How do I clone a System Partition onto a new Drive

I'd not throttle a new SSD with an old possibly corrupt Win7 installation but instead get the freshest start with a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail, everything you need is in the link.

gregrocker said:

I'd not throttle a new SSD with an old possibly corrupt Win7 installation but instead get the freshest start with a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail, everything you need is in the link.

Thanks, I'm thinking I'll have to do this. I just want to know what is causing all these boot problems because I clean installed two weeks ago because of them and they are back again...

whs said:

Good, in fact you can disable ALL startup programs except the aniti virus and those that you started yourself like gadgets (sidebar), docks (e.g. Rocket Dock), etc.

But this Pro Tools 8 sounds suspicious. I would stay away from such programs.

I think your HDD is OK. The bug is in your installation.

Startup/repair fixes defective system files. Nothing else. It works similar as sfc /scannow except it has access to all system files whilst sfc has only access to those files that are in the mirror (which are only the essential ones). Drivers that were loaded later and program files of programs that you installed afterwards do not get fixed because those are not on the installation disc.

Pro Tools is an audio recording and mixing program.

badcat said:

Pro Tools is an audio recording and mixing program.

Yeah, I just didn't know if it was interfering with other audio drivers or not, I've had it happen before on other systems.

But anyway to get back on topic. I realized that I was fixing my HDD and NOT my SSD. My SSD wasn't booting up so it was automatically starting up my HDD instead.

The good news is that my HDD is now perfectly bootable minus AntiVirus, but the bad news is that the SSD gets an "autochk program not found - skipping autocheck" restart loop to infinity and beyond after "Starting Windows". I am currently clean installing as per gregrocker's suggestion.

We'll see if the black cursor happens in another 2 weeks or not...

My last question would be, what is the best way to save my system drive so that I can easily restore it when the next boot up fail occurs? I read somewhere that I can save an image of windows after I have installed all my updates and drivers and simply restore that image every time I have a problem. Recommendations would be great!

whs said:

Yeah, an image is your best option. I use free macrium which is the easiest, most reliable and fastest. Imaging with free Macrium

For your SSD I recommend a completely new start. But I would first do a secure erase of the SSD with Gparted ( http://www.gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=5901 ). That will set it back to factory condition. Best would be if you made a fresh install on the SSD - but unplug the HDD when doing that.

Thanks for the tips! I decided to start anew. I didn't secure erase with GParted though (Didn't think to do it) I have my SSD up now and installing updates/drivers

I'm definitely going to check out that Macrium Free Edition. Do you recommend just creating one imaging when I finish installing drivers and updates/core programs, or constantly updating my SSD image as I go along? Or maybe creating one now and then a different one that constantly updates? Thanks, you've been a big help!

Thanks! I'm going to set it up just as soon as I finish these updates. Getting to SP1 takes forever...

For me it is almost always the system that screws up. I have back ups of my data now. When my HDs screw up I'm usually able to grab what I need, but I think I'm going to start backing up now just in case. Do you think backing up programs is a good idea too? I know Microsoft backup says it doesn't usually copy the Program Files.

So for me I guess what I need is someway to get the system back up and running fast after it crashes all the time and I can't boot. (I can always find my data by plugging it into my other computers, it's just the HD in question doesn't like to boot) Will having a image of my SSD with Macrium get me back on my feet fast when I can't boot?

Keep an image of the OS and programs partition which will be restored exactly as it is when imaged. Then if Win7 becomes irreparable reimage it to C and the latest data will be current and waiting on its own separate partition or HD.

Easiest method to link your User folders from OS to data partition is to copy them there, then link each user folder to it's related library: Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums

gregrocker said:

Keep an image of the OS and programs partition which will be restored exactly as it is when imaged. Then if Win7 becomes irreparable reimage it to C and the latest data will be current and waiting on its own separate partition or HD.

Easiest method to link your User folders from OS to data partition is to copy them there, then link each user folder to it's related library: Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums

Okay wow, wait. You're blowing my mind right now. (Still getting used to Windows 7 two years later)

I was planning on having an OS partition with all the system files and SOME programs that I want to benefit from the SSD (They will benefit right?)

Then I was going to make a Data Partition on my HDD that holds my User folders that I moved over from my SSD (Downloads, Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos) And it would hold the rest of my Program Files that are huge and don't need a speed boost.

Are you saying to just back both of these up and then re-image when I have a problem? I guess I'm not understanding the Library Program Files thing. It seems really sweet, but I just can't wrap my head around what's happening.

Thanks for the input!