boot - Cloning hard disk partition to smaller SSD on laptop - Ask Ubuntu

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• clone internal hdd new ssd 3 answers

on linux laptop, have 250 gb hd has 100gb partition 50 gb of used. change upgrade system 64 gb ssd.

i read clonezilla , dd command apparently clones whole partition. not work because partition 100 gb , new ssd 64 gb.

i read resize 100 gb partition smaller size 64 gb ssd won't destroy data on hd partition? , if can without losing data, how copy new 64 gb ssd? (i start live cd version of ubuntu, dd old disk external usb drive. after physically remove old hd, put in new ssd , dd partition usb new ssd. if that, won't have create partition external usb hd?)

backup! backup!! backup!!!

i can't overemphasize importance of backup. backup data. backup whole partition. twice.

ssds getting cheaper. buy bigger ssd, 120gb. use 64gb backup.

now let go step step , want.

step 1: boot live cd/usb

use try ubuntu without installing option. plug in external hard drive. has @ least 64gb or bigger.

step 2: identify disks

open gparted. prefer gparted because visual , let me "see" drives , partitions. click on top right drop down , see list of drives. go through list , identify drives want work with, size , partition structure. want identify internal hard drive want clone external hard drive want copy to.

step 3: shrink

make sure have selected internal disk want transfer.

select 100gb partition want copy.

drag right edge of partition leftward resize/move far go.

if not go below 64gb, need bigger ssd. if goes below 64gb, don't worry, able expand later once copied ssd.

press "apply" button in gparted , wait.

if goes go next step. if error, stop!

step 4: copy partition

select partition shrunk , menu select copy.

select external hard drive , paste partition there. best if external hard drive not have partitions , or data.

you don't have create new partition beforehand in external hard disk copy partition. need unformatted / unallocated space in disk

apply work.

if external hard drive bigger 100gb, can switch steps 3 , 4. copy first , shrink later. take longer, has benefit of keeping original partition unchanged.

step 5: switch hdd ssd

i hope know how this.

step 6: boot live cd/usb again

plug external hard drive once booted. open gparted again. verify identity of ssd , external hard drive in gparted.

step 7: copy external hard drive ssd

select partition in external hard drive , menu select copy.

assuming new ssd, may need create mbr (msdos) in before can paste partition.

select ssd , paste partition there.

apply work. until press apply this:

step 8: reinstall grub2

since part of grub resides in mbr, have reinstall grub in ssd before can boot it.

step 9: reboot ssd , enjoy!

if goes should work

hope helps