Windows 7: What software to use with SSD clone and for backup too? Many Choices!!

LeftC · 30 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

Make the boot order (in BIOS using F2)

- Removeable Drive (=floppy). If it fails
- USB . if it fails
- CD/DVD .if it fails
- eSATA .if it fails
- Hard Drive --- ST1000. if it fails
- Network

And save it!
I want it to try removable drive, usb,cd/dvd, esata first. All should fail (if no CD/DVD in drive) so it boots from harddrive st1000. Works?

insert a bootable DVD and boot without pressing F12. Boots from DVD?

All works as described above... if so continue. Eject the DVD

Boot normally. Mark the SSD partition ACTIVE and boot. (you can mark it active in diskmangement, just right click on partition-> "mark partition as active") What error message do you get? I think "bootmgr is missing" (that would be great ...we found the ssd). If it boots normally post screenshot of diskmangement please.

If not booting ... change boot order in bios by placing harddisk before esata in the list. Try to boot. It boots succesfully to Windows 7? If not place harddisk even higher in the list.

post results

I am working on doing this right now. I can almost post results.

LeftC · 30 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

Make the boot order (in BIOS using F2)

- Removeable Drive (=floppy). If it fails
- USB . if it fails
- CD/DVD .if it fails
- eSATA .if it fails
- Hard Drive --- ST1000. if it fails
- Network

And save it!
I want it to try removable drive, usb,cd/dvd, esata first. All should fail (if no CD/DVD in drive) so it boots from harddrive st1000. Works?

This booted up to SSD drive. It was just a few seconds slower than when I had it set like this:
- Hard Drive
--- ST1000 hard drive
USB storage device
Removable Drive
eSATA
CD/DVD
- Network
--- Realtek PXE B03 DOO

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

insert a bootable DVD and boot without pressing F12. Boots from DVD?

Win 7 install DVD didn't boot up using your latest boot order??

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

All works as described above... if so continue. Eject the DVD

Since DVD didn't boot up, I don't know what's next. What is next?

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

Boot normally. Mark the SSD partition ACTIVE and boot. (you can mark it active in diskmangement, just right click on partition-> "mark partition as active") What error message do you get? I think "bootmgr is missing" (that would be great ...we found the ssd). If it boots normally post screenshot of diskmangement please.

If not booting ... change boot order in bios by placing harddisk before esata in the list. Try to boot. It boots succesfully to Windows 7? If not place harddisk even higher in the list.

post results

Do I still do this even though it didn't boot up to DVD.

Kaktussoft · 30 Jan 2013

put CD/DVD on top of boot priority. then it tries to boot from dvd first. Of course put bootbale DVD in first. Of course save the bios settings. It should boot from dvd. How did you manage to boot from dvd otherwise?

Kaktussoft · 30 Jan 2013

Do you save bios settings each time???

LeftC · 30 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

put CD/DVD on top of boot priority. then it tries to boot from dvd first. Of course put bootbale DVD in first. Of course save the bios settings. It should boot from dvd. How did you manage to boot from dvd otherwise?

It booted to the Win 7 DVD when CD/DVD was first choice in BIOS.

Gosh, I keep answering your question about CD/DVD booting first. Are you overlooking it?

LeftC · 30 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

Do you save bios settings each time???

yes

Kaktussoft · 30 Jan 2013

What happens if boot other is:
cd/dvd
....
....
....
esata
harddisk
network

.... can be anything else.
Put it that way and boot (without DVD inserted). What happens?

Sorry I didn't understand DVD as boot priority first

Post screenshot of disk managemnt if it boots succesfully. Screenshot of disk management please

LeftC · 30 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaktussoft

What happens if boot other is:
cd/dvd
....
....
....
esata
harddisk
network

.... can be anything else.
Put it that way and boot (without DVD inserted). What happens?

Sorry I didn't understand DVD as boot priority first

Post screenshot of disk managemnt if it boots succesfully. Screenshot of disk management please

It booted successfully. Here is the disk management screen.

Kaktussoft · 31 Jan 2013

If boot priority is:

cd/dvd
....
....
....
esata
harddisk
network

It still booted. It booted from harddisk (system reserved). BIOS can't address SSD as boot device as you proved. Most likely you built it in on same spot where DVD drive was(?)

Anyway I give you instructions how to clone and how to boot.

You added document last days on SSD? You want to keep them? Copy them from SSD to old disk. So from C to D
Mark old harddisk OS active. So mark D active.
Reboot. If not success. Stop and report back. But it should boot.... why not... it alway did if OS partition was active
Assign "system reserved" a drive letter... I use P in my example. Maybe it has a drive letter already.
In Elevated Command Prompt do
Code:
```
attrib  -h  -s  P:\boot\bcd
del  P:\boot\bcd
```
Bootmenu (not used at all now) is gone now.
Delete partition on SSD using disk management. Now SSD is totally empty

All went succesfully? If so continue.

Clone the old disk to SSD as described before. Do it using macrium. Clone OS only, not system reserved! Be sure it's active and primary. Be sure it uses full SSD space. Be sure it's aligned "VISTA/Windows 7".
Cloning a disk using Macrium Reflect v5 - YouTube
Start the clone process
If done post screenshot of disk management

LeftC · 31 Jan 2013

Sorry, I've been out of town all day and I just got back. I hadn't been able to do any computer work.

How do I delete all the info on SSD? I can use the Samsung Magician for this, I do believe. Also, I can do diskpart "Clean All" I do believe.

Do I then do this?

Quote:

Then you need to align the SSD and define an active partition on it. Use elevated command prompt for this:

Quote:

Diskpart

List disk

Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your SSD in List disk)

Clean

Create partition primary align=1024

Format fs=ntfs quick

Active (assuming you want to install an

Exit

Cone or Image? Do I do a clone or should I do an image using Macrium? whs mentioned using an image in his SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System tutorial. And you are saying clone. Just curious as to why??

A few weeks ago I bought the $20 Paragon Migrate OS to SSD 3.0. Would this be an option to clone/image instead of Macrium?

I don't have an extra partition on the SSD now. See snip.

I'll finish up the other part of your directions later. It is getting late here.

Windows 7: What software to use with SSD clone and for backup too? Many Choices!!

What software to use with SSD clone and for backup too? Many Choices!! problems?