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should I partition and format the laptop blank solid state drive before carrying out any type of disk to disk cloning?

GMartin
GMartin asked
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Hello and Good Morning Everyone,

           As an extension to a currently open post, I have a question regarding possible prep work which might be needed before carrying out a laptop hard disk drive cloning.  The new SSD (Solid State Drive) has a storage capacity of 1 TB.  Before I begin carrying out the cloning, will this drive need to be partitioned and formatted?  Here is a link to this drive just in case more technical or detailed information is needed about this drive:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L3D19MY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The source drive or loaded drive is 500 GB and the target drive or blank drive is 1 TB.

            Thanks in advance for any attention and feedback given to this question.

            George
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Technology and Business Process Advisor
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Most Valuable Expert 2013
Commented:
Depends what you're using to clone.

I use RawCopy and a couple of USB external drive boxes when I clone.  No formatting necessary.
andyalder
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Commented:
If you are using Samsung's Data Migration Software then no. It will shrink it for you if it can as well if the source is larger than the new SSD.
GMartin

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Commented:
Hi Everyone,

         I am sorry for not being specific with my question.  Basically, I wish to use an external hard disk cloning dock station, like the one that I own and will need to replace https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073W4YDFQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.  I am needing to upgrade my boot hard with Windows 10, apps, utilities, etc. which is 500 GB and almost full by cloning it to a bigger 1 TB drive.  Will I still need to partition and format the 1 TB drive before carrying out the cloning using a hard drive cloning docking station?

         Thanks

         George
andyalder
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Commented:
That device will just do a block by block transfer so everything including the current partition table will be copied so no, there is no need to format the drive. Bear in mind if going from HDD to SSD there's a few tweaks you have to do like turning defrag off and TRIM on. You'll end up with a sub-500GB partition as before, you can create a new data partition on the free space or you can extend C: so long as the free space is adjacent to it.
GMartin

Author

Commented:
Andy,

         Thank you for your follow up suggestions.  Just so I make sure to stay on the same page with you, what will be the necessary steps in turning defrag off and TRIM on within Windows 10 before carrying out the cloning process?  While I am familiar with the function of defrag, I am, however, unfamiliar with TRIM.  That said, could you give some clarification to this term?   Both drives are 2.5 laptop drives and not desktop drives.  I am not sure if that information is needed, but, I thought I would include it.  

          George
andyalder
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Commented:
To disable defrag type defrag into the search box and disable the schedule in the defragment and optimize drives app.
For TRIM open a command prompt and type "fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0"

I would do it after rather than before migrating since you may want to go back to using the hard disk.
nobus
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Commented:
since that unit requires no connection to the pc -  i don't see how trim or defrag comes into play
yoy said there are no lights coming on on the unit -  is there a power button? maybe it needs to be pushed
andyalder
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Commented:
So you wouldn't bother to set TRIM and defrag to the correct settings for a SSD just because the initial clone was made by an OS agnostic device nobus?
nobus
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Commented:
no - trim is automatic afaik from windows 7 on
and defrag is carried out on auto too
andyalder
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Commented:
When checking how to disable defrag on my laptop so I could tell George how to do it I found it was scheduled to run even though I had an SSD, Pretty sure I had disabled it but I ran the free Win7 to Win10 upgrade which may have turned it on.
nobus
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Commented:
i believe it is a "housekeeping" software from MS look under windows\diagnostic maybe
if memory is ok - it's called maintenance
GMartin

Author

Commented:
Hello and Good Evening Everyone,

        Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to respond to this question.  Apparently, partitioning and formatting will not be required given what I want to do, namely, clone my 500GB drive to a blank 1 TB drive.  I am currently awaiting a Wavlink hard disk drive cloning device ordered at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019DNBU7G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.  Once it arrives, I will be using a YouTube tutorial link at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcDEw05_XPA to aid in the step by step procedures for carrying out the clone.  The only tweak which might be needed is the extension of the c drive within Windows 10 because of the possibility of the new drive being seen by the operating system at 500 GB as opposed to 1 TB.  The man, Chris,  in the YouTube tutorial video gives excellent and easy to follow instructions for extending the c drive so the entire drive size or capacity will be read correctly within Windows 10.  

        Thanks again, everyone, for your help.  If I should need additional help once I get started, I will open a new post accordingly.

        George