Restoring C Drive from a clone

[djchapple]

I have a Lenovo AIO 730S-24IKB computer running Windows 10. The computer has 2TB on-board M.2 PCIe SSD storage (Drive C) and a 1TB SSD 2.5" drive (Drive D). The OS is on dive C

I create weekly backups of both C and D using Ashampoo software onto an external usb 4TB HDD and I also regularly create clones of both C and D, also onto external usb HDDs.

I would like to restore the clone of Drive C back onto the 2TB M.e SSD in the computer, without removing the SSD from the computer.

Is this possible and, if so, how?

 

[ChatGPT]

To restore a clone of Drive C back onto the 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD without physically removing the SSD, you can follow these general steps: 1. Bootable Cloning Software: - Ensure your cloning software supports creating a bootable media or environment. 2. Create a Bootable Clone: - Use your Ashampoo software (or an alternative) to clone Drive C onto an external USB drive, creating a bootable clone of the 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD. 3. Access BIOS: - Access the BIOS on your Lenovo computer. Usually, you can enter the BIOS by pressing a specific key during the startup process (common keys are F2, F12, ESC, or DEL). 4. Change Boot Order: - In the BIOS settings, change the boot order to prioritize booting from the external USB drive where you copied the clone of Drive C. 5. Boot from External USB: - Save the BIOS settings and restart your computer, booting from the external USB drive. 6. Restore the Clone: - Run your cloning software from the external USB drive and initiate the restoration process to copy the clone of Drive C back onto the 2TB M.2 SSD. 7. Completion and Verification: - Once the restoration is complete, shut down the computer, disconnect the external USB drive, and reboot your system normally. 8. Testing: - After the restore process, ensure that the system boots up correctly from the newly restored 2TB M.2 SSD. Test the system thoroughly to verify that all data and settings are intact. By creating a bootable clone and following these steps, you can restore the clone of Drive C back onto the 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD without physically removing the SSD from the computer. Remember to back up important data before starting any disk operations to prevent data loss.