[SOLVED] Samsung Data Migration OS Only

Samsung Data Migration is a feature integrated into Samsung Magician to transfer all data from old drive to a new one easily and quickly, including the operating system, along with its system files, applications, settings, personal data, etc., without manual OS installation.

This process is particularly useful when upgrading to a larger or faster drive (e.g., Samsung SSD)or replacing an old drive,for a quick and hassle-free migration, storage upgrade, or minimizing downtime.

However, you can’t clone hard drive or OS with Samsung Data Migration, as it requires the source drive must be running an OS.

What Does Samsung Data Migration OS Only Really Mean?

Speaking of Samsung Data Migration OS only, many users think of it as migrating the operating system to a new Samsung SSD. But is this really the case? Not really. Let's start with the software.

Samsung Data Migration 4.0 and older versions will automatically recognize the system drive, but Samsung Magician does not. It only displays all the available drives in the top toolbar, from which you need to select the system drive you want to clone. Just do it and start Samsung Magician to clone boot drive again.

Also, some users just want to clone OS (as they might have a smaller Samsung SSD) or data disks for data migration. You need to use the best Samsung Data Migration alternative, as Samsung Data Migration focuses on copying the entire source drive.

Quick Fix to Samsung Data Migration with Running OS

Please be sure to prepare a compatible adapter to connect your new Samsung SSD if your computer only has one slot, as only the source drive on which the operating system is installed can be replicated. Also, you need to download and install the Samsung data migration software - Samsung Magician first.

Step 1. Open Samsung Magician after installing and select the source drive with the running OS from the top toolbar. Then, go to the Data Migration section.

Step 2. Scroll down to select the new Samsung SSD as the destination drive.

Step 3. Click Start to clone hard drive to Samsung SSD. Please close other programs to ensure the cloning goes smoothly.

Best Alternative to Samsung Data Migration OS Only [in One Go]

AOMEI Cloner is a reliable yet powerful HDD and SSD cloning software that can clone hard drive with or without OS, or even just the operating system. It comes with 3 cloning methods and is compatible with all series of Samsung SSDs and other popular brands, such as Crucial SSDs, SanDisk SSDs, WD SSDs, etc.

AOMEI Cloner

Best Samsung SSD Cloning Software 

• Easy to use, no technical skills required.
• Clone any type of disk, e.g., HDDs/SSDs, MBR/GPT disks, SATA/M.2/PCIe, etc., even with different sizes.
• Clone OS only for fast system migration
• Intelligent Clone (default) - Clone only the used sectors of a drive, making it easier to clone large HDD to smaller SSD.
• Advanced Cloning Features - Automatically resize partitions of a larger disk during cloning; Enable SSD Alignment to improve SSD disk performance.
• Bootable clone Window 10/11 to new computer, even with different hardware.

Free Download
Win 11/10/8/7/Server

100% Secure

Note: Be sure you back up important data (if any) on the new Samsung SSD. Otherwise, your data will be deleted after cloning, causing permanent loss.

#1: Clone HDD to Samsung SSD [with/without OS]

Step 1. Connect the new Samsung SSD drive to your computer and be sure it’s recognized. Then, open AOMEI Cloner after installing and click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select the system disk or data disk you want to clone, and then the Samsung SSD respectively.

Warning: The Samsung SSD will be overwritten or deleted. Make sure to select the right disk and backup your data (if there is) in advance. Then, click OK to continue.

Step 3. Be sure to check SSD Alignment to improve Samsung SSD disk performance. Then, click Start Clone to get started.

⚠️Notes:
✔ Edit Partitions: Partitions on larger drives are automatically resized. You can also click to convert disk partition style and cloning MBR to GPT, or vice versa.
✖ Sector by sector clone: This mode will clone all sectors of a drive and takes longer.

#2: Clone OS only to Samsung SSD

AOMEI Cloner still helps if you want to clone OS only, select System Clone after accessing it. It will recognize and select the system partition automatically. Please select the new Samsung SSD as the destination partition and click Next.

It will tell you that the destination partition will be overwritten or deleted and ask you to back up important data on it. Click OK to continue. Then, be sure to check SSD Alignment for faster speed and click Start Clone.

The option Make full use of disk space will be checked automatically if the new Samsung SSD is larger than the system partition to avoid the cloned drive show wrong size issues.

Download AOMEI Cloner for easy cloning!

Since the OS, applications, and settings are transferred in one go, the system is ready to use right after the migration, with no need to manually configure the new drive.

Just swap the two drives and change the boot priority in the UEFI/BIOS settings window to let Windows boot from Samsung SSD. Click cloned SSD wont boot if you have any questions.

Conclusion

Samsung Data Migration OS only does not mean users want to clone OS to Samsung SSD, but requires the source drive must be running an OS for cloning to take place. Note, you need to select the source drive from the top toolbar manually in Samsung Magician.

You can also try an all-in-one solution, AOMEI Cloner, the best alternative to Samsung Data Migration. It supports cloning entire disks (containing OS or not), OS only, or specific partitions, respectively. Whether you want to upgrade or replace an old drive, or for data migration, it’s a great choice.