restoring system image to a new SSD

Bare Foot Kid said:

ozzysworld said:

@bare foot kid - still not working using your suggestion. Is there something very specific I should be doing before the SSD goes into the laptop? Something that I can't do from the command line? I'm asking so that I can go back upstairs with it the xp machine and start over..

My apologies mate, I've never actually done exactly what you are attempting so I'm not much help there.

No worries. I appreciate all the help either way. I'm dying to get this SSD up and running, ha!

theog said:

You will need to download the drivers.

As you have the Windows 7 DVD, see if the HD will show here:
Attachment 158993

The drive is showing up everywhere as expected, but will not take the system restore.

I think I may have to resort to paying a Pro to get this working. Really didn't think it would be a problem.

What size was the old HD?

theog said:

What size was the old HD?

The hard drive was 300gig. But I removed everything and just left windows bare-bones.... left it at about 50gb

I think I see what you're about to say though...

Could my restore image be a 'clone' of the old drive? nearly 300gb, while my new SSD is only 120?

Bare Foot Kid said:

Have you considered a clean install of Windows 7 to the SSD with it being the only one connected to the lappy?


How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

This would be ideal, but I dont have a full windows 7 disk. Only my image and a boot disk...

Obviously I could 'acuire' a windows 7 disk... but I'm trying to go down the legit route.

Bare Foot Kid said:

If you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

Interesting idea. I think I'll look into that option.

ozzysworld said:

theog said:

What size was the old HD?

The hard drive was 300gig. But I removed everything and just left windows bare-bones.... left it at about 50gb

I think I see what you're about to say though...

Could my restore image be a 'clone' of the old drive? nearly 300gb, while my new SSD is only 120?

Sorry to say, YES.

theog said:

ozzysworld said:

theog said:

What size was the old HD?

The hard drive was 300gig. But I removed everything and just left windows bare-bones.... left it at about 50gb

I think I see what you're about to say though...

Could my restore image be a 'clone' of the old drive? nearly 300gb, while my new SSD is only 120?

Sorry to say, YES.

Shit!

How do people get around this? clean installs then?