Solved Changing c: partition with a new disk

[rogerio53]

Hello.

My PC setup as HD concerns is:

- First HD with 8 partitions, including C: that is system, boot, active
- Second HD with one partition

Everything is working fine.

Except that the loading of OS (windows 7) is very slow.

So I decided to buy an SSD drive and I want that this drive becomes c: and ,after that, delete the former c: to gain space.

Please tell me the best way to do this.

I have tried several options sometime from now but I always end with a non functional system.

Please excuse for my not so good english.

Thank you.

 

[AddRAM]

#1 Do you have a windows 7 install dvd ? and an activation code ?

Are you saying you want to carry over your current image of windows 7 ( problems included ) onto your new ssd ?

Or do you want to do a clean install on the ssd ?

 

[rogerio53]

Yes I have.

I want to carry over to new ssd disk.

 

[theog]

For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html

Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[rogerio53]

Thank you.

I will arrive home next wednesday and I will do what you suggest.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Post screenshot of disk management please. Do you have an external disk with free space to make a backup of C?

 

[gregrocker]

I would either use SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System or an imaging app like free Macrium - Image your system or the superb premium Acronis app which comes free with any WD or Seagate HD int he mix, to transfer the C partition only to the SSD.

Even better is to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps are the same for retail.

Install the OS, Programs, paging file and hibernate file (if you prefer that modern feature) to SSD on C for best performance. Copy your User folders to a new data partition on your HD then link them to the new Win7 on SSD by rightclicking each to link to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

By copying your User folders to a new partition on the old OS HD, or to another HD partition, you can eventually delete the old Win7 partition which is the correct way to delete an OS.

Make sure the HD"s are unplugged when you install or image Win7 onto the SSD.

 

[rogerio53]

theog - updated my profile with my specs and uploaded capture jpg file of disk management.

 

[rogerio53]

Kaktussoft - I have an USB3 disk with 800G free; uploaded capture jpg file of disk management.

 

[gregrocker]

Why is the HD in Disk 0 Dynamic, which is only meant to span a partition across multiple HD's? I would convert it to Basic using partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live which is the last free PW version that offers this feature: How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk with Partition Wizard

I don't know how the partition jam you have on Disk1 affects Win7 boot but I would want to wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command to Clean Reinstall with a more traditional partition structure to see if that solves the problem.

To add an SSD, unplug all other HD's during install following the Best Practices given in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Afterwards I would wipe the data HD then copy the User folders from backup to it, rightclick each to link to related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

A better way to organize yourself than a zillion partitions is to sort everything into the standard User folders (Docs, Pics, Music, Downloads, Desktop, etc) but if your SSD is small you may want to link them as described from HDD .

 

[whs]

If you want to carry your current OS to the SSD have a look at this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

 

[rogerio53]

I read everything carefully and I intend to adopt the following procedure. Please tell me if I am in the right path.

1) Backup
2) Shrink the c: partition on the HDD to 60G ( capacity of the SSD drive)
3) Disconnect the two HDD, install the SSD (hopping it gets letter c
4) Prepare SSD as in tutorial " SSD - Install and transfer the operating system"
5) Reconnect the two HDD
6) Do old c: image with Macrium ( following tutorial "Image your system with free Macrium")
7) Delete old c: partition
8) Recover image to new c:

Answering to gregrocker:

- I don´t know why HD0 was dynamic. I remember that when I connect it (some years ago) and used diskmanagement to install it, windows create it as dynamic. Anyway yesterday a convert it to basic.
- As for the number of partitions: it results from old "rules of securing" I read many years ago saying that it was more prudent to have several partitions. Also I remember that old FAT systems had limitations of size of the partitions. Now it´s too painfull to rearrange the disk because I do not have anymore the instalation files of the programs that are on the partitions. If my setup does not cause any problems I will keep it.

Thank you very much for the help of everybody.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Another question. I see you have ubuntu installed. Do you boot into ubuntu from win7 bootmenu? Or do see the linux bootmenu first and select win7 from it?

 

[Kaktussoft]

1. Backup C on HDD using macrium to external disk. Shrink isn't needed!
2. Disconnect HDD where C is on. Connect SSD
3. Boot from macrium rescue CD, use the winpe version! Be sure to connect external disk to usb2 port. Some usb3 ports don't work. click "browse for image". Drive letter can be different than that you expect!
4. Restore the image to SSD. Be sure it is aligned as shown here Partition Alignment ! Partition type must be ACTIVE, but that is selected by default.
5. Boot from SSD

Now you can reconnect old HDD and be sure to boot to SSD again! Now you can do whatever you want with old C (it has another drive letter now!) and delete it if you want.
v5: How to restore a backup image (Restore, v5)

Tell me when done

 

[rogerio53]

Thank you, Kaktussoft

Some time ago I had Ubuntu. It was deleted. Changed label to avoid confusions.

I will do what you wrote tomorrow or next weekend and tell you when done.

Thank you again.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Thank you, Kaktussoft

Some time ago I had Ubuntu. It was deleted. Changed label to avoid confusions.

I will do what you wrote tomorrow or next weekend and tell you when done.

Thank you again.

After successgull transfer to SSD and it boots fine:

Hibernation File – most of us do not use Hibernation, but Sleep instead. But, the hiberfile takes precious space on your SSD – to the same tune as the size as your RAM. To get rid of it, run the following command in elevated Command Prompt: powercfg –h off. If you ever want it back, it is powercfg – h on.

enable system protection on C and disable it on ghost drives that may appear in that list. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/330-system-protection-turn-off.html

Goto disk defragment and check the schedule scheme. Be sure it doesn't defragment the SSD! It's useless on non spinning disks. And it shortens the lifespan

Turn TRIM ON. http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/267861-how-trim-ssd-windows-7-a.html

 

[gregrocker]

I don't think its good practice to recommend turning off the Hiberfile, as it is a modern feature perfected in Win7 which makes it much easier to walk away assured that if you don't come back your work will be saved with the PC shut down after it times out. Then the PC starts three times faster next time with your work left out where it was. What could be more desirable?

I program my PC's to Hibernate instead of Shut Down. Only if Windows Updates are cued on Shut Down button do I use it.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I don't think its good practice to recommend turning off the Hiberfile, as it is a modern feature perfected in Win7 which makes it much easier to walk away assured that if you don't come back your work will be saved with the PC shut down after it times out. Then the PC starts three times faster next time with your work left out where it was. What could be more desirable?

I program my PC's to Hibernate instead of Shut Down. Only if Windows Updates are cued on Shut Down button do I use it.

I just told him it saves disk space

 

[gregrocker]

I understand. I just see it a lot here and feel someone should stand up for the feature, especially since SSD's are getting bigger and have room for hiberfile now.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I understand. I just see it a lot here and feel someone should stand up for the feature, especially since SSD's are getting bigger and have room for hiberfile now.

I understand... I won't recommend it anymore. Hibernation is a great feature if you want to have all applications open and proceed later. But shutdown/hibernate time is almost the same. Boot time/resume from hibernation time is almost the same... at least on my laptop.

Great advantage of hibernation is ... if battery is almost empty.... it automatically hibernates. What happens in case battery is empty and hibernation is off?