Dell PC and Paragon Migration Tool

[whs]

In case you buy a Dell PC and want to transfer the OS to an SSD, you might want to read this.

i just got my second Dell desktop and discovered the same unusual partition setup as in the first Dell PC. It is.

1. a 39MB Fat32 partition - which I assume is used for the BIOS
2. a Recovery partition (about 14GBs) which is active - that is the unusual part
3. an inactive C partition for the rest of the HDD

Since I always install a small 60GB SSD for the OS (really no need to get a bigger SSD for that), I use the Paragon Migration Tool to move the OS from the HDD to the SSD - that is really easy because it is a 2 click operation and it always works flawlessly.

In this particular case though, the migration tool also copies the Recovery partition to the SSD because it rightfully figures that you need your bootmgr there. That takes the 14GBs away from your C partition . Thus you lose 25% of your SSD capacity.

In order to avoid that, use EasyBCD to tranfer the bootmgr to the C partition (also a 2 click operation). Now you can transfer the C partition to the SSD without being bothered by the recovery partition.

 

[ChuckPeak]

When I installed mine, I erased the image files from the recovery partition, shrunk it, then merged C: into the recovered space. Your solution is very much better. Thank you!

I plan to eliminate the remaining 3 GB recovery now. I plan to Change boot, remove partition, create new partition, then merge with C:.

What exactly were the 2 clicks with EasyBCD? Advanced, Change boot drive? Will it default to C:? I just want to be certain.

 

[whs]

Will it default to C:

No, you have to select C from the drop down.