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Part 3: Copy
Step 1: Download the cloning software
On the computer with the SSD, go to www.parkcox.com/clone to download the software that will copy your old drive to your new SSD. This software comes free with Crucial SSDs.
Step 2: Install the software you downloaded
Open the file you downloaded and accept all of the prompts. A screen will then pop up. Click Install. After installation is complete, start the application.
Step 3: Prepare to copy (clone) your data
You’ll now see several options in the software. Select the Clone Disk option. You’ll then be asked to select a clone mode. If you’ve never done this before, we recommend the Automatic method, then click the Next button.
Step 4: Select source and destination drives
Your “source” drive is your existing drive (disk). Select it by clicking on it, then click Next. Now select your “destination” drive (your new SSD) and click Next. On the following screen, click Proceed to start copying your data.
Step 5: Wait for your data to copy
It’ll take a while for everything to copy, but the Acronis software will keep you updated on the progress.
Step 6: Change your primary or boot drive
When everything has copied over, you’ll need to tell your operating system to use your new SSD as the primary drive. This can be done by removing the old drive, which will force your system to use the new drive. Check your computer’s owner’s manual or contact the computer manufacturer for instructions on how to change the primary drive.
Step 7. Have some fun
See how fast your favorite apps open when you click on them! Your SSD is installed, but you can make it even faster by enabling a special feature.
With some motherboards, you might see some messages about configuring to increase speeds of NVMe SSDS or about enabling and disabling shared bandwidth of SATA and NVMe ports. This is not a malfunction. You can configure your hardware for optimal performance and avoid malfunctions by obtaining detailed information about your motherboard from the manufacturer.
The longest part of the SSD install process is copying everything from your old drive to your new SSD. Before you start, get a sense of how long this’ll take by referring to our chart below.
Amount of data on old hard drive |
Time it may take to copy to new SSD |
|---|---|
Less than 256GB |
20-30 minutes |
256-512GB |
30-60 minutes |
512GB-1TB |
60-90 minutes |
More than 1TB |
90+ minutes |