Replacing the disk on which Windows is installed can become a complex process. Simply copying all the files is not sufficient because Windows distributes some system files to other partitions that are not visible in Explorer. Additionally, certain files and folders cannot be accessed even with administrator rights due to security reasons or because they are being exclusively used by an application.
Fortunately, there are special tools available that can handle this task, except for certain cases such as exotic configurations, Bitlocker encrypted disks, severely defective Windows installations, or multiple operating systems installed in parallel. One such tool is the c’t emergency windows, which needs to be built and transferred to a USB stick. This tool contains appropriate tools and helps minimize problems by ensuring that the copied Windows installation is not running during the copying process.
To begin, temporarily connect the new storage medium to the powered-off PC. This can be done by connecting it to a free SATA port on a desktop PC or using a USB adapter. If there are other hard drives connected to the PC, it is recommended to temporarily unplug them from the power supply to avoid any confusion for Emergency Windows.
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