Windows 7: Mis-Alignment on x25m 160GB SSD

After recently doing a DiskPart check on my old standby notebook (with X25-m 160GB SSD for C-drive), I just noticed that the SSD has an offset of 31KB (not “divisible by 4”). Drats! Don't know how that happened with I upgraded to that SSD six months ago.

Currently with a Q6600 quad in this mis-aligned-SSD laptop, the X25m benches with Crystal at 243MB/s for sequential reads. That seems a bit slow for even an old quad-core. But I’m not sure it’s worth the bother of re-align if it does 243MB/s since I don’t use it for high performance tasks – or as long as the mis-alignment don’t significantly escalate the WRITE wear-and-tear factor (requiring/wasting more write space than necessary) and impacting the leveling function, thus shortening life-span.

What do you suggest for the easiest and SAFEST method for correcting the mis-alignment on the old notebook, or is it even worth messing with?

If so, should I do Secure Erase, then Diskpart re-align to 1024, then initialize/quick format, then clone (with my fss-Casper) the old original factory spin-HDD with W7 O/S and factory appls already installed on it. Or will the cloning from HDD merely re-re-align the SSD back to the 31KB offset again? Thanks!

I'm not familar with Casper, but as you describe it, it sounds more like an imaging program. A clone is a 1-1 copy from one disk to another. But, I would suggest a clean install. That will align it properly. I don't think a secure erase is necessary. Just in diskpart use the 'clean' command an not the 'clean all' command. There is a good tutorial about it, Ready hard drive/SSD for a clean install. But, again just use the clean command. The only tool I am aware of that will align an SSD with the OS installed is the $29.95 Paragon Alignment tool. It will do what you need. You could also clone the ssd to another hard drive and use the $19.95 Paragon migrate to clone it back. It will clone the OS and align the SSD correctly. I have it and have used it several times and it does it right every time.

If you don't want to spend the money, a clean install is the best option.