Installation SSD

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

I have Windows 7 Home x64 on a 500GB HDD, partitioned to 78GB C: (for OS) and 387GB D: (for user libraries, programs, etc).

What I want to accomplish, ultimately, is to clone the C partition to the new SSD (120GB) and keep it at a 120GB partition, and expand the D: to take up the entire 500GB HDD for data. Then I will be back to C: for OS (120GB SSD) and D: for data (500GB HDD) I first used DriveImage XML to backup C: and restore to H: (the letter assigned to the SSD after my external HDD and optical drives), then attempt to boot from H:. Well, that did not go well. It either booted from C: anyways (even if I took C: off the boot list in UEFI BIOS), or, when I physically unplugged the disk, said that I must "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot medial in selected boot device and press key", yadda yadda. So, I try the diskpart/DIXML method 15 more times, with no success of course. I also try this random method, as well as reading tons of other guides and info pages, before I decide to just give up and use Paragon Migrate OS to SSD (I enjoy learning new things and doing them myself, but when it's impossible...). I clean the SSD using diskpart from an elevated cmd prompt, and I let Paragon do everything - I just point to my OS install, point to the SSD, and click GO.

Apparently Paragon thought everything was fine. I follow the next instructions to restart, get into BIOS, change boot order - system boots from C:, not H:. Awesome, lovely. I unplug C: HDD to force system to boot from HDD: "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot medial in selected boot device and press key.". Ok, so apparently there are no boot files in the disk image that Paragon created/moved. So now I'm out of ideas. I was planning to boot from the new OS, change C: on the HDD to some random letter (X:), and change H: to C:, then format X: and expand D: over the top of X:. Not happening T_T

I'll attach some screenshots to help out.

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

Just tried these instructions for using Windows 7 Backup & Restore feature to create a system image of the OS C: partition. Created the image on my USB drive, booted from my Win 7 DVD, excluded the 500GB HDD in the restore wizard, and it gave me an error saying something along the lines of that I couldn't exclude my internal HDD because it was needed for the restore. I can't imagine why, since the image is on a different HDD and the target disk is the SSD...this is SO EFFING ANNOYING. I've had my share of computer troubles before but this should NOT be this complicated. I have 6 different partitioning/cloning/imaging utilities and NONE of them will do the simple job of cloning my OS to a new drive? Give me a break...

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

I'm back...once again!

Sorry to vent my frustration in that last post but...well you know how it can be.

I was sitting here, with my system powered off, wondering what to do...decided I might as well start from scratch, diskpart/clean/format/offset/re-image, whatever...and I thought I booted from my internal HDD on my boot list, but apparently Paragon worked the 4th time I tried it, because I'm now on C: with 111GB capacity, my old C: partition has been renamed to G:, and through the magic of the unknown, I'm where I wanted to be. So, I wish I could share my solution with the interwebs so as to help the next fellow, but search me - I'm clueless. A victory, albeit an empty one.

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

Spoke too soon. Rebooted after applying some system optimizations, and C: changed back to G:, G: to C:, and when I turned the HDD off from the boot order menu, it told me I had no valid boot media again. So, I go back into BIOS, turn HDD back on, restart, F11 to take me to boot menu, select the SSD, and it boots from HDD again. I dont' know how I possibly got on the system from the SSD if it is saying I don't have a proper boot device. So in summary, my install is still hosed...I think. But I can't be sure, since it runs sometimes off the SSD randomly. which makes zero sense.

I booted back from the Hitachi (HDD) using the F11 boot menu function of my mobo...since selecting the SSD doesn't work. And it booted from my SSD. Screenshots attached.

Basically, if I turn the HDD off in the boot settings, it wont boot from the SSD. If I turn it ON, put boot priority as Optical > SSD > HDD, and select HDD from the boot menu, then it boots from the SSD. I suspect this has something to do with boot files being on the HDD or something? I have no idea. It's as if it's using the HDD to boot, and running the OS from the SSD, which is quite beyond my capacity to understand. This makes the last part of my master plan impossible: reformatting the old C: (78GB partition of my HDD) and merging it with the larger HDD partition so I have 1 partition on the HDD and 1 OS partition on my SSD: because it seems the SSD running the OS is dependent on the HDD, and I'm afraid if I wipe the OS install from the HDD, I will no longer be able to boot. Please advise.

gregrocker · 02 Jun 2012

You had it correct in the screenshot so what optimizations did you apply that messed it up?

