Restore image to a SSD

I've seen similar posts, but not one answering my question'

I would like to purchase and install a SSD using it as my primary drive.
My question; I use Windows 7 Backup&Recovery to create an image to an external HD, were I to install the SSD as the main drive, reinstall Win 7, would the image on the external drive (HDD)copy to the SSD? I have one or two programs which I purchased, and download on-line, one being MS Office. These are both on time d/l.

If not, I stay with the HDs.

Not clear on your intent.

You say "reinstall Win 7".

If you do that, why would you then want to use the image now sitting on an external drive? That would over-write your brand new install. Conversely, if you want to use the image now sitting on an external drive, why would you want to "reinstall Win 7"?

If I wanted to move an existing HDD system to a new SSD, I'd probably use imaging software. BUT, I would not use Windows Backup and Recovery to do the job. I'd probably use Macrium.

Some SSDs come with software designed to move your system to the SSD. I've heard both good and bad reports about that software.

Imaging works 95% plus of the time, but you have to know what your next idea is if it fails.[/QUOTE]

Why I mentioned reinstalling Win 7;
I had inserted a new formatted HD in my machine - using the Win 7 Repair Disk, which I created, I tried doing a restore from the external drive (image) to the new drive - it did not work. So, my only thought being, it wanted to see the OS.
Had d/l Macrium sometime back, but Win 7 image restore seems a lot easier and all that I really need.
(In fact I still have the Macrium "boot" disk sitting on my desk. Thanks for the input.

Trident1 said:

Why I mentioned reinstalling Win 7;
I had inserted a new formatted HD in my machine - using the Win 7 Repair Disk, which I created, I tried doing a restore from the external drive (image) to the new drive - it did not work. So, my only thought being, it wanted to see the OS.
Had d/l Macrium sometime back, but Win 7 image restore seems a lot easier and all that I really need.
(In fact I still have the Macrium "boot" disk sitting on my desk. Thanks for the input.

If I understand you, you tried to restore an image made with Windows Backup and Restore from an external to a new formatted HD and that failed.

That would not give me confidence in Windows Backup and Restore.

You say "my only thought being, it wanted to see the OS". The only OS you would need is the one on the recovery disk. You don't need an OS on the drive to which you intend to restore the image. If you did have an OS on that drive, it would be replaced by the OS within the image file.

For that matter, you don't even need to format a new drive when restoring an image to it. The image restoration process will do the necessary. All you should have to do is connect the new drive and boot from your recovery disk, locate your image file, and direct the restoration to the new drive.

Not sure why you failed with Windows Backup and Recovery, but if you are unwilling to try another program, you have to live with that. If you can't get it to work, your alternative is a clean install. Windows Backup and Recovery "works", but it is not easily understood and has certain peculiarities that other imaging applications avoid.

Okay, friend, you convinced me. Next week sometime I'll d/l Macrium and try to restore an image on a blank disk. I'll let you know!

Make sure when you make the image file that it includes both C and any other partition that contains "boot files".

Your boot files may be on C. They may be on System Reserved partition. They may be elsewhere.

The point is that those boot files have to be included in your images and restoration process. If not, you aren't going to boot the new drive. Period.

I've d/l and installed free version of Macrium. After some time I did get to create the image on ext. HD, and restored the image OK. My next attempt will be to see if this will restore to a formatted HD.
I noticed the paid version enables one to copy to an SSD

Trident1 said:

I've d/l and installed free version of Macrium. After some time I did get to create the image on ext. HD, and restored the image OK. My next attempt will be to see if this will restore to a formatted HD.
I noticed the paid version enables one to copy to an SSD

The free version of Macrium can restore an image to an SSD.
It can also restore to a formatted partition.

Trident1 said:

My next attempt will be to see if this will restore to a formatted HD.
I noticed the paid version enables one to copy to an SSD

There's no need to pre-format the destination drive, whether SSD or HDD, whether free or paid Macrium.

Macrium does not distinguish between an SSD and an HDD---what it can do for or to one, it can do for or to the other. It works equally well on either.

You say "copy to an SSD". You don't need the paid version for that. I assume you mean "clone" when you say "copy". The free version will both clone or make an image file.

Notice in the screen shot below of the free version that there are 2 choices: "clone this disk" and "image this disk". You'd normally clone if you were operating OK and wanted to move to a new hard drive. You'd image if you wanted to make a backup of the current system that you could later restore should things go bad.

Thanks guys for the added info.