Replacing 500 GB SSD with 2 TB SSD

[n697dt]

Hi,

I've filled up my 500 GB SSD NVME. I have another identical SSD as well. FedEx is delivering me this SSD today: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/f3cRsY/samsung-980-pro-2-tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-mz-v8p2t0bam.

 

My full SSD has Windows 10 as well MSFS on it. This is the one I'm replacing with 2 TB. My question is, where do I start? How do I transfer MSFS and add-ons to the new SSD? Should I transfer Windows 10 to my new 2 TB as well? Or should I use my other 500 Gb to store windows? I've looked in other forums with really no luck. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thank you

[CRJ_simpilot]

Samsung's Magician and Data Migration software should help you on this. https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/tools/

 

And just to let you know, damn near if not all SSD or NVMe manufacturers know customers face this issue so they all offer some type of data migration or cloning software like Magician. Crucial has theirs as well.

 

You can go third-party. Many use Macrium Reflect or what ever. I don't think you wanna know what I use. LOL

[gt401964]

I've always used this. It is free and easy to do.

 

https://www.easeus.com/backup-recovery/windows-10-disk-clone.html

[n697dt]

Thanks for the info. I've still got to plug it in and clone it. I'll report back.

[dogdish]

Got W10 on my C: drive and all games/sims/MSFS on D:

 

Cloned D: from a 1Tb to my current 2Tb (temp F: drive) with Acronis WD Edition. Removed the D: and renamed F: to D:

 

Results: All Steam games worked, P3D v5 worked, other MISC items worked.

 

However MSFS would NOT start. I did not know how to fix it, so I just uninstaled/re-installed MSFS and works normally again. (ORBX/MSFS add-ons were installed into folder outside of MSFS) worked again.

 

Maybe MSFS tied to the drive serial number?

[n697dt]

Got W10 on my C: drive and all games/sims/MSFS on D:

 

Cloned D: from a 1Tb to my current 2Tb (temp F: drive) with Acronis WD Edition. Removed the D: and renamed F: to D:

 

Results: All Steam games worked, P3D v5 worked, other MISC items worked.

 

However MSFS would NOT start. I did not know how to fix it, so I just uninstaled/re-installed MSFS and works normally again. (ORBX/MSFS add-ons were installed into folder outside of MSFS) worked again.

 

Maybe MSFS tied to the drive serial number?

 

I'm still a little afraid of making the right steps. I currently have two WD 500 Gb M.2 NVMe SSDs. The C: has Windows 10 and MSFS on it. I would like to set mine up like yours where I have Windows only on the C:, and MSFS and my add-ons on my new Samsung 2 TB, i.e., D:. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and clone the C drive to the D drive, and then figure out how to get rid of the duplicate OS on D:. Or if maybe it would be easier to uninstall all of my MSFS software off of C: and just start a fresh D: with MSFS only. I hope that was clearer than mud. I'm not an advanced user. Thanks for the help.

[loki]

I'm still a little afraid of making the right steps. I currently have two WD 500 Gb M.2 NVMe SSDs. The C: has Windows 10 and MSFS on it. I would like to set mine up like yours where I have Windows only on the C:, and MSFS and my add-ons on my new Samsung 2 TB, i.e., D:. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and clone the C drive to the D drive, and then figure out how to get rid of the duplicate OS on D:. Or if maybe it would be easier to uninstall all of my MSFS software off of C: and just start a fresh D: with MSFS only. I hope that was clearer than mud. I'm not an advanced user. Thanks for the help.

 

In this case it is probably easier to uninstall and reinstall MSFS to the new drive. Be aware that a small portion will still end up on the C: drive, but you can point the installer to the D: drive for the bulk of the sim data. The contents of the Community folder should be easily copied over. I have my MSFS Packages and Community folder under G:\MSFS, for example. This will give you plenty of room for the sim, while leaving Windows alone on the C: drive. The down side of reinstalling will be the time needed to download the sim again, however.

