To clone or migrate Windows to another drive, download DiskGenius Free Edition, connect both drives to your computer, and use the OS Migration feature to copy your entire Windows installation to the new drive. The free version handles the full process — no paid upgrade needed. This works for any scenario: hard drive to SSD, smaller SSD to larger SSD, SATA to NVMe, or any combination.
Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2), Windows 10 LTSC/IoT LTSC, and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 1, 2026
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Key Takeaways
- DiskGenius Free Edition is all you need to clone any disk — no paid version required for this process.
- Use OS Migration (not Clone Disk) when cloning a drive that has Windows on it — this ensures the target disk is bootable.
- The target disk does not need to be the same size as the source — it just needs enough space to hold all the used data.
- After cloning, create a system restore point and verify that TRIM is enabled on SSD targets for long-term drive health.
- DiskGenius offers two cloning modes: Hot Migration (clone while Windows runs) and Reboot to WinPE (more reliable, restarts into a pre-boot environment).
Quick Steps
- Download and install DiskGenius Free Edition.
- Connect both drives to your computer (use a USB to SATA or USB to NVMe converter for laptops).
- Open DiskGenius and click Tools > System Migration (or the OS Migration button).
- Select your source C: drive and target disk, resize the partition to fill the target, and click Start.
- Choose Hot Migration (or Reboot to WinPE if unavailable).
- After cloning completes, swap the drives, boot from the new disk, and create a system restore point.
Why Clone Instead of Reinstalling Windows?
Back when I was running my computer repair business, the number one thing people came in for was a slow PC. Nine times out of ten, the fix was the same — clone the old hard drive to an SSD. Cloning keeps everything: your programs, settings, files, and Windows activation all move to the new drive exactly as they were. A fresh install means reinstalling all your software and reconfiguring everything from scratch, which takes hours most people do not have.
The speed difference going from a hard drive to an SSD is genuinely one of the biggest improvements you can make to an older machine. Boot times drop from minutes to seconds, programs open instantly, and the whole system just feels responsive again.
What You Need Before Starting
- DiskGenius Free Edition — download from diskgenius.com
- Source disk — the drive that currently has Windows and your files
- Target disk — the new SSD or larger drive you want to clone to
- A way to connect both drives simultaneously:
- Laptop users: a USB to SATA converter or USB to NVMe/M.2 converter (depending on your drive type)
- Desktop users: just plug the new drive into a spare SATA port or M.2 slot on the motherboard — no converter needed
How to Clone Your Windows Drive With DiskGenius
Step 1: Download and Install DiskGenius
Go to the DiskGenius website and download the free version. Run the installer — it is a standard next-next-finish setup. Once installed, launch DiskGenius.
Step 2: Connect Both Drives
Both your source and target drives need to be connected to the computer at the same time. For laptops, plug the new drive into a USB converter and connect it to a USB port. For desktops, connect it directly to the motherboard.
Once both drives are connected, you should see them listed on the left side of the DiskGenius interface.
Note: Use a USB 3.0 port and converter for significantly faster transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0.
Step 3: Start the OS Migration
Click Tools > System Migration (or the OS Migration button at the top). DiskGenius will automatically detect your Windows C: drive as the source. Select your target disk — the new drive you want to clone to.
Important: All files and partitions on the target disk will be deleted during cloning. Make sure the target disk is empty or has no data you need to keep.
Clone Disk vs OS Migration: DiskGenius has both a Clone Disk and an OS Migration feature. Always use OS Migration when cloning a drive with Windows on it — this ensures the target disk will be bootable. If you accidentally start with Clone Disk, DiskGenius will prompt you to switch to OS Migration.
Step 4: Resize the Partition to Fill the Target Disk
On the migration settings screen, you will see a preview of how the partitions will be laid out on the target disk. If the C: drive partition does not fill all the available space, hover over the right edge of the partition in the preview and drag it all the way to the right. This ensures you use the full storage capacity of the new drive.
