Windows 7: SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

Introduction

If you never owned an SSD, you have missed something. Yes, they are not cheap, but Dollar per Dollar there...

With Windows 7, I have had good luck cloning the OS from a HDD to an SSD and vice versa using both Paragon Migrate OS to SSD ($19), or the Migrate OS to SSD or HDD feature in Aomei Partition Assistant (free).

Paragon Migrate OS to SSD is not free.
I've just installed Aomei Partition Assistant, but there is literally no documentation for the migration process. It doesn't specify anything that it does. Does it also wipe the source partition? I wouldn't want that.



I'd feel more comfortable if I understood which was my mistake, and how can I correct it. I'm guessing that after copying the partitions block by block, with Easeus Disk Copy, one more step has to be done, in order to update some values.

Expansion, Do this:

1. Copy the bootmgr to the C partition. Then you can forget the 100MB partition. Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD

2. Use elevated Command Prompt (Start > Accessories . right click on Command Prompt > Run as Administrsator)to define a partition on your SSD. The commands are:

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
Exit

3. Make an image of C with free Macrium
4. Restore that image on the SSD into the partition you defined.

As remeinder, here is the Macrium tutorial: Imaging with free Macrium

whs, thank you for the response, but unfortunately it does not solve my problem.

1) I want to keep the 100MB partition
2) I don't have an extra HDD to image my partition.
3) I want to clone/copy the partition in DOS mode, in order to be able to compare that everything was copied 100% bit identical.

ditto to WHS
I decided to keep the system reserved (why). Works like a charm.
Paragon migrate is dead easy and allows you to keep your spinner installed. Except, it seems to want to do away with the reliability monitor.

1) why and for what ??

2) go get a disk or borrow one - maybe you even have enough room on your current HDD. Post a picture of your Disk Management

3) that is not neccessary

For 1) and 2) use Paragon migrate.
3) No point.

1) For the same reason Microsoft has created it. I don't know it in this moment, but I'm 101% sure that it's a wiser way to have it like that.

2) As I said, I'm paranoid, and I don't want complicated stuff, like imaging from A to C, then restoring from C to B. Why would I want to involve a 3rd HDD?

3) It is necessary, if you care about data integrity. As I said, I've seen corruption before, when cloning.

I have nothing else to say. Do it your way.

I don't use the Reserved Partition and have no trouble. As for MS having a good reason, they are the people who brought us Windows ME, IE7, and Win 8.

Macrium has the option to verify an image too, bit by bit. Better than the XPired ideas with DOS.