Build your own External Hard Drive

[linnemeyerhere]

I'm going to be ordering my second Crucial SSD a M4 model this time and 128GB's. I'll image my current Real C300 64GB to it then image my WD 2.5" spinner out of my lappy to this and put it in the laptop taking the 320 gb spinner out and putting it in this !
http://www.amazon.com/Kingwin-2-5-Inch-External-Drive-Enclosure/dp/B002ITZ8AS/ref=cm_cr_wr_img
Purchased brand new for less than $11.00 USD

 

[Cr00zng]

That's a nice looking external case and a bargain; I might get the same brand but with USB 3.0 interface, I like the fact that it uses a USB power cable. Throw in a 64 GBs SATA II interface SSD and voila, home made Enyo....

You probably know this already, but... Dumping an HDD image to an SSD drive may result in misalignment of the file system on the SSD drive.

 

[James Colbert]

You probably know this already, but... Dumping an HDD image to an SSD drive may result in misalignment of the file system on the SSD drive.

I didn't. What about a backup image, i.e., restoring an image previously taken from the same SSD, restored to the same SSD? Do imaging programs take note of alignment data?

 

[Cr00zng]

Most imaging programs, the free ones at least, make no changes to the file structure and not capable to change the alignment during the image dump.

Dumping SSD image to a new SSD drive should be fine, provided that the source SSD had the proper alignment. The offset is probably set correctly, if it is Windows Vista or 7 installation.

The hard disk based installation does not require offset and the partition could start anywhere; moving this image to an SSD drive could causes performance decrease to the SSD.

Here's a tutorial by WHS about the importance of alignment...

 

[James Colbert]

Thanks for the link. I was just reading this month's Maximum PC (August). In the Letters section, a reader asks about putting an SSD in his laptop (replacing an HDD). Long story short, they say Acronis's Migrate Easy will do the job, but the feature list of M.E. at acronis.com says nothing about any such feature. In fact, the term 'SSD' doesn't even turn up in a search of their user guide.

 

[essenbe]

Paragon migrate will transfer the OS and align it. But, it's not free. 12.95 I think. Or transfer and use Paragon alignment. It will align the SSD with the OS on it with no data loss.

 

[Cr00zng]

Yeah, it is still being debated in the Acronis Forum on different versions, the answer is basically no...

 

[Cr00zng]

Paragon migrate will transfer the OS and align it. But, it's not free. 12.95 I think. Or transfer and use Paragon alignment. It will align the SSD with the OS on it with no data loss.

Both of them are great tools, thanks essenbe...

Migrate OS to SSD from Paragon for about 20 bucks, may not align the SSD correctly, but certainly worth it. Paragon also sells the Alignment Tool 3.0 for 30 bucks that kind of makes me believe so...

I could be dead wrong since I have not used either of them...

 

[essenbe]

Most of the people here who have used them swear by both. Read WHS tutorial about transfering the OS to an SSD.

 

[James Colbert]

When I finally do switch my windows drive to SSD, I'll be doing a clean install anyway, so it matters little to me. As long as I can image and restore from and to.

 

[pparks1]

I always clean install whenever possible. Unless it's a 100% clean image with no garbage installed. Especially when going to a limited capacity SSD drive.

 

[DocBrown]

A Dual HD Enclosure!

I picked up this Rosewill Dual Ext enclosure for 2 Sata HD's. Looks & feels well put together. Four screws let you remove the slide out section to install the HD's. The HD's slide into place with the sata connectors easily. Then secure the HD's in place with the standard HD side mounting screws. Slide into the enclosure & hold in place with the four screws. Attach the power cord & the USB cable. Connect to your computer & power up

 

[marsmimar]

I picked up this Rosewill Dual Ext enclosure for 2 Sata HD's. Looks & feels well put together. Four screws let you remove the slide out section to install the HD's. The HD's slide into place with the sata connectors easily. Then secure the HD's in place with the standard HD side mounting screws. Slide into the enclosure & hold in place with the four screws. Attach the power cord & the USB cable. Connect to your computer & power up

Sweet!

 

[DocBrown]

Then when connected, they are recognized in Disk Management. And the message pops up to initialize both new HD's. So continue as before in this thread. Initalize, Format, Assign Drive letters.

​

rb:​

Another Successful Science Experiment​

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Hey Doc,
Off topic but I've been watching you all morning on the tube. Currently you stuck in the West just like real life ! lol

 

[DocBrown]

Hey Doc,
Off topic but I've been watching you all morning on the tube. Currently you stuck in the West just like real life ! lol

Yep, watching it now, also. That's what gets me in the Science experimenting mood

 

[essenbe]

I picked up this Rosewill Dual Ext enclosure for 2 Sata HD's. Looks & feels well put together. Four screws let you remove the slide out section to install the HD's. The HD's slide into place with the sata connectors easily. Then secure the HD's in place with the standard HD side mounting screws. Slide into the enclosure & hold in place with the four screws. Attach the power cord & the USB cable. Connect to your computer & power up

Doc, that looks great. Just wish it came USB 3.0 or eSATA.

 

[Britton30]

I have the USB 2.0 version of this one.

Newegg.com - KINGWIN ATK-25U3-BK Aluminum 2.5" Black USB 3.0 External Enclosure

I bought a 320GB 2.5" HDD to use it with. Works really nice. Has a very bright blue light.:sarc:

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Britton30 something like this! lol

My intent was to install my old SSD drive to my laptop and then place the spinner in here. I was denied as the spinnes proved to be a pata drive not sata. Live and learn I guess this SSD will just have to go in my mid-tower 2.6 be quad system.....oh darn !

 

[Britton30]

Yup Cheese, looks very familiar, except for the SSD.