Replacing 40GB HDD with 64GB SSD - Image restore question

As the title says, I will be replacing my old 40GB HDD in my laptop with a 64GB SSD drive. My intent is to image my current install using the built-in system image functionality, install the SSD and then restore the image to the SSD. Since my install is recent and fresh, I would prefer not to have to install from scratch. I'm also using a Win 7 upgrade CD, so I don't want to place extra wear on the new SSD by having to install the OS twice. Will I run into problems restoring an HDD image to an SSD and will it give me the option to use the full 64GB during the imaging process or make a 40GB partition and force me to extend the partition after imaging is complete?

You could also consider a clone process (direct transfer) rather than imaging.

You are likely exaggerating the so-called problem of wearing out an SSD by installing Windows twice. At any rate, even with an upgrade DVD, you don't have to install twice. There is another way around it.

I assume you have a 40 GB drive, with a single C partition? In that case an ordinary image restoration should give you the choice of using the entire 64 GB SSD as a single C also. In fact, that may be the default.

But it's very easy to extend after the fact if you had to.

ignatzatsonic said:

You could also consider a clone process (direct transfer) rather than imaging.

You are likely exaggerating the so-called problem of wearing out an SSD by installing Windows twice. At any rate, even with an upgrade DVD, you don't have to install twice. There is another way around it.

I assume you have a 40 GB drive, with a single C partition? In that case an ordinary image restoration should give you the choice of using the entire 64 GB SSD as a single C also. In fact, that may be the default.

But it's very easy to extend after the fact if you had to.

I don't have access to any cloning software. My understanding of a fresh install using an upgrade CD is installing Windows 7 and then installing over the first install. Not really any different than me installing Vista first, honestly.

Regarding cloning: Macrium Reflect version 5.0 is free and supports cloning. See the pic below. You can see the "clone this disk" choice near the center of the screen.

My point in the original post was that you do NOT have to do the double install thing in Win 7.

You can, but you don't have to. Double install is one of several methods to do a clean install with an upgrade disc.

See this link:

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Cloning works, but it not used as often on this forum. Most choose imaging or an outright clean install.

whs said:

1. Windows imaging may give you problems.

2. do you have a 100MB active system partition on the HDD. Depending on that I may be able to give you a safe procedure.

3. If you image, you first have to align the SSD.

What Kind of problems? Yes, I have the 100MB partition you speak of. This is my first go involving SSDs so I'm not familiar with aligning them. Can you explain?

ignatzatsonic said:

Regarding cloning: Macrium Reflect version 5.0 is free and supports cloning. See the pic below. You can see the "clone this disk" choice near the center of the screen.

My point in the original post was that you do NOT have to do the double install thing in Win 7.

You can, but you don't have to. Double install is one of several methods to do a clean install with an upgrade disc.

See this link:

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Cloning works, but it not used as often on this forum. Most choose imaging or an outright clean install.

Thank you for your help. I will look at Macrium :)

Windows imaging is fussy and not particularly intuitive. Macrium much less so.

If you have the 100 MB partition, you would need to image it as well as C.

But you can get rid of the 100 MB partition entirely, so then you would only have to image C.

whs said:

ignatz, did you ever clone to an SSD. Does it align the SSD. If not, how do you go about it - with Diskpart ??

No, I have not. It is relatively rare on this forum.

DeaconFrost had a successful experience with cloning that he posted about--no more than 10 days ago. You should be able to find that thread quickly.

He used Acronis if I remember correctly?

I'd certainly assume that Diskpart would be the proper choice---BUT--for all I know if the source disk is properly aligned, the clone will be as well. I cannot confirm as I have not done it.

ignatzatsonic said:

Windows imaging is fussy and not particularly intuitive. Macrium much less so.

If you have the 100 MB partition, you would need to image it as well as C.

But you can get rid of the 100 MB partition entirely, so then you would only have to image C.

I've re-imaged my desktop many times without trouble, but done over same HDD, never to a replacement disc. If I decided to do a fresh install, do I have to perform this alignment procedure?