SSD misread on Windows (attempting to clone drive)

authorandrew

web designer-developer
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I have a Samsung 850 Pro fresh out of the box, and I'm hoping to clone my old Seagate onto this SSD, and then use it as my primary boot drive. If possible, I'd like to do this without reinstalling windows and all my programs.

The drive is recognized on Windows (once I initialized it in Partition Manager, per Samsung's FAQ instructions) as a 250gb drive, but it is not displaying as an SSD in the Defragment dialog, nor is the Samsung Magician software recognizing it. This leads me to believe I've not set this up correctly as an SSD, and I want to get this resolved before I clone the drive with Samsung's software.

I have the drive connected through a USB cable to a board that's from a USB Hard Drive. The connection interface is the same (Sata 2?) so I assumed I could clone the drive while the SSD was plugged in to USB, and then swap out the internal HDD with the new, cloned, SSD (I run a laptop therefore only one drive slot). Perhaps the USB connection is screwing up how the SSD is being read?

I don't have any experience with SSDs, so I'm looking for help here. I'm anxious about messing up this 250 dollar purchase, so any advice is welcome. Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Your specs say the Seagate is 500GB but your Samsung is only 250GB. You can use Macrium Reflect to "clone" the first disk to the second provided that the USED space on the first disk is smaller than the total space on the second.
 

My Computer

The space is smaller, I can fit it. But Windows is not recognizing my SSD properly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Look, I explained this in my original post, if you guys would take the time to read it. I have the software installed, I know how to transition the flipping data. Windows is not reading my SSD as an SSD, but as an HDD, and consequently the Samsung software won't even recognize the drive. I have Samsung data migration installed. I know how to migrate the drive -- once I get to that point. But I'm not there yet because of this recognition error.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
I've installed the program but I'm continuing to have problems with the disk. Again, I think this is a deeper issue, not related to cloning my files in any way. I don't need any more links to how to clone my files.

When I connect the SSD, it often doesn't show up in my 'Computer' folder. Additionally, partition manager doesn't continue to show it as initialized -- I have to do this every time I plug it in. Further, AOMEI cannot complete operations on it. Just want to emphasize this: I don't need help cloning my drive. I have deeper issues with the SSD (that I've described in my first post and this one) that need resolving first.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Via this thread (Samsung 840 EVO - Magician/Migration doesn't recognize it [Solved] - SSD - Storage) I've discovered that my hard drive enclosure can cause problems: "...many external enclosures cause driver issues with the SSD causing the Migration program to not detect it. MAgician is made to not detect the SSD until it is plugged internally." Thus, I've bought a regular USB-->SATA cable and it should come on Monday. Once that's bought, hopefully the magician will detect my SSD, I can secure erase it, and clone my hard drive.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Look, I explained this in my original post, if you guys would take the time to read it. I have the software installed, I know how to transition the flipping data. Windows is not reading my SSD as an SSD, but as an HDD

I figured you where a PC guy.. And that you know windows can not go on a removable drive,, ie USB
I also figured you would have formatted the SSD to match the partition structure of the OS - instead you have to initialize it every time..

I see you posted a link, and purchased a new sata to usb adapter..

You could also use Macruim to make a system image of the HDD and then restore that image to the SSD..

An SSD is a harddrive with not moving part, nothing special required..

But you said you had that covered.. And you made no mention of anything about your system..

many external enclosures cause driver issues with the SSD causing the Migration program

thus the link to Aomei partition assistant..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Look, I'm not trying to cause any arguments here, I'm just trying to work through a frustrating process. Given that the Samsung Drive Transfer software runs on Windows, and I run a laptop with only one drive bay, I figured there wasn't another way to clone the drive except through an external connection. I bought the adapter in hopes of circumventing this. All I want to ultimately do is get all of my HDD data onto the SSD, with Windows recognizing it as a proper SSD (no defrag, optimized for performance).

How can I make/restore images without using an external connection? One of the drives, either the SSD or the HDD, has to be external since I only have one drive bay. My system specs are in the 'My system specs' button.

Even with Aomei, I can't read/modify the SSD through the faulty SATA cable I have, which is why I ordered another. My hope is to connect the SSD with the correct cable, clone the data, whether through EaseUS, Samsung's software, or Aomei (I don't care which at this point), and then after that slip the SSD into the main drive bay and boot from it (perhaps running the Windows repair disk in the middle to smooth over any issues from the cloning).

