Solved New ssd clean install how to clone the rest from old drive?

[moparfan]

Well my old hard drive had some issues within windows and i can no longer get into windows. Started with a bootmgr missing. Anyhow I ordered a new ssd and would like to put a clean install of windows 7 on it and then if i can clone the rest from my old hard drive. Is this possible and how?

Custom built computer I have the dvd for windows. I have done other clean installs including on this computer but never got to keep all my information from before. I would really like to have my bookmarks, downloaded programs and such this time. Most if not all of my photos and documents are already saved on a external drive.

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum. A clean install is good way to go as 7 needs extra settings for SSD. Copying from old drive is a different ball game what do you exactly want to copy software in most cases will have to be reinstalled. If the old drive is faulty copying anything can give big problems as it may be corrupted

 

[file3456]

Depending on if your old drive has bad sectors, etc, it may be possible to access the data your after. This is a very easy and straight forward process.

To access the data on your old drive just buy a SATA to USB adapter sold on Amazon, eBay, Newegg, etc. I use one manufactured by Vantec and I can vouch for them. So what you'll do is plug the SATA part of the cable to your old hard drive, then of course the USB part plugs into your computer. Then just go into My computer wher your drives and what not show up and in there you should see the old external hard drive.

Depending on what browser you use you bookmarks will be in the AppData folder of your computer's user name on that hard drive. So if you have Firefox the bookmarks will be in

C:\Users\your-username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\jc4z9rtg.default\bookmarkbackups

replace the words "your-username" with yours.

You can find this path on the main drive under users. In the user folder will be your. Have a look at my screenshot here.






Your downloads, etc will be in your username folder.

Keep in mind that you may or may not have to show hidden folders under the Folder Options in the control panel. See my screenshot.

 

[file3456]

Make sure that after you install Windows you right click the hard drive in My computer and turn off defragging. You never EVER defrag a SSD or any flash-based storage for that matter. They don't need it due to the way they operate and are made. It's not mechanical storage where data can get fragmented.

Something else to consider is to also turn off the indexing service and use Everything.exe to search for files. This program is a very powerful and fast searching tool to find things on your computer. By turning off the indexing service you help save on unnecessary writes to a finite write cycle SSD. Downloads - voidtools

 

[moparfan]

Welcome to the forum. A clean install is good way to go as 7 needs extra settings for SSD. Copying from old drive is a different ball game what do you exactly want to copy software in most cases will have to be reinstalled. If the old drive is faulty copying anything can give big problems as it may be corrupted

What extra settings for the SSD are you talking about? I see F22 stated a couple but I think I may be less informed then i should be converting to SSD. I thought it would just be the same.

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[moparfan]

Depending on if your old drive has bad sectors, etc, it may be possible to access the data your after. This is a very easy and straight forward process.

To access the data on your old drive just buy a SATA to USB adapter sold on Amazon, eBay, Newegg, etc. I use one manufactured by Vantec and I can vouch for them. So what you'll do is plug the SATA part of the cable to your old hard drive, then of course the USB part plugs into your computer. Then just go into My computer wher your drives and what not show up and in there you should see the old external hard drive.

Depending on what browser you use you bookmarks will be in the AppData folder of your computer's user name on that hard drive. So if you have Firefox the bookmarks will be in

C:\Users\your-username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\jc4z9rtg.default\bookmarkbackups

replace the words "your-username" with yours.

You can find this path on the main drive under users. In the user folder will be your. Have a look at my screenshot here.






Your downloads, etc will be in your username folder.

Keep in mind that you may or may not have to show hidden folders under the Folder Options in the control panel. See my screenshot.

Is the SATA cable to usb required or can i do the same thing plugging it into another SATA and power inside the tower? I don't mind buying the cable but if I can do the same thing inside the tower why buy more cables ya know.


Also I use firefox, Chrome, and Rare but explorer as well. I literally had a few hundreds tabs open to. When I need information or parts for a customers vehicle I would just search it in a new tab and when i find it i leave the tab there till the job is done. Plus I leave up a few sites I use everyday.

 

[file3456]

Yes, you can just use the SATA port in the computer. For some reason I was thinking this was a laptop.

As with FireFox, the bookmarks for Chrome are stored in the AppData folder. Read here: Where Are Google Chrome Bookmarks Stored

Internet Explorer favorites are stored in the users folder in your user name folder in a folder called Favorites. See screenshot and look at the top bar there at the path.






Make sure you unplug the SATA or power cable or both from the old hard drive in the computer before you install Windows to the SSD. Not doing so could make Windows 7 install the bootloader on the second hard drive. Plus, you don't want to make the mistake and format the wrong drive on OS installation. Then you'd have to run a recovery software to undo the format which is totally possible and I've done it myself. Just don't have that old hard drive connected when you install Windows to the SSD.

As to SSD settings, there really isn't too many things you need to do. The stuff you read about on SSDs from tech sites like this one pertain to SSD longevity and speed. But to make life simpler just use this program and you'll have everything set in one go. SSD Tweaker - optimize settings for Solid State Drives

That may be too complicated and you don't need all those settings. So you could just read this instead: How to Optimize SSD for Faster Performance (Windows Tweaks)

Don't worry about the other dorkified crap. You just want to make sure the trim command is on. So just read that first part there and follow it to a T.

