Use this checklist before cloning Windows to a new SSD. The goal is not only to complete the copy, but also to keep a safe rollback path.
Before connecting the new SSD
- Back up irreplaceable files separately.
- Confirm the new SSD can hold the used space on the old drive.
- Check the old drive for file-system and hardware warnings.
- Save your BitLocker recovery key if encryption is enabled.
Before starting the clone
- Confirm the source and destination by model and capacity.
- Connect reliable power to the laptop.
- Close applications that constantly write data.
- Create Windows recovery media.
Critical check: the destination SSD will normally be overwritten. Confirm it contains nothing you need before proceeding.
After the clone
- Boot from the new SSD before erasing the old one.
- Open representative files and applications.
- Check Windows activation, encryption, and partition capacity.
- Keep the original drive unchanged until the new setup has been stable.