HDD to SDD migration

If you have any suggestions, I will edit/update this original post rather than scatter add'l posts in this thread.
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Below is my step-by-step guide for moving my 2-yr old Win7 installation to a new SSD.

Current:

unnamed - 100MB System Reserved partition
C - LIVE OS (physical HDD 0) - 750GB Seagate -100 GB partition
D - LIVE DATA (physical HDD 0) - xxxxxxxxxxxxx - 650GB partition - Win7 Libraries, TIF, etc.
E - SCRATCH (physical HDD 1) - 80GB partition (all)
G - Iomega external HDD - 250GB


To become:

C - LIVE SSD OS (physical HDD 0 - Intel 120GB 320 SSD)
D - LIVE DATA (old physical HDD 0, now HDD 1)
E - SCRATCH (physical HDD 2, no change)
G - Iomega external HDD (no change)


The Intel is already installed in my desktop. I downloaded the Intel SSD toolbox. It seems that running that without specifying to upgrade the firmware, DID upgrade the firmware. It shows as being "unallocated" in Disk Management. NO DRIVE LETTER YET.

I had an old PATA drive (80GB) also in my desktop. When I deleted both of those partitions (i.e. delete VOLUME), when I tried to create a "simple volume", it kept telling me not enough space to complete the operation. I have since found out (this drive might have been bootable as it was in my old XP PC) that I ALSO need to delete the partitions to be able to convert that to UNALLOCATED space?? drive letter E - SCRATCH

I assume that once I get the SSD up and running, then I would shutdown the PC, reconnect the old HDD, reboot, and delete the C partition (which should also nuke it's once ACTIVE boot partition status). What about the old 100 MB partition? Then REcreate my D (LIVE DATA) partition. Then I would "file restore" my old D data partition (backed up to External HDD G) backup to this "new D LIVE DATA" partition.

Also, once I get the SSD up, I will NOT have the D Data Partition alive just yet. So, any IE browsing or accessing of Libraries, etc. would go belly-up.

I plan to do a File Backup (Win 7 built-in) to a G external HDD. I also will take a system image (Win7 built-in) to G.


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Install new SSD

! steps to get to final System Image

- using Backup and Restore (File backup) backup D.LIVE DATA to G.Iomega
! - physical drive 0 (C/OS) must have MBR with ONLY system reserved and C.LIVE OS partitions
- delete D.LIVE DATA partition (for eventual final System Image) using Disk Management (delete volume followed by delete partition??)
- take System Image of -allcritical (reserved and C.LIVE OS)--> internal PATA HDD E.BACKUP (just in case)
- take System Image of -allcritical (reserved and C.LIVE OS)--> external USB G.Iomega (to be used for restore)

! first shutdown to finalize SSD to SATA port 0

- disconnect original HDD/drive 0 (C.LIVE OS) from SATA port 0 as no longer needed (System Image on G.Iomega)
- install SSD to SAME SATA port (0) on Motherboard
- disconnect PATA E.BACKUP
- insert Win7 DVD in drive
- reboot using Win7 DVD or repair disc
- DEL to get to BIOS and set CD drive as first boot device
- click on Repair Your Computer
- check "restore your computer using a system image you created earlier"
- check "use the latest system image" (double-check date/time) - G.IOMEGA should be present
- click "exclude disks" button. Verify only 2 drives present (SSD and G.Iomega - exclude G).
- click finish to begin the system image restore to the SSD (physical drive 0, SATA port 0, drive letter ??)
- automatic shutdown/restart

! now booting from SSD

- DEL to get to BIOS - verify SSD drive attached and is FIRST boot device, CD/DVD second boot device

! SAVE BIOS updates and exit BIOS and continue boot from SSD

! AHCI

- edit registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci from 3 -> 0
- restart again
- DEL to get to BIOS
- set SSD to AHCI this time. SAVE BIOS updates and exit BIOS.

! AHCI halfway there

- Windows will install AHCI drivers on eventual boot

! reboot with AHCI complete

- restart required again

! final boot (all should be good - VERIFY!)

- VERIFY SSD and AHCI is on

! prepare to decomission old boot drive C.LIVE OS to be used as a single data partition
- shutdown
- reconnect old HDD to different SATA port

Determined I can just delete the C partition (also delete System Reserved?) so can skip these INACTIVE-related steps

! reboot to mark old HDD C (now drive letter ??) INACTIVE
- diskpart to turn off ACTIVE boot partition on old C: (now likely D:??)
1. Open up an elevated/admin command prompt and type DISKPART.
2. Type LIST DISK
3. Type SELECT DISK n (where n is the number of the old OS drive)
4. Type LIST PARTITION
5. Type SELECT PARTITION n (where n is the number of the active partition you wish to make inactive)
6. Type INACTIVE
7. Type EXIT to exit DISKPART
8. Type EXIT again to exit the command prompt
9. Reboot

- eventually, delete D?? (new drive letter??) partition from old HDD (using Disk Management)
- delete volume, then delete partition to remove all remants from old HDD
- create new single partition (what will the drive letter be??) and QUICK FORMAT
- File Restore saved-D data on G.Iomega to old boot HDD which is now a single data partition
- somehow make the old HDD data parition drive letter D as that's what the C drive has for various items such as Libraries, etc.