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

Going to install SSD now.

Questions: Do I need to initialize the SSD; format it, align it or install its latest firmware, partition or do anything to it before use? We are going from a 1 TB HD to a 512 GB SSD. The SSD hasn't been used before.

I have the SSD installed. Windows loaded its drivers. But, it doesn't show up when I click on computer. Stumped for now.

Stumped for now.

Device Manager says that the SSD is working properly but it isn't shown when I click on Computer to view drives.

There is a firmware update for the SSD, downloaded it, but Samsung's SSD Magician ver 3.2 software doesn't see it no matter where the download file is placed. I can put the download file on the desktop, anywhere in the C drive, and it either can't see it or it won't open up the folder where it is. Strange!

Macrium Reflect sees SSD, Getting ready to clone C drive to it, if I can.

Kaktussoft said:

Of course attach ssd to system. Install macrium reflect free from Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download (scroll down). close all other running applications. Run macrium reflect. Press "clone this disk". select the source and destination disk. Select partitions you want to clone (you only have 1 the OS partition). You can adjust the size of destination partition. Make it as large as possible ... so using whole SSD (I think it's default). Make partition primary and active (think it is same as source by default). ALIGN DESTINATION PARTITION win7/vista!

Partition Alignment



Start the clone process. Of course do nothing else on computer, because clone is the state as it is now. You can display documents and browse internet if you want.

When clone has completed succesfully you can see SSD in windows explorer. SSD has drive letter F for example. I use it in next explanation. We gonna check if all is fine.

Cloned

Kaktussoft said:

In Elevated Command Prompt

Code:

diskpart
sel  vol  F
detail part
exit

is it active?

Active, see snip.

Kaktussoft said:

Code:

diskpart
sel dis 0
uniqueid disk
sel dis 1
uniqueid disk

Disk ID's are different?....that's what you want.

ID's Different, see snip

Kaktussoft said:

Code:

bcdedit/store F:\boot\bcd

All lines with device, osdevice, ramdisksdidevice, ramdisksdidevice are refering to F: or BOOT? So C: is nowhere in output? All should refere to F... that's nice. If you boot from SSD it all will be called C.

Refers to D, new SSD, see snip

Kaktussoft said:

Start disk defragment->schedule->select disks. SSD is not listed there.... then win7 knows it's an SSD instead of normal HDD. Select any disk you want to defragment. Never defragment SSD.

OK

Kaktussoft said:

Config system restore settings System Protection - Turn On or Off
Any ghost disks there? If so disable system protection on that ghost disk. Be sure to enable system protection on C as shown in step 10.

HD on and SSD off, see snip

Should both be on? Confused here.

Kaktussoft said:

In elevated command prompt:

Code:

fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

Is it 0? If not

Code:

fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0

This puts TRIM on on SSD.

Post results

Is 0, see snip

Kaktussoft said:

All is as expected? Shutdown and change "boot order" in bios, so it boots from SSD. Look in disk management if SSD is called C now.

Having trouble changing boot order. SSD doesn't show up in this section, but it is shown in other parts of BIOS. Can not change boot order for this reason.

Right now, HD is C and SSD is D. This should be changed.

Will be trying to figure this on out. Any ideas?

PARTITIONS
C: HD, active, boot
D: SSD, active

I got it. I marked the HD as inactive. Then the computer couldn't find the OS. So, I inserted the Win 7 disk and did a clean install. See snip of "Computer" and "Benchmark."

I checked to make sure that the alignment is OK. It is, see snip.