You were all set to delete G and resize data partition to the left using free Partition Wizard bootable CD, or create another partition there.

Unplug the HD, make sure SSD is set first to boot in BIOS setup, boot the Win7 DVD or Repair CD to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 boots on its own as System Active partition.

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

gregrocker said:

Why are you trying to force another letter on the reimaged Win7 on SSD? Win7 is designed to always see itself as C unless incorrectly installed from another OS instead of boot, or directed to reimage to another letter instead of C..

I'm not trying to force anything...I just followed the prompts on...

gregrocker said:

...the Paragon app which works great. But this time select to reimage to C or Auto on the SSD, mark Active, and include the MBR and track 0/1 if offered.

I don't recall any options in the program to mark anything active, for the MBR, or anything of that nature. It's simply "autodetecting OS installs.......select a disk to clone to........DONE!". Of course in my case, done = not done.

I'll run startup repair a few more times, thanks for the troubleshooting links. I'm quite sure it's marked Active, but I'll give it a go. Unplugging the HDD has resulted in the boot media error I posted several times.

gregrocker said:

Then plug back in the HD, making sure SSD remains set first to boot in BIOS, boot the old Win7 if needed using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key until you're sure you're ready to get rid of it, then delete it in Disk Mgmt or run Diskpart Delete Partition Override command, then create a new partition in Disk Mgmt, or resize your data partition to the left using free Partition Wizard bootable CD.

I don't have a bootable CD for Partition Wizard yet but I suppose I can make one. Is that really necessary if I'm using the OS from the SSD partition (if indeed I ever succeed)? I also have EaseUS which can merge partitions on the fly, so in all likelihood I will just format the old OS partition and merge with that.

gregrocker said:

If you didn't select H partition then Win7 may only have assumed H when viewed from the extant Win7, and may still boot up as C on the SSD when repaired. Or if you don't mind Win7 being oddly on the H partition you can just do the repairs straightaway to see how it sorts once booted.

I don't really have a problem with the OS being on H: but it seems like that would be inviting trouble, and it should be quite simple to get it to C:.

I'll look through your links, thank you!

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

Tried to boot from the HDD - boot media error. So I selected the SSD from the boot list - it booted from the HDD. I'm extremely worried now that I have corrupt boot info, but I will follow instructions you posted.

gregrocker · 02 Jun 2012

I rewrote my post after reading through it all again. You need to repair the SSD install while its marked Active and set first to boot in BIOS setup. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

I only offered the PW CD as the safest way to resize data partition to the left if needed, otherwise you can Delete G and replace with another data partition in Disk Mgmt. Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help.

The easiest way to link data is to rightclick on User folders on HD to add to related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

gregrocker said:

You had it correct in the screenshot so what optimizations did you apply that messed it up?

You were all set to delete G and resize data partition to the left using free Partition Wizard bootable CD, or create another partition there.

Unplug the HD, make sure SSD is set first to boot in BIOS setup, boot the Win7 DVD or Repair CD to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 boots on its own as System Active partition.

It seems that way, doesn't it?

The optimizations didn't screw anything up. Literally all I did was turn off superfetch, indexing, and page file, then restarted.

I unplug HDD - can't boot. I unplug SSD - can't boot. This is why I'm worried, lol. It makes no sense.

Kylezo · 02 Jun 2012

Oops, we are replying to each other at the same time and changing stuff - haha! I'm getting ready to unplug HDD and run repair off DVD. Hopefully that works. Thank you!

Reading through the link - slowly but surely learning new stuff. I suspect having 2 partitions marked as active is causing some of my issues? Anyways, I'm carrying on now. Unplugging the HDD, as usual, renders the system un-bootable - but selecting the HDD from the boot menu runs the OS from the SSD. I'm still not sure how to run it from the HDD anymore...