Upgrading existing SSD drive to a larger one

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Upgrading existing SSD drive to a larger one

Richard Wilmshurst 5

I need to replace my current 2.0 SSD that contains my onedrive directory and everything is saved in both cloud and locally. What is the sequence I need to follow so that I can physically remove the old drive and replace with the new drive and end up with everything both locally saved and in the cloud as before?

I then need to upgrade the separate 2.5 HDD, which contains the OS, to a newer larger SSD. This is not onedrived but I need to know how I should do this as it holds the OS together with other locally saved files?

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Answer 1

Keith Doolan 5

Hi Richard,

OneDrive can sync your files bi-directionally so if you replace your drive then you can sync the files from OneDrive Cloud back down to your device. It's the same as using another PC syncing your OneDrive files down to that.

If you want to copy all files and the operating system on your HDD to the SSD then you will need a drive caddy to copy from one to the other. If you don't have one and have never completed this process before then you should seek professional help.

Regards,

Keith Doolan

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Richard Wilmshurst 5 Reputation points

2026-03-22T16:32:43.4233333+00:00

Thanks Keith, You say one drive can sync bi directionally? How do I make sure it syncs from the cloud to the ssdd. If it does it the other way round from my new ssdd then I will be blank both in the cloud and on the drive when I put a new blank drive in? Ie it would wipe everything if the cloud mirrored my new drive
Keith Doolan 5 Reputation points

2026-03-22T17:33:21.2566667+00:00

Hi Richard,

You can manage what gets synced and how.

When you sign into OneDrive from your new SSD, you can manage how the files sync. When you first sign into OneDrive you will see a blue cloud icon beside your files which indicates the files are online only. You can choose to sync these locally and use them when offline.

No OneDrive only syncs files, it will never delete them.

Regards,

Keith Doolan

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Richard Wilmshurst 5 Reputation points

2026-03-24T17:40:59.2933333+00:00

Yes thanks Keith, that did the trick although I did get into a tangle when it put onedrive back onto the C drive but once I told it where it should be all was well albeit gaining a few more grey hairs.
Keith Doolan 5 Reputation points

2026-03-24T18:10:11.2133333+00:00

Excellent news Richard. OneDrive is built to follow you. So you can log into OneDrive on any device and your files are readily available.

Glad to be of assistance!

Kind regards,

Keith
Ron Barker 1,965 Reputation points

2026-03-24T21:06:18.5333333+00:00

Hi Richard, I do not know how you changed/replaced your HDD for a SDD, but if you clone it onto the SSD in an enclosure and then change the HDD for the SSD Windows and the Apps, including OneDrive does not know anything has changed, in that you do not need to sign in again on any apps and if OneDrive was syncing on the HDD it will be syncing on the SDD exactly has it was on the HDD. The only difference is that you have more space on C Drive. Glad you got it soughed though. I know it is like jumping into the dark, not knowing if it will work.

Answer 2

Ron Barker 1,965

Hi Richard, I have done this several times. I used free AOMEI Partition Assistant - Disk Partition Manager, Partition Magic Alternative (This one is on Microsoft Store). There are plenty of videos re AOME and how to use online.

Basically you need an enclosure for your new SSD. You then connect the new SSD via USB to computer. Use AOME to transfer (clone) the whole of C Drive to new SSD. Then change SSDs Everything should work as normal (the computer does not know what has happened.

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Upgrading existing SSD drive to a larger one

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