Your target disk does not need to be the same size as the source. What matters is whether the used space on the source fits inside the target. For example, cloning from a 1TB hard drive with only 60GB of data to a 120GB SSD works perfectly fine.
Step 5: Choose Hot Migration or WinPE and Start
After confirming the settings, DiskGenius will ask you to choose between two cloning modes:
- Hot Migration — clones while Windows is still running. Use this if it is available — it is the easier option and works for most situations.
- Reboot to WinPE — restarts your computer into a lightweight Windows environment to perform the clone. Use this if Hot Migration is grayed out, or if you want a more reliable transfer.
Make sure “Prevent system from sleeping during execution” is checked, then click Start. The cloning time depends on how much data needs to be copied — expect around 7–10 minutes for 60GB of data, longer for larger amounts.
Once cloning finishes, open File Explorer, navigate to the new drive, and verify that the Windows and Users folders are present. If they are, the clone was successful.
How to Swap the Drives After Cloning
Laptops
Shut the laptop down completely. Remove the back panel, take out the old drive, and install the cloned SSD in its place. Put the panel back on and power up. Your laptop should boot straight into Windows on the new drive with everything intact.
Desktops
Either go into the BIOS and change the boot order so the new drive is first, or disconnect the old drive so the computer only has the new one connected. Both approaches work — just make sure Windows is booting from the cloned drive and not the original.
Important Steps After Cloning
Create a System Restore Point
Search for “create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and open System Properties. System protection for C: is often turned off after a migration. Select the C: drive, click Configure, turn on system protection, allocate around 10% of disk space, and click Apply. Then click Create, name it something like “After Disk Clone”, and save it.
This gives you a safety net if anything goes wrong in the first few days after the clone.
Enable TRIM on Your SSD
TRIM helps your SSD manage and clear unused data blocks efficiently. Windows should enable it automatically, but it is worth verifying. Open PowerShell as administrator and run:
fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0This ensures TRIM is active and your SSD maintains peak performance over time.
Keep the Old Drive as a Backup
Do not format or wipe the old drive right away. Leave it untouched for at least a week. In rare cases, the first boot after a clone is fine but subsequent restarts can run into issues. Having the original drive as a backup means you can always go back.
For laptops, consider putting the old drive into a USB enclosure to use as external backup storage. After a week with no issues, you can decide whether to keep it as a long-term backup or wipe and repurpose it.
Optimize Your Windows Installation
After a successful clone is a great time to clean up your Windows installation. Winhance can uninstall bloatware, tweak privacy settings, and apply performance optimizations. If you are setting up a fresh drive and want to know what other software to install, check out my guide on must-know free software for a new Windows PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I clone a larger drive to a smaller one?
Yes, as long as the actual amount of data stored on the source disk fits inside the target disk. DiskGenius copies used data, not empty space. A 1TB drive with 60GB of files clones to a 120GB SSD without any issues. Always check the used space on your source drive before choosing a target.
What is the difference between Clone Disk and OS Migration?
Clone Disk performs a straightforward copy without special handling. OS Migration is designed specifically for drives with Windows installed — it ensures the target disk will be bootable after the process completes. Always use OS Migration when cloning your Windows drive.
How long does disk cloning take?
It depends on how much data needs to be copied and the speed of your connection. For around 60GB of data over USB 3.0, expect about 7–10 minutes. Larger datasets or USB 2.0 connections will take longer. NVMe-to-NVMe clones on desktops are the fastest.
What if my computer does not boot after cloning?
First, check that the BIOS is set to boot from the new drive and not the old one. If it still does not boot, try running Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment. If Hot Migration caused the issue, repeating the OS Migration using the Reboot to WinPE option instead often resolves it.
Do I need a USB converter to clone a disk on a desktop?
No. Desktop motherboards have multiple SATA connectors and M.2 slots, so you can connect both drives directly to the motherboard without any adapter. The USB converter is mainly needed for laptops that can only hold one internal drive at a time.