[CRJ_simpilot]

Is MSFS installed via Steam? Then use Steam Library Manager to migrate your MSFS install to a folder on D. https://github.com/RevoLand/Steam-Library-Manager

 

I forgot how this is done, but I think you have to go into Steam and change the install path setting for the game/s.

 

I have done this once with a game in Steam using that program.

 

Paid for add-ons may be an issue however. Those would have to be reinstalled. It's due to their registry keys.

Edited January 9, 2023 by CRJ_simpilot

[cianpars]

I've just done the same thing using macrium reflect free. I have W11 on my small 250 gb drive and msfs on my 2 tb drive.

 

Whatever tool you use to clone the disk breaks Microsoft's encryption/security, so you may well end up having to reinstall msfs like I did. Just don't forget to backup all your addons outside of the msfs folder otherwise they will be wiped as well. Because the encryption does not allow you to do this, you need to put your addons into zip files.

[n697dt]

I have the Microsoft store version to answer. Sounds like it will be a long day or so downloading MSFS. The only other option I have I guess is to just clone my 500Gb drive to my 2 TB. That would still give me well over one TB of space for more MSFS add-ons.

[dogdish]

I have the Microsoft store version to answer. Sounds like it will be a long day or so downloading MSFS. The only other option I have I guess is to just clone my 500Gb drive to my 2 TB. That would still give me well over one TB of space for more MSFS add-ons.

 

My and cianpars experience suggests that MSFS won't work after being cloned over from another drive. Guess you can only try. If cloning doesn't work, best to just uninstall (NOT delete) MSFS from your C: drive and reinstall to the Samsung D: drive.

 

I would use your current 500Gb for Windows etc. and use your shiny new Samsung 2 TB for MSFS and what have you, it would be even longer time before you run out of room on it with out Windows also occupying it

 

It was the first time since MSFS came out that I ever reinstalled it and it took 6 hours :mad: to re-install the Premium Deluxe plus the 11 World updates.

[n697dt]

Thanks, Dogdish! I think that is what I'm going to do is re-install MSFS. The add-ons I have, for instance PMDG, ORBX, etc., will they need to be reinstalled as well or is it as easy as moving the community folder to another temp folder, installing MSFS, and then adding the remaining add-ons back to the community folder? Thanks

[dogdish]

Should be able to drop the add-ons into the Community folder on D: and they should work. If there are any references to C: drive in any shortcuts for your add-ons installed with a .exe installer, you can go into the Windows Registry and edit them to D:

 

As far as ORBX I would check in ORBX Central to see if there is a tool to move them to a different drive letter. In my case I had installed all scenery outside of MSFS and was not changing from C: to D: You can of course check the ORBX forums and ask for help from their friendly staff.

 

Can't speak for PMDG as I don't own any. May have to uninstall/re-install if it won't show up in MSFS after your done.

[sonnymayer]

Just last night I cloned my 500 GB Samsung EVO SSD to a new 1 TB Samsung 870 EVO SSD using the Samsung Migration software. Couldn't have been any easier. Literally pressing one button. Everything cloned over, including the OS and MSFS started up no problem. Worked perfectly.

[n697dt]

Just last night I cloned my 500 GB Samsung EVO SSD to a new 1 TB Samsung 870 EVO SSD using the Samsung Migration software. Couldn't have been any easier. Literally pressing one button. Everything cloned over, including the OS and MSFS started up no problem. Worked perfectly.

 

I'm wondering if they have both have to be Samsung. My 500Gb is a WD brand. My new one is the Samsung.

[dogdish]

I'm wondering if they have both have to be Samsung. My 500Gb is a WD brand. My new one is the Samsung.

 

The drive manufacture free cloning AKA migration software usually checks to see if you have at least one of their drives to work. I noticed that Acronis WD Edition won't open unless you have a least one WD drive.

 

sonnymayer said it worked out for him. Can't hurt to try as long as the migration software leaves the original drive intact.