Again, all this is not really necessary, but the trim command is one you should have on. It may or may not auto engage when Window detects you have an SSD. I'm not sure if it does this automatically in Windows 7 or not, but I'm pretty sure it's done in Windows 10 automatically so in 10 there would be nothing to mess with. This is because when Windows 7 came out SSDs were in their infancy thus Microsoft never added any code to deal with them. So in Windows 10 I'm pretty sure everything is taken care for automatically.

 

[file3456]

I just realized that atticle just says how to see if trim is on. This one will tell you how to turn trim on if it's off. How to Check if TRIM Is Enabled for Your SSD (and Enable It if It Isn’t)

You should use AHCI mode in BIOS if it's not already on before you install Windows. It's probably already on, but you should check first.

To get into BIOS, while the computer boots up immediately start pressing the delete key. If it's not the delete key then it may be the F2 key. In fact, the quick message that appears on boot up should say what key it is to get into BIOS.

What SSD do you plan on buying?

 

[moparfan]

I just realized that atticle just says how to see if trim is on. This one will tell you how to turn trim on if it's off. How to Check if TRIM Is Enabled for Your SSD (and Enable It if It Isn’t)

You should use AHCI mode in BIOS if it's not already on before you install Windows. It's probably already on, but you should check first.

To get into BIOS, while the computer boots up immediately start pressing the delete key. If it's not the delete key then it may be the F2 key. In fact, the quick message that appears on boot up should say what key it is to get into BIOS.

What SSD do you plan on buying?

I ordered this one. 1TB https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073SBQMCX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tracking says i will have it Tuesday.

My BIOS I have to use F11. Mother board is a MSI military class 3. It is a totally different BIOS then i ever seen in a factory computer. Which mine i built many years ago. I forgot most of it lol. It has a live BIOS option to where i can get into it while being in windows for over clocking and that. I have never messed with over clocking it tho. Not even the pre set over clock they have. Not sure why I am telling you this it probably does not matter lol.

What might matter I just now remembered I do have some stuff on a 2nd hard drive in this computer. I had used it for a backup and thought i took it out a long time ago being I tried to do a system restore and it said I did not have a backup with the original HDD. After opening the case I do still have that HDD in there. I pulled out a HDD out of a laptop that had vista on it and formatted it then stuck it in this computer loaded windows 7 on it and used that to get into my backup HDD. It does show it is there. So I may be in more luck then i thought here. If i can't get into my original HDD due to corruption I should be able to get the latest from my backup at least. The last backup was Nov 2nd. The HDD from the laptop is only a 140gb and my backup is maxed out which is a 320gb. So i can't do the restore to this laptops HDD being so small. I will have to wait till the SSD gets here.


I am thinking once i get this all fixed I will use the 320GB drive for pics, videos, music, and documents. Then if my original HDD is not messed up use it for windows backup to backup everything on the SSD. I need to see if i can get backup configured to update every day and delete the old backups. Part of why i thought i took it out was it kept filling up right away and wouldn't write over old backups. I think it may of been because it was to small to backup then delete old? Not sure but 1 step at a time. Every time I think i am protected better from data lose I find i need to backup more and more data lol I use to never need my bookmarks and stuff. Now I do.

Thanks for all your help thus far! I appreciate it.

 

[moparfan]

As to SSD settings, there really isn't too many things you need to do. The stuff you read about on SSDs from tech sites like this one pertain to SSD longevity and speed. But to make life simpler just use this program and you'll have everything set in one go. SSD Tweaker - optimize settings for Solid State Drives

That may be too complicated and you don't need all those settings. So you could just read this instead: How to Optimize SSD for Faster Performance (Windows Tweaks)

Don't worry about the other dorkified crap. You just want to make sure the trim command is on. So just read that first part there and follow it to a T.

Again, all this is not really necessary, but the trim command is one you should have on. It may or may not auto engage when Window detects you have an SSD. I'm not sure if it does this automatically in Windows 7 or not, but I'm pretty sure it's done in Windows 10 automatically so in 10 there would be nothing to mess with. This is because when Windows 7 came out SSDs were in their infancy thus Microsoft never added any code to deal with them. So in Windows 10 I'm pretty sure everything is taken care for automatically.

To be honest if I am going to tweek things i would rather do them myself then have some program do it for me. This way I learn something so maybe I can fix a issue later or who knows what other reason it may help doing it myself. Obviously most people have issues with computers most of them by now I can handle myself without coming on here begging for help. I hate asking for help. Plus I keep having to find new forums to get any help. I went to a couple of my old forums and asked the same thing with no responses. It seems the people willing to help are diapering. I worry one day forums will be gone. soon I also need to find a forum that will help building a new computer for my repair shop. The last forum that helped build this one is one I am not getting responses on anymore.

 

[dg1261]

It seems the people willing to help are diapering.

Is that how the millennials say we're old? I'm not quite in diapers yet, but okay, I get it.

