New
#1
Clone SSD or HDD from existing C: HDD, no OEM disks nor recovery ptn
Using Free Macrium (unless you advise otherwise)
Can I create a clone of (C:\) a 250GB HDD onto 125GB SSD ?
- not sure of sizes but for memory those sizes are correct
- if in future I decide to use a new HDD (say 500GB) smallest around at the moment
- can I clone the smaller capacity SSD clone onto a larger 500GB HDD
I plan on using the SSD as system backup.
BACKGROUND:
Purchased a Lenovo e540 (Win-7 PRO x64) in August-2015, 2 weeks later (before opening the Lenovo box) I had a serious stroke ... three days in a coma and some grey matter damage.
Opened the Lenovo box in Dec-2016, activated on line with MS.
In May-2017 I had more energy to tackle the Lenovo again.
Determined to be a more responsible PC owner, and GregRockers tute on removing the crud from OEM bloatware I uninstalled some Lenove bundleware. No problems, rebooted OK.
During these tasks I created threads on SevenForums about very unstable IE, with a reply from Brink.
- I never did attempt an IE repair.
Uninstalled Adobe Reader with Revo PRO (portable)
Revo PRO makes a Restore Point automatically with each uninstall.
Rebooted ... no desktop ... but could open "Task Manager" with Ctrl+Shift+Esc. There was no "explorer.exe" to be found ... way beyond my very limited knowledge.
So Lenovo was well outside warranty (obviously) after 16 months to activation date plus the 5 months while I got more "energy" back.
PC repair shop checked [C:\) HDD and RAM.
Only solution was to reinstall Windows. But Lenovo only allow one "recovery" and then it is no longer available. And I could not find the recovery disks I had made in December last.
Repair shop installed non -Lenovo Win7-PRO x64 ... (I am glad all the Lenovo bundled ware is gone)
When the repair shop tried to activate Win-7 online, activation was rejected.
Repair shop contacted MS who said this OS had already been activated 12 times. ??
I only activated once in Dec-2016. It transpired my machine is a Win-8 (BIOS?) but I bought the new machine from the repair shop in 2015 with Win-7 PRO already on it (sealed Lenovo carton).
The serial number on the existing C: HDD is what OK'd it with MS by phone
So the thrust of this thread is that I want a cloned HDD orr SSD of the clean installed Win-7 PRO because if I ever need to reinstall ...
1. I don't have a recovery partition nor do I have backup/recovery(?) disks.
2. I don't want to go to battle with MS over activation.
3: I do know that the system is unique to my specific Lenovo and is not transferable.
Since the clean install I have not touched anything on the Lenovo except change the default theme to the factory Classic theme.
Before doing anything with the Lenovo I want to have a secure (eg, SSD clone) on standby.
Would an SSD clone be better than a HDD clone ?
It could be several years before I need it (if) but we never know "when" is !
Would appreciate some expert guidance and reassurance ... thank you :)
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Created and sent from a borrowed PC