New ssd desktop install options

floydo · 05 Nov 2013

Just bought a Samsung 256Gb ssd to replace my 1TB boot drive and looking at options. (I do have Acronis 2011 suite and the new Samsung magician transfer software)
Preferred option is to use a 2011 Windows 7 ultimate image of the 1TB, but it's single partition is larger than the SSD and it was set as IDE in bios/registry...when imaged.
Reading thru the forum and web comments it looks like one could restore the image to a Hdd (do I need a 1TB drive for that?), then change that to AHCI via registry and Bios, then transfer using Acronis or possibly the Samsung Magician software to the SSD, but people imply the W7 image of a large partition cannot be imaged on a smaller drive.

Fresh install would be very time consuming due to some program settings. The current install of Win 7 could be used but it has become somewhat bloated. Motherboard is Sata 2.

Is there any direct or more simple way to use this older Win 7 image to the SSD? Are there any smarter options for migration?

Thx

bigmck · 05 Nov 2013

floydo said:

Just bought a Samsung 256Gb ssd to replace my 1TB boot drive and looking at options. (I do have Acronis 2011 suite and the new Samsung magician transfer software)
Preferred option is to use a 2011 Windows 7 ultimate image of the 1TB, but it's single partition is larger than the SSD and it was set as IDE in bios/registry...when imaged.
Reading thru the forum and web comments it looks like one could restore the image to a Hdd (do I need a 1TB drive for that?), then change that to AHCI via registry and Bios, then transfer using Acronis or possibly the Samsung Magician software to the SSD, but people imply the W7 image of a large partition cannot be imaged on a smaller drive.

Fresh install would be very time consuming due to some program settings. The current install of Win 7 could be used but it has become somewhat bloated. Motherboard is Sata 2.

Is there any direct or more simple way to use this older Win 7 image to the SSD? Are there any smarter options for migration?

Thx

You don't want the all of the information from the HDD on your SSD. Leave the Text Docs, Pictures, etc on the HDD. Put your Windows and all programs on the SSD. Your image is from 2011. I am sure a lot has changed on the HDD since then. You can install Windows in about 45 minutes. Then put your programs on the SSD. You don't have to do it all in one day. It won't take that long. Do yourself a favor and do it right.

floydo · 05 Nov 2013

bigmck I realize a fresh install is the best, but was thinking I could avoid some quirky setup issues from some of my programs. I will start the fresh install approach...I thought there might be some clever/good tricks to allow a migration from a win 7 image. I had read that one could adjust the image size Redo Backup and Recovery / Discussion / Open Discussion:An answer on how to restore to a smaller drive but feel that might be sketchy...
Thx