 

[RolandJS]

I remember OP mentioning using a few browsers with many many tabs, open and "shelved". If the OP can gather up the various directories where the shelved tabs are bookmarked, and where the browsers call "home", OP can copy off all those directories and plant them into the correct places on the SSD.

 

[moparfan]

Is that how the millennials say we're old? I'm not quite in diapers yet, but okay, I get it.

Ohh I am sorry for that. I misspelled as I tend to do a lot so I took the first suggestion that showed up. I mean no disrespect to anyone and did not mean anything by age either. Total misspell. I am sorry.

 

[moparfan]

I remember OP mentioning using a few browsers with many many tabs, open and "shelved". If the OP can gather up the various directories where the shelved tabs are bookmarked, and where the browsers call "home", OP can copy off all those directories and plant them into the correct places on the SSD.

Sweet! Firefox is the one I had many tabs i would like to get again. Firefox is my main searching browser. I got tired of adds so i put a add blocker on firefox. Now Chrome came into this because some sites wouldn't allow the add blockers so i could copy and paste the link there to view the page. Then it led into being used for my 2nd emails and such bluh bluh bluh i ended up bookmarking a few things there. I don't really need any tabs from chrome or explorer. Bookmarks tho there is a few that would be a bit important.


Just a fun fact firefox has at one time had over 1000 tabs at one time. haha Here lately I have had a high number of tabs due to also searching for things like lights, air lines, heaters ect for the new shop we are building. Still in the searching stage so didn't save my top picks yet. Then to add to that was searching for houses to as we plan to build a new house soon. Computer issues always happen at the wrong time. I never seem to find all the same things again either. It took me hours to find the one building site again I had found 6 months ago.

 

[dg1261]

I mean no disrespect to anyone and did not mean anything by age either. Total misspell. I am sorry.

Not a problem, moparfan. Obvious misspell and I don't think anyone took offense by it, but I'm still chuckling at the visual of all the olds who'll be coming to your aid as soon as we change our diapers!

 

[Megahertz07]

You mentioned that your MSI MB has a BIOS you never seen before.
If your MB has a UEFI BIOS, Win 7 64 bits can be installed as Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you MUST boot the Win 7 installation disk as Legacy.
To install as UEFI-GPT you MUST boot the Win 7 installation disk as UEFI.

Please give us the model of your MSI MB so we can find what BIOS you have.

Detach ALL other disks (SATA or power cable) from the MB and do a Clean Install. If the SSD has a formatted partition, delete all partitions on the disk and then proceed.
Once win 7 is installed, open device manager and install all missing drivers.

For the updates, use Simplix MS releases SP2 for Windows 7


After Win 7 64 bits install, attach the old disk to the MB.
To move your files from the older disk to the new one, just copy them.
They are under X:\Users\Luiz\Documents, X:\Users\Luiz\Music etc

To move the Firefox settings from the old disk to the new one:
- Install Firefox
- On the old disk, go to X:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\XXXXXXX.default and copy all files and folders. Go to go to C:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ZZZZZZZ.default, delete all files and folders and paste the files and folders from the old disk.
Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles | Firefox Help

 

[moparfan]

Not a problem, moparfan. Obvious misspell and I don't think anyone took offense by it, but I'm still chuckling at the visual of all the olds who'll be coming to your aid as soon as we change our diapers!

LMFAO! Now thats funny.

 

[moparfan]

You mentioned that your MSI MB has a BIOS you never seen before.
If your MB has a UEFI BIOS, Win 7 64 bits can be installed as Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you MUST boot the Win 7 installation disk as Legacy.
To install as UEFI-GPT you MUST boot the Win 7 installation disk as UEFI.

Please give us the model of your MSI MB so we can find what BIOS you have.

Detach ALL other disks (SATA or power cable) from the MB and do a Clean Install. If the SSD has a formatted partition, delete all partitions on the disk and then proceed.
For the updates, use Simplix MS releases SP2 for Windows 7


After Win 7 64 bits install, attach the old disk to the MB.
To move your files from the older disk to the new one, just copy them.
They are under X:\Users\Luiz\Documents, X:\Users\Luiz\Music etc

To move the Firefox settings from the old disk to the new one:
- Install Firefox
- On the old disk, go to X:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\XXXXXXX.default and copy all files and folders. Go to go to C:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ZZZZZZZ.default, delete all files and folders and paste the files and folders from the old disk.

MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 Now to give reference of what I learned of a BIOS was back when windows 98 -XP was the latest. Only got into 1 machine with vista and 1 with 7 then jump into this hole building a computer. This was my first build. I built a 2nd for my father but it was a copy of this one. I would guess most people who build computers will find my boards BIOS normal. Maybe i should have worded it better. My lack of spelling skills hinders me how i want to say something because I can't spell the darn word I want. Oddly enough I have built a few hundred engines in my life and never had one fail. Engines make sense English don't haha

 

[RolandJS]

Firefox DIRs are the easiest to copy from source onto target. IE's easiest DIR to work with is Windows\Favorites. Chrome -- I don't remember the EZ DIRs.

 

[Megahertz07]

You can use this tool to backup Firefox settings
Firefox Backup Tool