Suggestions for Restoring Windows 7 Image to new SSD/HDD Setup


  1. Iceman24
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #1

    Suggestions for Restoring Windows 7 Image to new SSD/HDD Setup


    Hi, I wanted to ask for some suggestions regarding my main desktop PC.

    Originally, it was a HDD only setup, then I bought a Intel 320 Series 80GB SSD and migrated my system over to it using Intel's software, then made the HDD a storage drive due to limited space on my SSD.

    Fast forward to now. My SSD is basically dead from a firmware bug that makes data irrecoverable without some special algorithm that professional data recovery centers have. Oddly enough, it came back to life, I rebooted, imaged whole system including both drives. I had been doing this, but most recent backup was a month prior, so I stood to lose quite a bit that I had done over that month stretch. The new image went great. I was saved and so excited. Apparently that was a one and done deal, as it never has worked since then.

    I intend on ordering new (bigger) SSD to replace it, keeping setup the same, as new SSD will still be too small. Now from my understanding, I can restore my image to both drives and everything will be as it it never left? Is this correct? How about things like partition alignment or special SSD configuration that I had to do some of when I first configured it as so? Is that carried over since it would be in the image or am I good to go once restore is complete?

    Also, in meantime, I have another SSD in box, but it is smaller. Is it worthwhile to use that temporarily, then migrate system over to new SSD when I get it? Or should I just wait until I get new SSD and restore current image to that? I can probably live without this PC until then as I will be busy for next several days?

    Thanks for any suggestions.
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  3. LittleJay
    Posts : 3,133
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1
       New #2

    If your Intel SSD that died was properly aligned, then windows system imaging will restore the image properly as well. A system image will restore the new SSD to the same setup, as was on your old SSD. As far as restoring an image from a larger drive to a smaller drive, I don't think you can do that with Windows imaging.
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  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #3

    Should the alignment really be out of wack, you can correct that: SSD - Fix Misalignment
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  6. Iceman24
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Thanks guys. Another question.

    My soon to be old SSD has actually come back to life a couple times for awhile and has worked fine. If it was working at the time of replacing it, would be it better to use the Samsung Migration software with my SSD to migrated it from current setup to new setup or restoring from Windows Image Backup is just fine?
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  7. LittleJay
    Posts : 3,133
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1
       New #5

    If your old SSD works long enough to migrate the OS to the new one, then that is the route I would take myself. It has been my experience that Windows system images can be very picky. Sometimes they work like a charm, and other times they just don't want to work. I would use restoring the system image as option number 2.
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