"I bought an SSD to hold Windows 7 on my PC so that I can speed up the
computer, while the only problem is that I have no idea about how to migrate Windows
7 off my current HDD to the new SSD. Please note that I only have the OEM version
where the OS can only be installed onto one computer."
The problem is from an internet user, it is a typical question on why migrate OS from
HDD to SSD in Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10. By migrating, you can speed up the
computer so it would not cost you much time to start your system. By
migrating, you may copy OS to new hard drive or onto any
computer. Anyhow, your computer’s performance would be improved as well.
Free Software to Migrate Windows 7 to SSD
Commonly, there are two ways to transfer OS to SSD in Windows 7, one is use Windows
tool, and the other is use third-party software. Some SSD like Samsung SSD brings
its own data migration utility. If you have purchased this brand SSD, you can migrate Windows 7 to Samsung
SSD using that tool. Here, I’d
like to recommend the easy way with third-party software, which can help you move
everything on system drive as well as its related partitions from HDD to SSD without
data loss.
AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition is a comprehensive and powerful disk migrate program that can
be used free of charge. Its built-in “Migrate OS to SSD” feature allows you to
transfer data or system drive to a new SSD without reinstalling. TRIM for SSD and partition alignment would be
performed by this software as well. The software simplifies the process of migrating
Windows 7 from HDD to SSD on Windows. With a few clicks of the mouse, you will
achieve the target.
Step 1: Connect the SSD to your computer and make sure it can be
detected. Download,
install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Step 2: Click “Migrate OS to SSD” and read the information.

Step 3: Select the SSD as the destination disk. All partitions will
be deleted if you check the option below. Back up important files beforehand.

Step 4: You can resize the partition on the destination disk before
you move Windows 7 to SSD. Bear the "Note" that comes next in mind.

Step 5: Click “Apply” and then "Proceed" to execute the
operations. It will complete the task in Restart mode.

Tips:
Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7, Windows XP and Windows Vista are
supported by AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.
AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard only supports to transfer Windows 7 to SSD
between MBR and MBR disks. To migrate operating system between MBR and GPT disk,
please upgrade to Professional edition.
How to Migrate Windows 7 to SSD by Other Ways?
It’s easy for users, especially for the newbie, to migrate Windows 7 from HDD to SSD
with AOMEI software. Some People may also try to find other ways, and then we need
to refer to the following two methods.
Way1: Copy Disk Entirely
Because Operating System is installed on HDD, you may migrate Windows OS by copying
or cloning entire HDD to the SSD.
This transfers not only the system partitions but also data partitions to SSD.
Please note that this method requires the destination SSD is equal to or larger than
the used space of HDD. What’s more, to clone Windows 7 HDD to SSD
on laptop, you have to pay more attention to the process.
Way2: Clean Install Windows 7
It’s a little time-consuming and complicated to directly install OS and necessary
applicationsto SSD, or copy the data and files to SSD from the original system.
Firstly, you need to back up your current drive, and then delete all your personal
files if necessary so that your Windows installation can fit on the solid-state
drive. After this, you’ll clone your current drive onto the SSD and erase your
current drive as required. This operation allows you to move all your folders back
to the original hard drive and restore all your personal files from the back up.
This is just a brief procedure of migrating Windows from HDD to SSD, but the whole
process is genuinely complicated.
By contrast, you’ll easily find free AOMEI Partition Assistant is a better choice to migrate Windows 7 from HDD to SSD. Just with a few clicks of the mouse, you can move Windows to SSD