Best way to transfer OS / program files to SSD

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 365
    Windows 10 Pro - 64 bit
       #1

    Best way to transfer OS / program files to SSD


    Just bought a intel x25-m ssd , need to transfer only the OS (windows 7 ) and the program files to the new SSD . Ideas ? I tried the paragon os to SSD program but it seems to be stuck at calculating copy size for the last 2 hrs ? arrrrggg ..


    Any advice . Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #2

    The best way is to create a Disk Image of your old HDD OS partition and then install (clone) that image onto the new HDD.

    Remove the old HDD, install the new HDD. Make sure everything works.

    Then you just need to clean up the old HDD for whatever your are going to use it for. You can just format the old C: partition, or delete it.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 365
    Windows 10 Pro - 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    TVeblen said:
    The best way is to create a Disk Image of your old HDD OS partition and then install (clone) that image onto the new HDD.

    Remove the old HDD, install the new HDD. Make sure everything works.

    Then you just need to clean up the old HDD for whatever your are going to use it for. You can just format the old C: partition, or delete it.
    the only problem is : I wish to only move my windows and program files folder . then make the SSD bootable . MY existing C drive is around 400 Gigs but only need to move 50 gigs to the SSD .
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    I assume your situation is something like this:

    Existing hard drive has only one partition, C, and has at least 400 gb capacity and contains both Windows and your personal data. Total occupied space is 400 GB. Windows takes up only 50 of that 400.

    If that is right, I think all you can do is get your personal data onto some other drive, leaving only Windows on the current C. Then shrink C from 400 to 50. Then make an image of C. Then restore this smaller C to the SSD.

    Then copy your personal data back to whatever drive you want. I assume your data won't fit on the SSD.

    But maybe I misunderstand your situation?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 365
    Windows 10 Pro - 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    ignatzatsonic said:
    I assume your situation is something like this:

    Existing hard drive has only one partition, C, and has at least 400 gb capacity and contains both Windows and your personal data. Total occupied space is 400 GB. Windows takes up only 50 of that 400.

    If that is right, I think all you can do is get your personal data onto some other drive, leaving only Windows on the current C. Then shrink C from 400 to 50. Then make an image of C. Then restore this smaller C to the SSD.

    Then copy your personal data back to whatever drive you want. I assume your data won't fit on the SSD.

    But maybe I misunderstand your situation?

    You are correct :) I read some place that this should work for this ..
    Paragon Migrate OS to SSD - Overview

    has anyone used this software ?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    Your problem may not be as difficult as I thought now that I think about it.

    Most retail hard drives come with an app that can transfer a system from HD to HD. I don't know, but they may not be limited to transferring entire partitions. Maybe they can transfer just Windows and ignore your personal folders? I don't know because I don't buy retail hard drives and I always do a clean install when I do move to another drive.

    The thing you have to check is whether the app in question can ignore your personal data when it transfers Windows or if it will move the entire partition--which you can't do because you have a 400 gig partition and are moving to a drive under 100 GB.

    Drill into the details of that Paragon app and see how much control you have---you don't want to move everything on the partition. If you can't exclude your personal folders, you may have to do what I suggested in my original post.

    Edit: I looked at the details and it looks like it is what you need---your have too much to move, but the app will let you exclude what you want.

    That implies that the standard tools that come with a new retail drive don't allow you to exclude stuff and you must transfer to a partition at least as big as the source partition. Maybe so.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6,292
    Windows 7 64 Bit Home Premium SP1
       #7

    There is a larger issue in this scenario:

    There are 3 major file types: OS, Program Files, and Personal Data. As Ignatzatsonis said, you can move the Personal Data, or using transfer software, leave it behind.

    But if your installed programs were installed on the C: drive, that is where the OS is going to want them or they won't run. So to do this the easy way you need enough space on the SSD to move both OS and Program Files.

    You could uninstall programs to reduce the size of the image and then just re-install them onto the larger (secondary) drive afterward. (Make an image of your existing drive before you do any of this so you have a painless way back if anything goes south).

    At some point it becomes easier to just clean install W7 on the new SSD and then re-install your programs to the drives you want them to. You've got to do the math!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 365
    Windows 10 Pro - 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    All good now - I moved all the files that were not needed to another drive , kept moving files until I dropped the size to 70 gigs - then made a complete image and transferred it to the ssd .

    Works 100 % and it is really fast now ..

    Thanks for all your ideas :)
      My Computer


  9. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #9

    Total said:
    All good now - I moved all the files that were not needed to another drive , kept moving files until I dropped the size to 70 gigs - then made a complete image and transferred it to the ssd .

    Works 100 % and it is really fast now ..

    Thanks for all your ideas :)
    Does that mean that you had more data than would fit on the SSD (you did not specify the size of your SSD - I now assume 80GB in decimal). Because they advertise that they can move larger partitions to smaller SSDs.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Best way to transfer OS / program files to SSD-2010-12-19_2103.png  
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 365
    Windows 10 Pro - 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    whs said:
    Total said:
    All good now - I moved all the files that were not needed to another drive , kept moving files until I dropped the size to 70 gigs - then made a complete image and transferred it to the ssd .

    Works 100 % and it is really fast now ..

    Thanks for all your ideas :)
    Does that mean that you had more data than would fit on the SSD (you did not specify the size of your SSD - I now assume 80GB in decimal). Because they advertise that they can move larger partitions to smaller SSDs.
    My original drive was 1 tb partitioned into 2 - 500 gig . So It did transfer from 500 gig (70 gigs used ) to a 80 gig SSD .
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:07.
Find Us