Is any part of this process faulty, and if so, what should I do to fix it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Is any part of this process faulty, and if so, what should I do to fix it?

The process, no. I have cloned/migrated using a combination of internal and external drives numerous times. So, your approach is correct.

Problem I ran into, which seems to be affecting you too, is external drive adapters are inherently unreliable. I went through three different ones until I found one that worked reliably -- and that one is not one of the simple adapters but instead, a "dock" in which you insert the drive vertically into a slot. It requires external power and connects using a USB cable. They come in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 flavors -- and I have one of each, the 2.0 for connecting to laptops, the 3.0 for connecting to desktops. Recommend you check these out -- the USB 2.0 are cheaper just slower.
 

My Computer

That's upsetting to hear. I picked up a simple cable on amazon but I wont be able to test it until Monday when it ships. Here's hoping it works. At this rate I'm thinking it would be easier to reinstall windows and throw the cloning bit out of the window.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Or use a process that does not require you to be in the windows environment..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Care to elaborate on that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
That's upsetting to hear. I picked up a simple cable on amazon but I wont be able to test it until Monday when it ships. Here's hoping it works. At this rate I'm thinking it would be easier to reinstall windows and throw the cloning bit out of the window.

In my case, the particular cable in use (in this case, USB cables) did not make any real difference. With the simpler adapters (the kind that plug into a drive and get their power using a "brick" plugged into the wall), they would simply not work more than half of the time. And, in other cases, they would work OK, but during a file transfer, the "drive" would suddenly vanish from the PC and I would have to start all over from scratch.

When I switched to using a more expensive "dock" (an external case in which the drive is inserted vertically into a slot), these problems vanished.
 

My Computer

Sounds like I really need to either purchase a dock, install from scratch on the SSD, or use one of the non-Windows methods KHYI hinted at.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
Look in my sig below for windows 8.1 se -
AOmei does not support GPT in the free edition, But Macruim does and is on that boot disk..

If you only have the two drives to work with - boot from the SE media CD/DVD/USB- and backup your HDD to a file on your SSD..

Then copy that backup file back to your HHD as a file (as you can not save to the drive being backed up)
Swap your HDD to usb and SSD into your laptop..

You can then use Aomei Partition Assistant (also included in SE) to partition your SSD and restore the previous backup image on your now usb connected HDD to the SSD using macruim..

Or find the Sansung migration wizard setup program on your HDD and run setup in X, then you can try that program to migrate usb connected HDD to internal SSD..

Windows SE boots a windows environment into ram (Drive X)
very similar to PE Builder - Create Bootable USB or CD/DVD based on Windows PE with AOMEI PE Builder but very different as well, with less restrictions..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Should I partition the SSD with the same System Reserved partition (450mb) and the main C: partition? Will restoring the image file automatically put everything in the right place if I've set up these two partitions?

Once I've done that, is there anything else I need to do to make things bootable on the SSD? Something like re-register Windows, or run a repair on the disk through the PE USB drive or something? Thanks for all your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
I've made the Macrium file backup, and it's sitting on my original Seagate HDD, which is now connected by my SATA-->USB cable. That works fine, but the SSD is not recognized when it's directly in the laptop SATA post.
Everything works fine via USB, but not via the SATA port, which makes me think there's still an issue with how I initially set up the drive.

It's not the slot, since the HDD is recognized without fail (I've booted from that and am running that now). It's not the drive, because it works connected via USB (I used it to back up the HDD to a file). The only thing I can think is that my initial problems with the external drive bay have continued to affect the drive and how it's recognized by the system.

I have the backup on my HDD, and I'm ready to move forward, but I need to clear away these problems with the SSD and make sure it's recognized consistently without fail before I move forward. Is there a way to kind of reset the SSD to factory state? (The Magician software still won't even recognize it)

Really frustrated, and waiting for advice so I can finally get the system running on the SSD. Thanks for your help.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dm4 3170-se Beats Edition
    CPU
    Intel i5-3210M @ 2.50GHz
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 22xi (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Momentus XT 500gb with 16gb SSD hybrid
    Browser
    Opera 26.0
With the SSD drive internal on the PC - is it recognized in or by the bios firmware?

If so try and run windows setup from your windows 8.1 setup media on the internal SSD - did that work?

If that worked - restore just the windows partition from the backup image stored on the external HDD to the internal SSD's windows partition
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
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