning:

W10 is the original installed software of my desktop. Now it is W11.

I cloned my C drive system to a new and larger NVMe SSD. However, although successful, the recovery sections were not cloned. I thought I would have to do it again, but I thought the recovery must be from the original new computer time, W10. Since I no longer have or want W10, am I correct in thinking it is not problematic that the Recovery Sections were not cloned?

Not an issue as long as you use disk imaging software.

Thanks, allan really appreciate your reply, but not sure I understand. The clone is completed (just without recovery sections of C drive ). So not sure what you mean about using disk imaging software? I was planning on just putting the new NVMe SSD in my computer with the cloned system data without the recovery sections.

The recovery partition contains data provided by the OEM to allow you to restore the computer to "as shipped" state in the event of a catastrophe. You (and ALL users) should use disk imaging as a backup routine to insure you always can restore the system to a recent state if need be. As long as you do, the recovery partition is superfluous.

Once again, many thanks allan, I'm starting to get a better idea, but I am not there yet with a complete picture (= understanding)

I googled the difference between drive image and clone. Found this: Hard drive imaging vs. cloning: What's the difference?

I used AOMEI Backupper Pro, which I have on my computer, to clone my hard drive. I followed AOMEI guidelines, but there was one additional option I could have chosen that was not mentioned in the guidelines, so I did not select this. Now I have found an article that says to include Restore sections in the clone I had to select this option as well. This option is "sector-by-sector clone".

So, can I do another clone with this sector-by-sector selected? (and later also do a drive image)

However, in the "windowscentral.com article it says something I find very confusing: "Because cloning creates an exact copy — no compression — of a hard drive, you can only clone to a hard drive once. You can, of course, overwrite the clone on the hard drive in the case that you need the external drive for other storage."

"You can only clone a hard drive once...." I can only clone my NVMe SSD once? So, since I have already cloned it I can't clone it again??? That seems strange, but?

XYZ said:

recovery sections after cloning:

the recovery sections were not cloned

Click to expand...

Was this a Windows recovery partition or a factory recovery partition?
(they have different uses)

Thanks zbook. Can't say! The sections were just labelled Recovery. But as I mentioned in my previous post they were not included in the clone because I had not checked the "sector-by-sector" box.

they were not included

Click to expand...

They? How many?

I dont think you need sector by sector. You should be able to choose which partitions to include in the clone . A regular windows installation will have one Recovery partition which is where winre.wim lives. Oem machines might have their own recovery partition with a factory image that can restored, and sometimes also a "tools" partition.

xyz - Hopefully this will help. It's something I put together years ago for another forum:


Disk Imaging software takes a "snapshot" of your drive as it exists at the time you create the image. You can then restore the entire image or any file(s) or folder(s) you choose. It is a virtually foolproof way of backing up your system and providing a safe haven in the event of a catastrophe that requires you to blow away your system partition and restore it to a previous state. It also allows you to "test" various software and be confident that you have a the ability to return to the prior state any time you choose.

I used Acronis True Image for many years, but when they switched to a subscription model rather than outright user ownership, I moved to Macrium Reflect. It is every bit as reliable as Acronis and perhaps a bit more powerful.

I create an image of my system partition once a week to a secondary drive, rotating between two drives, and keep the 2 or 3 most recent images on each of those drives. In other words, week 1 the image is stored on secondary disc A and week two the image is stored on secondary disc B. I also image my other partitions about once a month. I always enable "verify image" in the options. It takes a little longer, but insures a valid image (the last thing you want is to try to restore an image only to find it is corrupt - it happens).

I also create an image before performing any drive level function (ie, changing the size of a partition) or making any significant change to the OS such as installing a service pack, or even when installing a "questionable" Windows update, etc.

Images may be created on any medium (external drive, usb drive, cd's or dvd's, etc). For obvious reasons they should not be stored on the same drive you are imaging. The easiest option is a second internal hd if you have one and, if you're really ambitious, to an external drive as well (one week to the internal & one week to the external or just duplicates on the external - that's actually the procedure I follow).

Images may be created "in the background" within the OS. If you need to restore the system partition, that will need to be done before the OS loads. You can start the process within the application in the OS and it will then tell you it needs to reboot to finish the process. Alternatively, you can boot to a "recovery disk" which you create from within the software (or to the application disk itself if you have one). Even easier, you can also use a built in tool to create a rescue environment on the PC itself (when the system first boots you will have the choice of booting to the OS or the rescue environment - the OS option can be an automated choice after "X" seconds so you do not need to make a manual choice every time the system boots). Non-system partitions or drives can be restored without a reboot


EDIT: Please note that since I put the above together, Macrium also changed to a subscription model (though they do still have a free version of the previous release - ver 8). Still, I find their app the current "best in class".

