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

Kaktussoft said:

Here are the drivers Drivers & Downloads | Dell United States (assuming it's the type you have)
You can also use Analyze System for Updates from there

Thanks!

Kaktussoft said:

LeftC said:

Kaktussoft said:

You want to install fresh to ssd?

If I can.

Yes.

I can't get to the stock HD easily with this laptop. I'd have to remove the keyboard, palm rest, etc.

Without disabling the stock HD I can't do the clean install, I believe.

Oops! It is actually 64bit. The specs that you saw was for an old computer that I used to use. I have changed the specs for the laptop that I would like to modify.

Kaktussoft said:

You have an Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit installation DVD?

Got the 64bit installation DVD as well as the 32bit. I am using the 64bit version.

So you have all the stuff needed!
Don't detach old HDD in your case, it's too difficult and not really neccesary. Boot from win7 install dvd and press shift_F10 on first window as shown here Command Prompt at Startup

Now mark the partition that's current active inactive Partition - Mark as Inactive
(you can mark it active if all fails)

Reboot again normally. It should fail because boot partition went inactive. That's just what you want. Boot again form win7 install DVD and install win7 on SSD

Report back when done. Check for windows updates and install them (most likely you have to connect wired instead of wireless). Reboot and check for updates again and again. Now check "device manager" for devices without drivers and post results.

So, this keeps my boot info from going astray. Correct? I'll have to read this very closely before digging in.

I have 3 partitions on my hard drive (see screenshot below): 102 MB, 19.53 GB and 911.88 GB ... OEM, RECOVERY (active) and C: (boot). In whs' "SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System", he says: "In Windows7, you may have the 100MB active boot partition. The easiest way to deal with that is to move the bootmgr to the C: partition using EasyBCD. ..."

I have a 102MB instead of a 100MB partition for some reason that I don't know why. Should I move the bootmgr to the C partition?

essenbe said:

With SyncToy-When you create folder pairs, it gives a left folder and a right folder, each give a search box to choose whatever folder on whatever drive you want. If in the next screen you choose 'echo' it copies the left folder to the right folder, with changes made to the left folder made to the right folder. If you set it up to a new folder on an external for the right folder and the Left folder for your user files, you will have an exact duplicate of your user folders on your external.

It is basically, whatever you want to copy is the left folder and where you want it copied to is the right folder. With Echo, it copies everything left to right.

That is a very neat tool! Thanks!

Greetings!

Unfortunately the older the notebooks or laptops are the more difficult it seems to try to get to the hard drive that you want to replace and or modify for one reason or another... I like to keep things as simple as possible. When I was working in my community's community college's computer lab I learned a lot, as well, but I took with me the fact that it is never better than to do a fresh windows installation regardless of version or flavor. A copy IS just that... a COPY! If you want to use "Ghosting" or "Mirroring" programs by all means utilize them, some swear by them; I choose not to. I have a working hard drive with all my goodies and backups that I use and I have an external offline drive with a a clone backup that I use. I use NinjaCopier for my main bulk copying instead of Windows copy command and I use PowerArchiver 13 for my main ZIPping utility, and ImgBurn (free) for my main DVD/Blue Ray burning and ISO creation utility and Virtual Clone Drive for mounting my ISOs once I create them with ImgBurn.

Here is a few thoughts of my own from someone who has gotten that "I have lost everything and have to download and find it all again" T-Shirt as well...

First and foremost did you happen to check the reviews on your new Samsung SSD? Keeping in mind that everything has a failure rating and it will fail ... it is inevitable, does not matter if it is solid state or not. I also utilize a nice little program called CPU-Z Validator...here is my computer's specs after downloading and running CPU-Z...

Example, my mother bought an HP from a well known shopping center and I did not check the specifications before she decided to purchase herself an updated notebook. While Toshiba makes some great products (IMHAHO [in my honest and humble opinion]); they make lousy hard drives... within 14 months of purchasing the computer TWO (the original and a warranty replacement) hard drives failed...

If your original hard drive is still is okay and it works once its ran through a good diagnostics program like Steve Gibson's SpinRite6 it is a tiny program but it works and works well... Do not know how well it will work on SSD drives, mind you. I have always had the best of luck with Seagate hard drives... I own three GoFlex hard drives (2 1.5TB externals and the 500GB WiFi hard drive) and my ASUS notebook houses two internal Seagate hard drives (a 250GB C: drive and a 500GB for my D: drive). I never store any user files on my drive C: (or main drive where the Windows directory and Programs or Programs (x86) directories reside). I store all of my documents, music, pictures, etc. on another drive (my case my notebook's internal drive D)... This is for two reasons, it keeps the wear and tear of the main drive down to a minimal so that the failure rate is not achieved too quickly and the second is so that my user files are not lost.

For me I have setup and used ISO images for computer restorations and there is an ample difference between reinstalling Windows from scratch or reinstalling Windows from an ISO image. Something always seems to go wrong a lot sooner if I remount a drive with an ISO image of a previous Windows install versus installation of a Fresh copy of Windows.

Also, for maintaining my computers I (keeping in mind you will have some say do not do this or touch this at all) swear by three other utilities:

AVG (this anti-virus seems to be the fastest I have found for myself).
Auslogics' Disk Defrag PRO and Auslogics' BoostSpeed. Disk Defrag is the only defragmentation program that I know that can defrag the hidden Windows "string" ($) files, page file and hyber file upon restart of your computer. Bear in mind that a defrag program is not for use with SSD drives as of yet. Although I think Auslogics is working on something though... Good Luck.

Hope this gives you more food for thought....

Cheers!

Thank you very much, Spirit Wolfe, for your advice and tips. I will keep them in mind. I am already using some of those programs and I will check out the other ones.

My Dell laptop is a 2012 model that I have had for 7 months. It is an OK machine, but I like the idea of things being faster by using an SSD. I'm 61 now and having things to get going a little faster gives me a bit of relief. Time is a little more precious as we age, it seems. I do wish that this laptop was like your Asus and have two hard drives.

I read about the early Samsung 840 Pro SSD problems. These were mainly firmware related. Samsung issued an update on 12-13-12 that is supposed to fix it. I haven't read about any tests since this firmware update. It is a gamble, but it does have a 5 year warranty.

I have the same thoughts about having the programs, OS, etc on one drive and my documents, pics, music, etc on another. This is what I would like to do with this laptop.

As you and the others have suggested, a clean install would be the way to go. I do not know if I can pull it off. Kaktussoft's installation suggestion is a bit elevated for me, but maybe I can handle it. I've got to really review the material beforehand.

Kaktussoft said:

LeftC said:

As you and the others have suggested, a clean install would be the way to go. I do not know if I can pull it off. Kaktussoft's installation suggestion is a bit elevated for me, but maybe I can handle it. I've got to really review the material beforehand.

My solution isn't difficult at all. Just mark the current ACTIVE boot partition INACTIVE and install normally.

Would you take a look at post #24 where I show my 3 partitions. Am I still OK to follow your directions? Should I do what whs suggests in his tutorial or just leave the bootmgr alone?