HDD to SSD tip

[OilSheikh]

I thought I would like to share something that most of us who are considering upgrading to SSD's will face.

Let' s say we have a 500GB HDD which you currently use and it has your Windows installed on it. Now, you want to upgrade to a 120GB SSD ... so your Windows and programs will be on the SSD but your Documents, videos, etc. will be on the HDD.

1. First , make sure your C: partition on your HDD is less than 120GB
2. Install EASEUS PARTITION MASTER HOME EDITION [FREE] and make a 120GB partition on C: Any extra space beyond the new partition will be unclaimed space.
3. Use Macrium Reflect [FREE] to make disc image of your partition on another HDD
4. Use Reflect Rescue CD to restore image to SSD
5. Run Win7 startup repair from Win7 install DVD to fix BOOT MISSING error


Tada!!!!!

[DDY]

If this is Windows 7 we’re talking about, I think it’s easier to move drive contents during an ‘upgrade’ to a smaller disk with Windows backup and restore to create a system image on an external hard drive, that image can then be restored by booting from the Windows 7 install CD.

But note you’ll need to delete or move enough data on the old drive so that the remaining data can fit on the new drive before creating a system image, ala step one above.

[jim]

What I've wondered about this is the following:

Does Windows appreciate that you're now using an SSD, and enable TRIM and SSD optimisations as normal?

[OilSheikh]

What I've wondered about this is the following:

Does Windows appreciate that you're now using an SSD, and enable TRIM and SSD optimisations as normal?

I used the Disable something command just in case. Can't remember what it was ...... Apparently that enables TRIM.

[jim]

disabledeletenotify or something like that?

[GoNz0]

you cant beat a fresh install to give you back a few extra gb of space windows eats up.

[DDY]

you cant beat a fresh install to give you back a few extra gb of space windows eats up.

Even better, create a system image using Windows 'backup and restore' right after installing Windows 7, drivers and a few programs.

[GoNz0]

yeh but im lazy and set the NAS to power up each weekend and take a system image, lost that just fresh feeling but can get everything back within a weeks worth in no time

amazing how much space windows winsxs gobbles up for no good reason and you cant go deleting it either

[jim]

Most of Winsxs doesn't actually exist though

[lodore]

FYI Windows Vista and 7 you can resize partitions without the need for 3rd party software.
just type computer management in to the search box and run as admin.
on the left hand side is disk management. right click resize.

[dangel]

I thought I would like to share something that most of us who are considering upgrading to SSD's will face.

Let' s say we have a 500GB HDD which you currently use and it has your Windows installed on it. Now, you want to upgrade to a 120GB SSD ... so your Windows and programs will be on the SSD but your Documents, videos, etc. will be on the HDD.

1. First , make sure your C: partition on your HDD is less than 120GB
2. Install EASEUS PARTITION MASTER HOME EDITION [FREE] and make a 120GB partition on C: Any extra space beyond the new partition will be unclaimed space.
3. Use Macrium Reflect [FREE] to make disc image of your partition on another HDD
4. Use Reflect Rescue CD to restore image to SSD
5. Run Win7 startup repair from Win7 install DVD to fix BOOT MISSING error

Depending on your system:

6. If it don't boot, repeat 5 until it does.

Sometimes it's necessary in my experience. I'd also watch that the restore partition is aligned correctly (not saying it won't be but I don't use those imaging tools).

[OilSheikh]

After I do a fresh install of Windows and install all my programs, I create an image using Reflct and store it in a separate hard drive. If Windows misbeahves, this goes in and within 20 mins. , I am back up and running again. Of course, your documents , etc. will need to be setup to be redirected to another partition.

[GoNz0]

built in windows backups one less bit of software to take a full image