Merging a SSD Drive to my system

rbaron · 22 Jul 2016

I need to know from the experts here on this forum how to change my old SSD to a new, larger SSD.

I have windows 7 SP1 installed in my computer which is the one I boot from. It is getting full. I also have a few other hard drives installed as well.

Here is what I want to do.... tell me if you see that I am doing something wrong.

1. Make a complete backup of my old SSD. Save it to one of my other installed drives.
2. Use my Windows 7 SP1 OEM DVD I purchased when I built my computer a few years ago and load it on to the new SSD.
3. Use my backup I created and saved to one of my other drives and load all that stuff onto the new SSD, without the system files because it would have the Windows 7 SP1 installed on it.

Can I do that? Is it a hard process? Is that the process to take?

Is there a program out there that would let me back up my stuff, minus the OS and then load it back onto another SSD that has a working, fresh Win 7 OS on it? Would it have all my files, bookmarks, etc put back in the same place as it was when I cloned it?

Thanks for all the help......

RolandJS · 22 Jul 2016

Consider making a full image backup of your old SSD onto another HD. Install the new SSD, remove the old SSD. Restore the old SSD's full image [OS and data] onto the new SSD. While you're posting/booting/starting the computer, make sure Windows is working aok on the new SSD. Then, format the old SSD and add it to the train of hard-drives if you want or use it for holding full image backups.

ignatzatsonic · 22 Jul 2016

Questions:

You apparently do NOT want to simply transfer "everything" on the old SSD to the new SSD and instead want to do a clean install of Windows to the new SSD. Is that correct?

On the other hand, if the Windows installation on the old SSD is performing well, there is no over-riding reason to do the clean install. Instead, transfer "everything" on the old SSD to the new SSD by either an imaging or a cloning process.

If you in fact want to do a clean install, all you would have to "back up" from the old SSD would be your personal data, email, and bookmarks---as opposed to "everything" or a "complete backup". You may be able to do that with no more than a mouse and ordinary copying, as long as you know where that stuff is--rather than use any dedicated program.

A "clean install" would require you to reinstall all of your programs and whatever data is on the old SSD, whereas a "transfer" via imaging or cloning would not.

However--cloning or imaging are not foolproof. There is some chance it simply will not work as advertised.

If you do not mind taking the time to do a clean install and reinstall all programs, that may be preferable to you. It's a personal choice. You weigh the risks of imaging or cloning failure against the time and trouble of doing a clean install.

More details needed.

RolandJS · 22 Jul 2016

If one makes two full images of the OS partition onto two external media, one reduces the risk quite a bit. Same thing is one clones source onto target at least once; however, I recommend two full images onto two external media for best risk reduction.

rbaron · 23 Jul 2016

Thanks for the good advice.

My Windows 7 SP1 which is on my SSD drive has been acting up. i.e., Windows Media Player no longer works, "Server Execution Failed" is the message I get whenever I try to launch a video. So it is things like this that makes me want to start over with a clean install of Win 7 on a new SSD.

I really don't want to have to reinstall all my programs to the new SSD. As stated before, I would like to backup all my stuff, minus the OS because it will be on the new SSD and put back all my stuff. I don't know if that is even possible.

Cloning the old SSD and putting everything including the OS won't solve all my Win 7 issues correct?

I am lost...

rbaron · 23 Jul 2016

Another issue I am having is error messages when I try to back up my computer using Windows 7.

I am trying to set my system up for backup to an external drive, or to one of my internal drives.

I have attached a screenshot of the error message. Hopefully someone has had this problem and knows how to fix it.

ignatzatsonic · 23 Jul 2016

rbaron said:

I would like to backup all my stuff, minus the OS because it will be on the new SSD and put back all my stuff. I don't know if that is even possible.

Cloning the old SSD and putting everything including the OS won't solve all my Win 7 issues correct?

I am lost...

Unfortunately for you, "stuff" comes in 2 categories:

1: personal data, like videos, mp3s, pictures, browser bookmarks, etc.

2: installed applications

If you do a clean install, you will have to reinstall applications.

If you REFUSE to install applications, then you must rely on cloning or imaging and give up on the clean install idea.

Take your pick.

If you clone or image, any problems with the current installation will be carried over to the new installation. Not what you want.

I think there are certain imaging or cloning applications that supposedly have some "pick and choose" capability whereby you can omit certain items and include others. I have no idea how well it works in real life and there is undoubtedly a learning curve associated with it. You can research that if you want, but I'd give up on it and just figure I was going to have to reinstall all programs------if I wanted a clean install.

Can't help you with Windows Backup. I gave up on it and use Macrium. Windows Backup "works" if you understand it, but it's very fussy and inflexible.

DavidE · 23 Jul 2016

You can try a Repair Install to see if it will fix your problems and keep your installed programs.
Repair Install

Use cloning or imaging to transfer your current OS to the new SSD.
Do a Repair Install on the new SSD.

See if that fixes your issues and everything works ok.

RolandJS · 24 Jul 2016

+1 to the previous poster about Macrium Reflect! I also use Acronis True Image -- it is not free, it is not cheap to buy the first version; while updates are free, upgrades cost a little bit.