HDD to SSD

Music Guy123 · 28 Apr 2011

Hi there,

I am a little confused by this whole thing so I really need this in very easy and clear steps!!! Basically I currently have an HDD drive but I want to change that to a SSD drive. I haven't yet bought the SSD drive but I have been recommended one by a friend. The only problem is, is that I don't know how to move windows and all my programs onto the SSD drive. It might be worth saying that I have two drive slots in my laptop, both of which are filled with HDD drives but I want to swap the one containing windows and my programs.

Any help would be much appreciated!!!

whs · 28 Apr 2011

See my tutorial for details: SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System if you have questions, post back.

PS: you are lucky to have 2 drive bays. Then you do not an external enclosure. Keep the drive with the OS in the laptop and replace the other disk with the SSD. Later you can still switch them.

If you really want to make your life easy, take the progrm from Paragon that I linked in the tutorial.

Music Guy123 · 28 Apr 2011

Thank u very much.

Just a couple of questions, how do I disable defragmentation on just one hard drive???

I am proposing to put the OS and some programs on the drive. The OS is explained in the tutorial but the programs, do I just cut and paste???

Currently, I have two hdd in my laptop, one for the OS and the programs and the other for data like music and docs. I was thinking to temporarily remove the music and docs one with the ssd while I move across the OS and other stuff, is that right???

When I have finished transferring the stuff, do I just take out the hdd and put the ssd in the c bay??? What would happen if I left them both in???

At the end of your tutorial, you mentioned about what not to do when moving files, I got a little confused!!! Please could you exposing it to me!!!

Sorry for all the questions, thanks for the help so far! BTW, I will be doing the easy way hopefully!!!

whs · 28 Apr 2011

1. Type Defrag into Start/search. There you can schedule disks individually. You can also right click on the disk/partition in Computer, go to Properties > Tools tab and defrag from there whenever you like.

2. When you move the OS, the program files and all the program settings are automatically moved with it. And DO NOT cut/paste - that would create a mess.

3. Yes, for the OS transfer you have to remove the data disk and put the SSD into that bay. Once the OS works again from the SSD (you have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS), you can then put the data disk into the bay where the OS HDD was.

4. In the explanation about moving user folders I stress the point that you never move them to the root of the other disk but to predefined folders (else you loose the location tab). But in your case I would do that differently. Since you already have your user folders on the data disk/partition, just right click on the top folders of each type (documents, music, video, etc.) and Include them into the appropriate library.

PS; am I right in the assumption that you are going to get the Paragon program for the task - I think you should. It is so much easier and all automatic. There is nothing you have to do other than change the BIOS boot sequence when it is done.

Music Guy123 · 29 Apr 2011

Yeah I think I will get the program, my other option is that I am insured by techfriend but that could take ages so will get the program. How do u change the boot sequence in the bios???

Thank you so much for the help - much appreciated!!!

pbcopter · 29 Apr 2011

Windows 7 will automatically disable defragmentation for the SSD when it determines that it is an SSD.

Music Guy123 · 29 Apr 2011

Have worked out how to change boot order, does the hibernate thing really matter, I use hibernate quite a bit!!!

whs · 29 Apr 2011

Music Guy123 said:

Yeah I think I will get the program, my other option is that I am insured by techfriend but that could take ages so will get the program. How do u change the boot sequence in the bios???

Thank you so much for the help - much appreciated!!!

Unfortunately every BIOS is a bit different. That is why there is no exact way for changing the boot sequence that I can describe.

In general terms: When you start the system you first get the BIOS splash screen. On that, it says how to get into the BIOS setup (many times by tapping F2). Once in there, you can only navigate with the arrow keys (mouse does not work). You have to get to the disk setup and change it there. Then, on the bottom of the screen you find the instructions on how to exit "with change". After that it will boot automatically.

The other option you have is to take the SSD out of the bay that you used to transfer the OS and put it back into the bay where the OS HDD was. And then put your data disk back into the bay from where it came. That way the boot order remains what it was with the HDDs.

Music Guy123 · 29 Apr 2011

Yeah thanks, had already worked it out!!!

whs · 29 Apr 2011

Music Guy123 said:

Have worked out how to change boot order, does the hibernate thing really matter, I use hibernate quite a bit!!!

The hiberfile takes lot of space on the SSD (as much as you have RAM). I never use hibernate, but if you can afford the space on the SSD, there is no need to delete the hiberfile.