Thanks allan, for that very informative clarification, it is very kind of you and helps me understand much better. I used Macrium in the past, and maybe I should have bought it then because I really hate any company that uses this Adobe model of subscriptions, besides the fact I can't afford it. I will look at the older version and download it if it is still free.

SIW2 said:

They? How many?

I dont think you need sector by sector. You should be able to choose which partitions to include in the clone . A regular windows installation will have one Recovery partition which is where winre.wim lives. Oem machines might have their own recovery partition with a factory image that can restored, and sometimes also a "tools" partition.

Click to expand...

Thanks SIW2. There are two 450 MB and 704 MB. I do not know what is what/which is which! I don't know if Apple is any better at providing clarity, but MS Windows certainly isn't. As for needing sector by sector, but apparently you do need it with AOMEI Backupper Clone (if you want everything). However, I wasn't aware of this at the time.

Successfully Clone HDD to SSD Including Recovery Partition

Step 4. In this window, you can preview the operation, and tick the Sector By Sector Clone option to ensure the cloning will include recovery partition. Then, select extra features if necessary and click Start Clone.

Although I am cloning from NVMe SSD to NVMe SSD, just a larger one!

Please run disk partition information > post a share link

Before I get bogged down with all kinds of things I can't deal with, or won't have the technical know-how to do (although I will follow up with and do the suggestions from allan)

Just a simple question:

Can I redo the clone?

Or are there reasons I cannot (or should not)?

(so just to recap: I cloned my NVMe C-drive to a brand new but larger NVMe drive = however, the recovery sections were not cloned = can I redo this clone on the new drive? = If so, must I first do something, like wipe it clean, or? = or can I just redo the clone doing nothing beforehand = I will of course, this time do it using the sector-by-sector clone to ensure all sections are cloned)

You can redo the cloning process, but not really needed. And of recovery partitions is an old recovery (I'm guessing this is quite old Windows installation).

I would suggest leaving as it is and perform the
In place repair via upgrade:

​

This is a link to the free edition of Macrium Reflect: Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks

allan said:

This is a link to the free edition of Macrium Reflect: Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks

Click to expand...

thanks, allan, I was looking on Macrium but couldn't find anything

A couple of things to note. Please follow these instructions for the free version installation: During installation, you need to check personal use > and agree to use the software only for personal, non-commercial purposes. Then, you will need to uncheck register this installation of Macrium Reflect.

Also note that while Ver 8 works perfectly well, it will no longer receive updates. The new PAID version is version X.

AndreTen said:

You can redo the cloning process, but not really needed. And of recovery partitions is an old recovery (I'm guessing this is quite old Windows installation).

I would suggest leaving as it is and perform the
In place repair via upgrade:

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

​

Click to expand...

Thanks, AndreTen, I didn't know about this option. Interesting. Although the upgrade part sounds ominous. While I have no interest in restoring the old W10 recovery part (the computer is maybe 3/4 years old), as "allan" has mentioned, and I had not thought about, I need the OEM recovery part as my Windows licence and such like are in that.

At present, the former hard disk (NVMe SSD) is still installed, and the new NVMe SSD is in a hard drive enclosure not presently connected to the computer by USB.

The article doesn't cover this situation, but I assume the new hard drive would have to be installed in the computer as a C drive. But would be missing perhaps essential information, such as the OEM Windows licence for this process. It is the recovery section (OEM) that contains this information I need and not the recovery section for the old W10.

I feel it might be wiser to just do a new clone onto my new (external) drive. Since my knowledge and experience is too little, and my self-belief in this area is too shaky. My main concern and questions were, can I just go ahead and perform a new clone without further preparation (such as removing the data now on my new hard drive or any other action I would need to do first)?

allan said:

A couple of things to note. Please follow these instructions for the free version installation: During installation, you need to check personal use > and agree to use the software only for personal, non-commercial purposes. Then, you will need to uncheck register this installation of Macrium Reflect.

Also note that while Ver 8 works perfectly well, it will no longer receive updates. The new PAID version is version X.

Click to expand...

okay, thanks a lot for this additional and necessary information, allan

I have followed your instructions and downloaded/installed version 8 , Thanks