Copy Windows 11 onto a fresh hard drive.
Copy Windows 11 onto a fresh hard drive.
I am sure there are lots of other options just like this one, so sorry for the confusion - but I need a specific answer because my search is not giving me what I need right now. I actually need to upgrade my hard drive that Windows 11 is installed on. That's why. My computer doesn't have enough space left to put a new drive next to the old one, so if it were possible, what would you suggest? To create an exact copy of the whole installation including all programs like music production software (this matters since reinstalling everything is a huge headache), remove the old hard drive and install a brand-new one without Windows on it. Then make the Windows 11 setup files onto an external drive so I can put them in. Finally, restore that old copy of the Windows installation from that external drive. Can this actually be done? Especially points #1 and #4 because I already know how to use an external drive as a disk for installing fresh software since many times before. Thanks a lot in advance. Steve
What kind of drive(s)? Yep, this works. You do this with an Image, not a Clone. A single x m.2 slot with an Image. If you have another drive (any kind) that has enough space to hold your current m.2 drive: 1. Download and install Macrium Reflect 2. Run it, then make a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks". Make something small on a flash drive or DVD. 3. In the Macrium client, create an Image for some other drive. Maybe an external USB HDD. Check all partitions. This makes a file called xxxx.mrimage 4. When you're done, shut down completely. 5. Swap the two drives 6. Turn on using the Rescue USB from step 1 7. Restore (on the toolbar) and tell it where to find your Image from step 3, which drive to put it on...the new m.2 one 8. Go ahead and wait for it to finish 9. That's all. This should work.