Are you looking for reliable OS migration software to migrate and transfer your computer's operating system to another new disk with success? This page gives you a round-up review of the top 5 best OS migration software that you can review and pick the best one to successfully migrate your Windows OS to a new disk.
In this article, you'll learn:
Key Takeaways of OS Migration Software 2024:
"Looking for a free OS migration software.
Greetings everything!
I just bought and installed an M2 SSD and moved almost everything I need there, but I'm having trouble finding a way to migrate the OS without having to do anything 'upgrade to pro version' stuff. Any recommendations?" - posted by u/JonHedron from reddit.com
It doesn't matter if you are experiencing a similar issue on your computer or having trouble migrating the operating system between disks on Windows computers. Follow this page, and you'll get reliable OS migration software to assist you in moving the OS, system-related files, settings, and even installed programs to a new disk with ease.
Before we get to start finding OS migration software, let's first understand what OS migration is.
Similar to data migration (by Wikipedia), OS Migration is literally a process of moving or transferring the current operating system on your computer to a new disk - HDD or SSD without reinstalling it. Sometimes, it's also called system transfer by some Windows users.
So what does OS Migration actually move? Here is a list of content that will actually be moved during the process:
So what the OS migration software exactly is? OS migration software can be defined as a software or program utility designed or provided by third-party software manufacturers to assist Windows users in successfully switching the OS between old and new hard disk drives.
So when do I need OS migration software? Or, in other words, in what situations will I need to turn to OS migration software to switch the OS disk or upgrade the system disk?
Here is a list of situations in which you'll need to turn to a reliable OS migration software for help:
Here is a list of comparison table that lists the pros and cons of OS migration software, and it explains why you should trust such as software when it comes to transfer system from HDD to SSD or larger HDD:
✅Pros | ⛔Cons |
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So how do I get reliable OS migration software so that I can change the OS disk, moving OS to a new and faster disk with success?
Here is a list table that covers the details of how we tested and picked the top 5 OS migration tools among hundreds of similar software on the market as recommended here for you:
🔢 How many tools/software we tested: | 20 |
⏱️ How long did we test these tools: | 2 weeks |
💵 How much did the test cost: | $569.95 |
👩🏼💻 What system we mainly tested on: | Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and XP |
🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻Target users: | Beginners |
Note that the Windows operating system doesn't have any built-in OS migration tool that works to transfer OS to a new HDD or SSD. To do so, you'll need to turn to a third-party OS migration software for help.
Here is a list of checklists that you can take to review if the current software that you have found is qualified to assist you in transferring the operating system to a new drive:
Here is a list of the top 5 best OS migration software that we picked among over 20 similar utilities that work to switch and transfer the operating systems on Windows computers:
Note: For Windows beginners, you can take EaseUS Partition Master for help. It offers Migrate OS to HDD/SSD feature to simplify and fulfill most Windows users' needs in switching and changing the system disk in simple clicks.
Follow to find more details of the 5 OS migration software as listed below.
Windows Beginners' Best OS Migration Software
EaseUS Partition Master is reliable and trustworthy in providing system clone service and OS migration assistance to help Windows users to switch and upgrade the system disk successfully. It's a reliable partition manager software and powerful OS cloning software. All Windows users can apply this tool to manage and optimize OS disk performance with simple clicks.
Software Download:
Pros & Cons:
✅Pros | ⛔Cons |
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Why Choose It:
The reason why we think EaseUS Partition Master works the best for OS migration is this software provides Windows users with a direct system transfer feature - Migrate OS for help. The process is easy and simple for any level of Windows user with its simplified UI design.
Guide to Migrate OS with EaseUS Partition Master
Steps to migrate OS to HDD/SSD:
"Reboot Now" means to keep the changes instantly, while "Done" means you need to restart the computer later manually.
Note: The operation of migrating OS to SSD or HDD will delete and remove existing partitions and data on your target disk when there is not enough unallocated space on the target disk. If you saved important data there, back up them to an external hard drive in advance.
For newer operating system migration, EaseUS Partition Master, with its Migrate OS feature, is perfect and ideal for you to try. For example, if you need reliable free OS migration software for Windows 11, take this software for help.
#Migrate OS to SSD#OS Migration Software#Windows Migration#Windows 10#Windows 11
If you think EaseUS Partition Master with its OS migration feature is helpful, feel free to share this guide to help more friends around you to transfer the operating system to a new disk like an expert on their own:
Flexible OS Migration Software with Backup Feature
Macrium Reflect is more than an OS migration software that most users think highly of this software due to its free backup, disk imaging, and cloning features. Windows users can apply this software to migrate OS by cloning and upgrading the OS disk.
Software Download:
Open this link in your browser and you'll be able to access and download Mcrium Reflect: https://www.macrium.com/products/home.
