Can I Restore A HDD System Image To A SSD Without Issues?

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  1. Posts : 172
    win 7
       #1

    Can I Restore A HDD System Image To A SSD Without Issues?


    Can I Restore a System Image of a HDD (70 Gb of 500Gb used) => To a 256 Gb SSD?

    What about any required SSD drivers and/or any SSD management software that won't be on the HDD System Image?
    Anything else that may affect a successful drive swap from HDD to SSD?
    Last edited by poolmon; 08 Jan 2015 at 09:25.
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  2. Posts : 2,573
    Win7 Ultimate X64
       #2

    Easiest way would be to shrink the 500GB partition to below the size of the SDD>image across then you can extend it to fill the SSD if necessary
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  3. Posts : 172
    win 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Pauly said:
    Easiest way would be to shrink the 500GB partition to below the size of the SDD>image across then you can extend it to fill the SSD if necessary
    My HDD is not partitioned currently. If I do not create a partition and then shrink it, will the Image of the 500Gb drive not fit on the SSD even though the used portion of the HDD is less than the new smaller SSD?

    Also, what about any SSD drivers/Management Software that is not in the HDD Image.?
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  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    poolmon said:
    Pauly said:
    Easiest way would be to shrink the 500GB partition to below the size of the SDD>image across then you can extend it to fill the SSD if necessary
    My HDD is not partitioned currently. If I do not create a partition and then shrink it, will the Image of the 500Gb drive not fit on the SSD even though the used portion of the HDD is less than the new smaller SSD?

    Also, what about any SSD drivers/Management Software that is not in the HDD Image.?
    As far as I know, you will be OK if the used space on the old drive is equal to or smaller than the available space on the new drive. You are using 70 and have a 256 gb SSD, so I'd think all is OK.

    I don't think you have to pre-format the new drive. In fact, I wouldn't. I'd just screw it into place, connect it, and attempt to restore the image.

    You'd need to transfer C and any other partition that may have boot files, such as System Reserved.

    I can't recall anyone having driver issues when doing an ordinary transfer to an SSD via imaging.

    SSD management software is typically installed after the transfer as a separate process--if your drive manufacturer in fact provides any such software.
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  5. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #5

    [QUOTE=ignatzatsonic;2978320]
    poolmon said:
    ...I don't think you have to pre-format the new drive. In fact, I wouldn't. I'd just screw it into place, connect it, and attempt to restore the image...
    I can't speak for other imaging programs but, with Macrium Reflect, you do have to preformat it so it can "see" the partitions to send the image partitions to. It is simpler to just clone the original drive to the SSD with Macrium Reflect. Besides being one step with no need for an intermediary drive or partition, all the SSD needs is a simple format; the cloning process will make the necessary partitions. I do suggest shrinking the original partition before cloning. This can easily be done with Mini Tool Partition Wizard. Both Macrium Reflect and Mini Tool Partition Wizard have free versions that are adequate for the job.
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  6. Posts : 172
    win 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

    [QUOTE=Lady Fitzgerald;2978325]
    ignatzatsonic said:
    poolmon said:
    ...I don't think you have to pre-format the new drive. In fact, I wouldn't. I'd just screw it into place, connect it, and attempt to restore the image...
    I can't speak for other imaging programs but, with Macrium Reflect, you do have to preformat it so it can "see" the partitions to send the image partitions to. It is simpler to just clone the original drive to the SSD with Macrium Reflect. Besides being one step with no need for an intermediary drive or partition, all the SSD needs is a simple format; the cloning process will make the necessary partitions. I do suggest shrinking the original partition before cloning. This can easily be done with Mini Tool Partition Wizard. Both Macrium Reflect and Mini Tool Partition Wizard have free versions that are adequate for the job.
    If the partition on the HDD were not shrunk first, what would be the effect on the new 256Gb SSD to which the HDD (70Gb of 500Gb used) were cloned?
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  7. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #7

    [QUOTE=poolmon;2978402]
    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    ignatzatsonic said:

    I can't speak for other imaging programs but, with Macrium Reflect, you do have to preformat it so it can "see" the partitions to send the image partitions to. It is simpler to just clone the original drive to the SSD with Macrium Reflect. Besides being one step with no need for an intermediary drive or partition, all the SSD needs is a simple format; the cloning process will make the necessary partitions. I do suggest shrinking the original partition before cloning. This can easily be done with Mini Tool Partition Wizard. Both Macrium Reflect and Mini Tool Partition Wizard have free versions that are adequate for the job.
    If the partition on the HDD were not shrunk first, what would be the effect on the new 256Gb SSD to which the HDD (70Gb of 500Gb used) were cloned?
    It would depend on the program you were using to make the clone. Some write only the sectors with data on them to the clone and would not require shrinking; others do sector by sector cloning only and would not be able to handle cloning to a smaller drive. I still feel it's safer to shrink the partition first; it's not that difficult.
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  8. Posts : 172
    win 7
    Thread Starter
       #8

    [QUOTE=Lady Fitzgerald;2978441]
    poolmon said:
    Lady Fitzgerald said:

    If the partition on the HDD were not shrunk first, what would be the effect on the new 256Gb SSD to which the HDD (70Gb of 500Gb used) were cloned?
    It would depend on the program you were using to make the clone. Some write only the sectors with data on them to the clone and would not require shrinking; others do sector by sector cloning only and would not be able to handle cloning to a smaller drive. I still feel it's safer to shrink the partition first; it's not that difficult.
    I would be using Win 7 native "System Image & Repair Disc" tools.
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  9. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #9

    Post screenshot of disk management please. We want to know what partition is ACTIVE and what kind of partitions you have.
    My HDD is not partitioned currently
    Impossible! All harddrives are partitioned.
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  10. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #10

    I recently transferred my Test Box from a HD to SSD and whs explained how to use Macrium free to restore an image to a smaller partition.
    You have to drag the image to the target, read more here:
    Can Macrium restore a backup image to a smaller partition ?

    Here is a tutorial by whs:
    SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

    I used the Win 7 built in System Imaging program years ago and it didn't work well for me.
    Programs such as Macrium, Acronis, AOEMI, etc. have more user options and control ...
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