Replacing hdd insturctions

[Rlk919]

Hi I am needing to replace my operating 1 Gig hdd in my Dell computer with a 2 Gig hdd. Intel Octane is working. I would like some direction on changing my old hdd to a new larger hdd.  I am running Windows 11.

This is what little I know.  I need to disable the octane memory on the disk using the Intel octane memory management program.  After that things get a little foggy. What is the best program to use to clone the drive over to the new drive? Is imaging or cloning the preferred method? Any special steps needed in doing so?

After cloning, I reinstall the new hdd in my computer. I believe I then boot it up (hopeful successfully) then go back into the Intel Octane program and re-pair octane with the drive.

Please correct me with anything wrong on this procedure. Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rick

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Rick,

1. The procedure to replace the HDD after disabling the Optane acceleration as described in your post, is correct.

2. To clone the HDD I suggest any of the free application: Macrium Reflect Free Trial  or AOMEI Backupper Standard . 

3. Question: instead of replacing the HDD, did you consider to replace the Optane Memory with a 1TB NVMe SSD and to clone your HDD there. Later to move all your DATA (documents, pictures, music, videos) back to the HDD? In this configuration you may also change the SATA Mode from "Intel RST..." to AHCI. The SATA Mode may be changed after setting Windows to SAFE Mode first. In this configuration, your computer will be faster than with Optane Memory.

Leon

[Rlk919]

Thanks for the reply. Regarding replacing the Optane memory with an NVMe SSD, can you provide more information and steps to do this? For example, what do I need to change in the BIOS? It's set to raid as of now. Would I format the SSD as a GPT drive and load my image onto that? Do I do anything with the Intel Memory storage program?

As you can tell I know enough to be dangerous so any simple guidance and step-by-step information would be most greatly appreciated.

I can see the possibility of the computer being faster as the optane memory isn't really that big at all. 

Again Thanks for your time and knowledge

Rick

[LeonWaksman · Accepted solution]

Hi Rick,

The following steps should be taken to replace the Optane Memory with and NVMe SSD:

1. Run the Optane Memory and Storage Application and disable the Optane acceleration. Reboot your computer.

2. Prepare full backup of your drive.

3. For Optane Acceleration the SATA Emulation settings in BIOS is set to RAID and you should set it to AHCI.  In order to change the SATA Emulation mode without corrupting Windows, you should enter BIOS after setting Windows boot mode to SAFE. 

4. In BIOS Storage Options, change the SATA Emulation to AHCI. Save the setting and exit from BIOS (disregard any warnings).

5. After rebooting to Windows after changing the SATA Emulation mode, you may disable the SAFE mode and boot in Normal mode.

6. You may now clone your HDD to the new NVMe SSD (no need format the SSD as your drive is cloned with all partitions) . Remember, only one System drive may be installed at the same time. So, when booting from the new SSD, disconnect (or erase the HDD).

7. In SATA Mode AHCI, you may uninstall the  Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management application and the RST Driver.

Leon

[Rlk919]

G'moring Leon

Thanks for the great reply. It's exactly what I needed to know.  I only have one question. I am confused on step 6 where it says (no need to the SSD as your drive is cloned with all partitions). What do you mean? ok, actually two questions, is there anything I need to do to the ssd prior to cloning the drive ( format?).

Again thank you very much for your time and expertise. You dont realize how valuable that is to people like me

[LeonWaksman]

I corrected the para.6 in my previous post: (no need format the SSD as your drive is cloned with all partitions).  I'm assuming that in current configuration, your HDD has GPT partition and the boot in BIOS is set to UEFI. This should be the case if you are using Optane acceleration. You may check the partition scheme of your HDD. 

Leon

[Rlk919]

G'morning Leon. I would like to thank you for your time and expertise. Your instructions were clear and simple, just what I needed. The Good Lord smiled on me and I successfully got the new ssd installed with no issues. I then used Ashampoo pro back up 26 to clone the drive.

Once that was done, I used mini tool partition wizard to extend my c drive to include my extended unallocated space.

I am not sure if it was the change from Octane or the new ssd, but in any event my computer is faster than ever.

Again Thanks and greatly appriciated

Rick

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Rick,

I'm glad that you have successfully transferred your system from the Optane accelerated HDD to the NVMe SSD. Now you have not only faster computer, but not less important - more reliable. 

Leon