Pros & Cons:
✅Pros | ⛔Cons |
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Why Choose It:
What Macrium Reflect attracts us the most is its cloning feature. It allows users to flexibly drag source partitions that need to be cloned to the target disk. The process is interesting and enjoyable for beginners.
Guide to Clone OS with Macrim Reflect:
Step 1. Connect a new disk to the PC and launch Macrium Reflect.
Step 2. Click "Backup", select the source disk under "Create a backup" section, and click "Clone this disk...".
Step 3. Select the new disk as the target, drag system partitions from the source OS disk to the target new disk, and click "Next".
Step 4. Click "OK" to start the cloning.
#OS Migration Tool#Migrate OS#OS Migration Software
Renowned OS Migration Software
Samsung Data Migration is a renowned OS migration software that most storage device manufacturers would install this software in HDD or SSDs to help Windows users switch and upgrade the OS disk.
Software Download:
This software is no longer supported by its manufacturers. You can open and download this software from other downloading sites, such as: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6343-samsung-data-migration.html.
Pros & Cons:
✅Pros | ⛔Cons |
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Why Choose It:
Samsung Data Migration is an old but renowned data migration software that many hard drives and SSD disk producers think highly of this software.
Guide to Migrate OS with Samsung Data Migration:
Step 1. Launch Samsung Data Migration, select a source disk with OS on it, and select a target drive to clone the OS to.
Step 2. Click "Start" to clone the system and wait for the process to finish.
#OS Migration#Windows OS Migration Tool
Old & Stylish OS Migration Tool
Paragon Drive Copy Professional is an old and stylish data migration software that enables users to clone and copy disks to upgrade Windows computers' system or data drive. It also provides a direct OS migration feature - Migrate OS to help users upgrade and switch the OS system disk.
Software Download: https://www.paragon-software.com/home/dc-professional/download.html;
Pros & Cons:
✅Pros | ⛔Cons |
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Why Choose It:
Renowned software manufacturer - Paragon provides Paragon Drive Copy Professional and has a sophisticated technical background in disk cloning. So when it comes to OS migration, this software shall stand out.
Guide to Clone OS with Paragon Drive Copy Professional
Step 1. Connect a new disk to your PC, and launch Paragon Drive Copy Professional, click "Migrate OS".
Step 2. Select the operating system, programs, and even user folder to clone, and click "Next".
Step 3. Select the new disk as the destination disk and click "Next".
Step 4. Follow the onscreen guidelines to finish the OS migration settings and click "Finish".
#Migrate OS Tool#System Migration Tool#Migrate OS Software
Open-Source & Free OS Migration Software
Clonezilla is an open-source and free disk cloning software that also works to migrate OS by using its disk cloning feature. It's mainly designed for developers and advanced users.
Software Download:https://clonezilla.org/downloads.php
Pros & Cons:
✅Pros | ⛔Cons |
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Why Choose It:
The biggest reason why we suggest and pick Clonezilla as OS migration software is this software is 100% free. Though it's an open-source cloning software, it still works and gets updated.
Guide to Migrate OS with Clonezilla:
Step 1. Connect the new disk to PC, and install and launch Clonezilla.
Step 2. Choose "Beginner Mode" on Clonezilla and select to create an exact copy of the source disk, including the operating system and data partitions.
Step 3. Or, you can choose the entire disk to clone and then set exact parameters.
Step 4. Set to reboot or shut down your computer once the cloning process is complete.
Wait patiently to let Clonezilla complete the disk cloning process, and you'll finish migrating the system to a new drive.
#HDD Migration Tool#OS Transfer Software#Free
After you migrate the OS to a new disk with the above recommended OS migration software, it's also important that you set the new disk as the Boot drive in BIOS settings. By doing so, the operating system will be able to boot up without any issues:
On this page, we collected 5 best OS migration software that can assist all levels of Windows users in successfully migrating the OS between HDDs and SSDs in only a few simple clicks.
For most beginners, EaseUS Partition Master, with its Migrate OS feature, can fulfill your needs. Switching the system to a new hard disk drive is simple but professional. Moreover, the price is reasonable and does more than OS migration.
Normal Windows users can even apply this software to manage and optimize disk performance with the following features:
To help more people around you to find desired and reliable OS migration tool so as to switch their computer OS to a newer disk without OS reinstallation, feel free to share this page to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Linkedin, etc.:
Here we also listed some other hot topics about OS migration software, and if you are interested, follow and find answers here:
1. How can I transfer my OS for free?
Yes, you can transfer the operating system for free by turning to reliable system transfer software. EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition, with its Copy Partition feature, can help you transfer the OS to a new disk for free.
2. Does Windows 10 have a migration tool?
No, Windows 10 doesn't have a migration tool that works to migrate the OS to a new HDD or SSD. To switch the operating system to a new disk, you'll need to turn to a third-party OS migration software like EaseUS Partition Master, as recommended on this page, for help.
3. How do you migrate an OS?
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