Trouble replacing hdd with ssd in Toshiba Satellite laptop

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#2113638 25-Oct-2018 10:14

You can create a Windows 10 install USB using the Create Windows 10 installation media tool from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Fresh install Windows on new SSD and fresh install all apps. Copy across data from old HDD (which you backup first, or attach via a USB adaptor).

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#2113656 25-Oct-2018 10:32

ryangodammit:

The cloning went fine, and everything seems identical but on boot up it says there is no media present.

"no media"
or "no BOOTABLE media" . ???
Big difference :-)

Im guessing the cloned SSD drive isnt in a bootable state
Many laptops come with non standard partitioning, with up to 6 (yes 6) partitions, some being non Win, in non standard order.
Many HD clone/copy programs cant cope with that sort of mess.

Try macrium, or Acronis (trial version)
You often will need to have the SSD installed into the laptop when you clone to it (not via a USB adapter)

Or just wipe & start again , reload Windows

Batman

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#2113688 25-Oct-2018 10:55

a backup program likely has created a backup, when what's needed is a clone.

and no, you need to connect to usb to clone.

ryangodammit

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#2113724 25-Oct-2018 11:30

It was definitely a clone, not a backup, done via usb.

I’ll give another program a try, but I think it’s probably true, there are heaps of partitions the most probably contribute to the boot.

It definitely says no media, not no bootable media

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#2113864 25-Oct-2018 14:23

Is there any way you can check the clone is 100% the same as your original drive you are swapping out?

Secondly, no media means the bios can't see your drive. Your drive could well be a perfect clone.

You need to play with the bios to get it to detect your drive

Try to reseat the drive

ryangodammit

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#2113865 25-Oct-2018 14:27

Batman: Is there any way you can check the clone is 100% the same as your original drive you are swapping out?

Secondly, no media means the bios can't see your drive. Your drive could well be a perfect clone.

You need to play with the bios to get it to detect your drive

Try to reseat the drive

Yeah, I’m getting the impression the clone is good but I need to figure out how to make the bios recognise it.
I’ll have a hunt though toshiba websites and see if I can find any other options

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#2113894 25-Oct-2018 15:46

Normally it's plug and play, bios just picks and away it goes. All my clone-and-swaps have been plug and play.

I am wondering if anything broke, e.g. connection pins, during the drive swap.

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#2113903 25-Oct-2018 15:58

+1 the fresh install recommendations.

I've found cloning to be pretty hit and miss in the past. You can/have spent more time getting the clone to work (or not) than it would take to do a fresh install.

Cloning is not for geeks upgrading their own computers, it's for repair shops that don't want to faf around backing up and transferring other peoples files.

Besides, when it works, you are copying all the bugs and garbage that has accumulated in the original OS.

Additionally Windows may (re) install with different settings that take advantage of the SSD that are not present in the existing installation.

ryangodammit

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#2114044 25-Oct-2018 20:07

tripper1000:

+1 the fresh install recommendations.

I've found cloning to be pretty hit and miss in the past. You can/have spent more time getting the clone to work (or not) than it would take to do a fresh install.

Cloning is not for geeks upgrading their own computers, it's for repair shops that don't want to faf around backing up and transferring other peoples files.

Besides, when it works, you are copying all the bugs and garbage that has accumulated in the original OS.

Additionally Windows may (re) install with different settings that take advantage of the SSD that are not present in the existing installation.

sold

Lias

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#2114053 25-Oct-2018 20:34

I have seen situations where some older laptops were not compatible with some SSD's (e.g. I had an HP that worked fine with an Intel SSD and I think a Corsair SSD, but didn't work with Samsung or OCZ)

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#2114109 25-Oct-2018 21:33

Lias:
I have seen situations where some older laptops were not compatible with some SSD's (e.g. I had an HP that worked fine with an Intel SSD and I think a Corsair SSD, but didn't work with Samsung or OCZ)

I have a P50 like the OP - working fine with a several Samsung SSDs over the last few years if that helps.

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#2114114 25-Oct-2018 21:42

ryangodammit: EaseUS todo backup

I've used Easus Todo backup to clone new HDDs and SSDs many times over many years, with never any hitch. So I doubt that's the problem. I'd check there are no bent pins.

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#2114130 25-Oct-2018 22:50

what sata version is your laptop hardware? and i presume the ssd is sata 3. sata 3 "should" be backward compatible ...

1101

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#2114299 26-Oct-2018 10:48

Clones dont allways work
Some software just cant cope with the non standard partitioning
the best way is to install to SSD in the laptop, connect the old drive via a USB adaptor & then clone/copy(disk to disk) , boot from a Bootable CD/usb that you make with the disk copy/clone software
you may need to try several different programs till you find one that works(on your system) . Ive had to try 5 different clone/copy programs on one PC for a HD swap

I do this regularly as part of my job. Some laptops are a nightmare to get this to work & be bootable.
Start with BETTER software , Acronis or Macrium . Most other software cant cope with the non standard portioning on some laptops
EASUS working one some other laptops means nothing. Try other software since that isnt working on your system. (I gave up on that software long ago)
Get the right software and a clone isnt necessary, a copy will work & will be faster.

The next step would be to see if you can make that SSD detectable/bootable.
Try , as a test, clean install of Win . If that works then youre half way there
If a test clean Win install doesnt work, you have other issues to sort through.

gehenna

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#2114379 26-Oct-2018 12:54

My gut says that you need to wipe all partitions on the target drive and then leave it blank, then let the tool you're using for the clone take care of the partitioning of the disk so it gets it completely right. You also have to make sure you're cloning all the source partitions, hidden or not.

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