In this post, you’ll learn all details of cloning NVMe disk including how to get free NVMe cloning software, how to install disk, and how to boot after NVMe SSD cloning.
The best free NVMe cloning software options include manufacturer tools (like Samsung Data Migration) and universal tools (like AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard). Universal tools are preferred as they work with any brand of SSD (WD, SanDisk, Crucial, Samsung) and handle partition resizing automatically."
NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is a relatively new storage interface standard that has been gaining popularity in recent years. NVMe is designed to take advantage of the high-speed capabilities of SSD based on non-volatile memory technologies, such as NAND flash or 3D XPoint.
Key Advantage |
How It Works (Technical Context) |
Real-World User Benefit |
1. High Performance |
Leverages the PCIe bus instead of SATA, offering significantly higher bandwidth and IOPS. | Instant Boot & Load Times: Your OS starts in seconds, and large files transfer up to 6x faster than SATA SSDs. |
2. Low Latency |
An optimized communication protocol reduces overhead between the CPU and storage. | Responsive Gaming & Editing: Eliminates lag in gaming and provides smooth playback for 4K/8K video editing. |
3. Scalability |
Supports parallel processing with multiple command queues, unlike the single queue of SATA. | Multitasking Power: The PC won't freeze or slow down when running background tasks (like updates) while you work. |
4. Efficiency |
Utilizes the PCIe interface's power-saving states to consume less energy. | Better Battery Life: Laptops run longer on a charge, and desktops generate less heat (better thermal management). |
5. Compatibility |
Fits into standard M.2 slots or PCIe expansion slots found on almost all modern motherboards. | Easy Upgrade: seamless installation for most PCs and laptops built in recent years. |
6. Durability |
Built with advanced flash technology that generally offers higher endurance ratings. | Data Safety: Higher reliability reduces the risk of drive failure over time, keeping your data secure. |
More and more users are choosing NVMe SSDs as the preferred storage solution for their disk upgrades, especially in high-performance computing, gaming, and professional workloads. The combination of exceptional performance, low latency, and compatibility with modern systems makes NVMe SSDs an attractive choice for those seeking to upgrade old NVMe disk storage and improve overall system responsiveness.
No matter whether you wish to clone an old NVMe disk to a new one or to clone HDD/SSD to an NVMe SSD, there are some preparations you should know to help you clone your disk safely.
Within the consumer space, the prevalent choice for NVMe SSDs is the M.2 form factor. It's important to mention that not all M.2 slots on motherboards are compatible with NVMe SSDs. Most laptops only have one NVMe slot. It's important to ensure that the M.2 slot on your PC is compatible with NVMe. Otherwise, your computer won't be able to take advantage of the NVMe SSD.
Before purchasing an NVMe M.2 SSD, it's important to check the OS or motherboard manual for compatibility.
If your current disk is an HDD or other SSD, then you also need to choose the right NVMe disk for your computer. Here are some points you need to pay attention to when you choose an NVMe SSD.
1. Form: NVMe SSDs come in different form factors, such as M.2 and PCIe add-in cards. M.2 drives have different lengths, with the most common being 80mm (2280), 60mm (2260), and 42mm (2242). Make sure you check your device's specifications to know which length is compatible.
2. Capacity: Determine the storage capacity you need based on your usage requirements and the amount of data you need to store. NVMe SSDs are available in a wide range of capacities (from 256GB to 4TB or even higher). But we suggest you avoid purchasing an SSD with a capacity smaller than 256GB, as it may not meet your needs. Opting for a 500GB SSD strikes a good balance between price and storage capacity. Or, you can select the storage size that best suits your requirements for applications and files.
3. System Compatibility & reliability: Some older systems may require a BIOS update to support NVMe. Additionally, check the physical space available for the drive. Consider the endurance rating (TBW or TeraBytes Written) of the NVMe SSD, which indicates the amount of data that can be written to the drive before it wears out.
4. Budget: NVMe SSDs can be more expensive than traditional SATA-based SSDs, so consider your budget and find a balance between performance, capacity, and cost.
If you don’t know much about disk market, we strongly suggest you directly search well-known brands of disk with good reputations, Samsung (EVO and PRO series), Crucial (MX series), Western Digital (WD Blue and WD Black series), Kingston (known for value and reliability), SanDisk (Extreme series is notable), Intel (660p and 670p), and so on.
After you’ve bought a suitable NVMe disk, you need to pick a safe and easy-to-use NVMe cloning software. Specialist disk clone software can save your time by safely copying everything from the old drive to the new one, whether it is SSD or HDD.
Of course there are many free NVMe cloning software you can choose, but in this article, we only give you best 3 free NVMe cloning software for your options.
AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is developed for disk and partition management. With this multifunctional disk manager, you can easily clone your disk and adjust your partitions during the cloning process. You can clone only used space, or directly duplicate the whole disk. This tool will handle all details of space adjust based on your needs because it even supports clone larger disk to smaller disk.
Besides disk clone, it is also help you easily clone a partition, an SD card, a USB flash drive, etc. All popular disk/drive brands are supported, no brands limitation, no bundle malware, just a clean disk management tool for your Windows PC.
Clonezilla is a powerful and versatile disk imaging and cloning tool that is available for free and open-source. It offers comprehensive support for system deployment, bare-metal backup and recovery, and single drive/partition cloning across a wide range of operating systems, including Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD.
However, its GUI is not that user-friendly for normal users. It has a command-line based user interface, which can be less intuitive compared to graphical user interface (GUI) based backup and cloning software. Also it doesn’t support larger-to-small disk clone.
Another choice is the tool from your disk manufacturers. Samsung Data Migration is a disk cloning tool provided by Samsung, designed to assist with seamless data transfer but only for Samsung disks. It can assist you in seamlessly transferring all your data from the existing system disk to a brand new Samsung SSD.
If the old disk and the new disk are from same brand, you can search for these kinds of tool.
Here we’ll show you how to use AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard to safely and easily clone NVMe SSD via its “Clone Disk” function and how to use its other features to adjust your disk according to your needs. As an M.2 clone adapter, this tool can ensure that the new SSD is properly connected to the computer. If your computer has only one drive bay, consider using a USB-to-SATA adapter for seamless connectivity.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Clone" in the main interface and select "Clone Disk".
Step 2. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".
Step 3. Select the destination disk to store the data on the source disk, and then click "Next".
Step 4. Then, you can check the source and destination disk in the next window or change to “Sector to Sector clone”, and click the "Confirm" button to continue if there is no problem.
Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk or tick "4k alignment" to improve the reading and writing speed of SSD if the target disk is an SSD drive.
Step 5. At last, click "Apply" and "Proceed" in the main interface to start cloning the hard drive.
After cloning SATA to NVMe SSD successfully, you can remove the old one, install the new M.2 SSD and boot from it.
1.1. Unplug the power and remove the battery from your laptop.
1.2. Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds to release any residual power.
1.3. Remove the case cover and locate the M.2 SSD on the motherboard. Loosen the screw and unplug your old M.2 drive.
This step might have been finished if you have 2 M.2 slots on your machine. If so, please ignore this part and skip to “how to boot from M.2 SSD” section.
2.1. Install the M.2 NVMe SSD into the slot by doing the reverse of how you removed the old one.
2.2. Screw the screws to fasten the bracket.
2.3. Place the case cover and battery back onto the computer. Then connect the power.
3.1. Reboot the computer and press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 during the startup screen.
3.2. Choose to enter BIOS setup. Use the arrow keys to select the Boot tab.
3.3. The system devices appear in order of priority. To give the cloned M.2 SSD boot sequence priority over the hard drive, move it to the first position in the list.
3.4. Save and exit the BIOS setup utility.
Then the computer will restart with the changed settings. If the cloned SSD won’t boot, you can consider the partition style conflict, system files integrity, etc.
All 3 programs are all nice options. They has their own suitable situation: If you're looking to clone an old hard drive to a Samsung SSD or other disks that have their brand toosl, then these tools are excellent options; if you're looking for a versatile SSD migration tool that works seamlessly across different operating systems such as Linux, Mac OS, and Windows, Clonezilla is an excellent choice.
However, suppose you're in search of a data migration tool that offers a wide range of clone options and is compatible with all-branded SSDs. In that case, AOMEI Partition Assistant is worth considering.
1. Can I clone NVMe SSD to a SATA SSD or vice versa?
Yes, it is possible to clone an NVMe SSD to a SATA SSD and vice versa, as long as the target drive has enough capacity. However, performance and bootability must be considered, especially when moving from NVMe to SATA due to the difference in speed and technology.
2. How long does it take to clone an NVMe SSD?
The time it takes to clone an NVMe SSD depends on the amount of data being transferred and the speed of both the source and target drives. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
3. Will my computer boot from the new SSD after cloning?
If the cloning process is done correctly, your computer should be able to boot from the new SSD. It's important to ensure that the boot partition is copied and that the system's BIOS or UEFI settings are configured to boot from the new drive.
4. Can I clone an NVMe SSD to a smaller drive?
Yes, you can clone an NVMe SSD to a smaller drive, but you will lose the extra unallocated space on the source drive. The cloned drive will only use the necessary space for the operating system and installed applications.