Cloning to SSD

[antares]

Hi, I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit installed in a mechanical hard drive (Seagate 750Gb SATA HD). I will be replacing the Seagate with an SSD. Can I clone the Seagate to the SSD by using software like Acronis, etc or am I forced to clean install Win7 in the SSD? Thanks.

 

[fireberd]

Are you going to use the SSD for everything or just certain items? I just recently built a new system with an SSD. It was a clean install since it was a new system but the only thing I have on the SSD is the OS and my recording studio software. Everything else is on a 1TB hard drive.

If you are going to put everything on the SSD, Acronis should be able to do it.

 

[DavidE]

I will be replacing the Seagate with an SSD.

It's more common to move the OS + programs to an SSD, and also use a spinner for data.

How well is your current OS working?
Do you have only the OS + programs on your current HD "C:" drive?
Do you have your data stored in a different partition than the OS + Programs?
If you're a gamer, where are games installed?
How much space is used on your current HD "C:" partition, and what size is the SSD?

Based on your specs (Pentium 4), I'd guess you did a clean install to put Win 7 on your PC.

Many people would recommend this is a good time for a Clean Install - OS and programs.
There are SF tutorials that can help with a clean install.

I just bought an SSD and transferred my primary HD OS to the SSD.
My HD OS's were working well, so i chose to transfer the primary OS to the SSD.
I still use a spinner HD for data.
I used a "modified Geeky Way" to transfer to the SSD based on this SF tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

What would you prefer - a clean install or transfer your current OS to the SSD?

If you do transfer the OS and don't like the results, you can always start over with a clean install.

Whatever approach you choose, backup ALL your data to external storage before starting this process.

 

[antares]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Let me add more info:
- The PC were I cleanly installed Win7 64bit is not mine (a Pentium 4 is 32bit), it's my girlfriend's which I setup for her.
- It's a Core i5 with 8Gb RAM and a Seagate 750Gb SATA 2 as main OS drive and a 80Gb SATA 1 2nd internal drive
- As said, I did a clean install, and transferred her personal documents (photos, videos, etc) there too.
- The OS+documents are all in the main OS drive. I also installed Office 2007+Adobe+some other programs
- The 2nd internal drive is clean and empty.
- The OS+programs are working perfectly fine and smooth.
- I plan on cloning the Seagate to a 120Gb SSD and then using the Seagate as 2nd internal data drive to hold the documents.
- I understand that cloning has no detrimental effect on the original installation, i.e., it's not like upgrading where corruption or messing of files can occur.
- The reason that I posted this thread is that I read somewhere that SSD's as opposed to mechanical drives cannot be cloned for some reason.
- If cloning works without any issues of course would be preferred to a clean install as it would save time.
- Finally, I did notice a huge performance difference between her PC and mine, which is an 11 year old Pentium4. I will upgrade my PC soon as I'm very jealous now

 

[Zepher]

I had to use paragon migrate os to SSD since the standard cloning programs look at the partition sizes and won't clone a larger partition to a smaller one even if there is very little data on the source drive.
My c drive was a 200gb partition on a 1tb drive with only 70gb used.
The new SSD was 128gb.
The paragon app was $20 and did the task in about 15 minutes.

 

[antares]

I had to use paragon migrate os to SSD since the standard cloning programs look at the partition sizes and won't clone a larger partition to a smaller one

That's strange, I regularly clone my 500Gb main OS drive to a 320Gb drive with Acronis True Image Echo Workstation without any issues. As long as there is enough room in the target drive the software will proportionally adjust the partition size in the target.

 

[gregrocker]

Acronis should work fine either for cloning directly or saving and applying a backup image. You can even use Seagate Acronis cloning free utililty.

After you clone/image the OS, set SSD first to boot in BIOS, then reboot into it. If it won't start then unplug the HD, make sure Win7 or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred) is marked Active using Mark Partition Active then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

Once Win7 on SSD starts, browse to the User folders on HD to add them to related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. When ready to delete the OS from HD, move User folders to a new partition or move them off the HD so you can delete the old Win7 partition in Disk Mgmt or wipe the HD using Diskpart Clean Command .

 

[Zepher]

I had to use paragon migrate os to SSD since the standard cloning programs look at the partition sizes and won't clone a larger partition to a smaller one

That's strange, I regularly clone my 500Gb main OS drive to a 320Gb drive with Acronis True Image Echo Workstation without any issues. As long as there is enough room in the target drive the software will proportionally adjust the partition size in the target.

It may have been the second partition on my os drive causing me the issues, it had 500gb of data on it.