Clean install vs. cloning

gregrocker said:

Since you have a Seagate HD in the mix you can use Seagate's excellent free premium Acronis' cloning/imaging app from SeaTools Seagate.

The Manual is on the downloads page and easy to understand. Resize the source partition to be the same or smaller than target SSD. Let it handle everything else Automatically.

After cloning, unplug the source HD, set SSD first HD to boot in BIOS setup. If it doesn't start confirm WIn7 or it's 100mb System Rserved partition (preferred if you have it) are Marked Active, then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

You can then plug back in the HD. You'll want to keep your Programs on SSD while your data can be copied to HD after sorting it into User folders, right click each to add to the related Win7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

If performance isn't perfect then you can try the Clean Reinstall following the same steps as in the blue link to get a perfect reinstall. Unplug the other HD's.

I see no Acronis in there. All I see is "DiscWizard".

Regardless, I have quite a bit more stuff on here than I would be able to fit on the new SSD. I'd have to remove stuff, then clone, then use my SSD. Reinstalling Windows maybe a pain, but it looks like I may have to. I was curious if cloning messed with performance or anything compared to a clean install.

From the feedback I got, it would operate just the same if I cloned compared to clean installed.

If I didn't have so much stuff on this drive, then I'd probably consider doing that. Unfortunately, I'm only getting a 120gb SSD and I've used almost 200gb on this hard drive.

I also think a clean install would be more appropriate for Windows updates and my drivers.

I could always change my mind because I probably won't get the SSD for another 2 or 3 days. I'm just waiting on it to be shipped.

Sorry I gave you the wrong link: Seagate Acronis cloning free util

I'd sort my data into the User folders and then copy them onto a data partition the HD or to external, then delete the contents of each on the OS. This should leave you with only the OS and Programs since the paging and hibernate file should be excluded during cloning.

What is the size then?

I'd have to delete quite a few things to get back to a few programs and Windows 7. Which is why I'm thinking it would be much easier to do a clean install even though it will be a pain to reinstall some stuff. Especially since some of the games are like 15gb files of which I had to download from Steam.

A Clean Reinstall is always a good thing. The steps for retail are pretty much the same as to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

gregrocker said:

A Clean Reinstall is always a good thing. The steps for retail are pretty much the same as to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

It's not an OEM. I built my computer.

That's why I said the steps were the "same as for" OEM.

gregrocker said:

That's why I said the steps were the "same as for" OEM.

I know how to do a clean install, I just haven't installed on an SSD. I'm assuming it's the same way, but just to make sure AHCI is enabled.

How do I know whether it's the same way you normally install it? Most people install Win7 incorrectly using XPired methods with drivers?

I guess I got carried away thinking this was an advice site.

I would check in BIOS setup to see that AHCI is enabled.

gregrocker said:

How do I know whether it's the same way you normally install it? Most people install Win7 incorrectly using XPired methods with drivers?

I guess I got carried away thinking this was an advice site.

I would check in BIOS setup to see that AHCI is enabled.

Everything I need is already backed up on an external. I partition the new install with the Windows 7 install. Once installed I download all my drivers. I didn't think it was more difficult than that, lol. The SSD is a new drive so I won't need to repartition or delete any partitions.

UnknownReverent said:

Once installed I download all my drivers.

So you do need to read Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 .

This is no longer XP. Drivers are in the installer, quickly updated by optional Windows Updates. You only need to provide one or two normally.

There are other Best Practices in the tutorial based on helping countless thousands of users here get perfect Clean Reinstalls.