Good SSD cloning software?

[jsanchez1221]

Hi, Sevenforums
Does it make a difference which cloning software I use? I'm planning to clone my hdd to an ssd. There are so many options when it comes to cloning software that I am confused as to which one to pick. I just want one that will get the job done and properly align my ssd. What do you guys use?

 

[fireberd]

You may be better off just doing a disc "image" (backup) of the hard drive and then restore it to the new SSD.
If you do a clone, unused and bad disc blocks are also copied to the new drive. With an image all the data on the drive is copied but not the unused or bad disc blocks.

If you don't have a disc image program, the free Macrium Reflect will do it.

As a side note, I got a new Samsung 500GB SSD and tried cloning my hard drive using the program provided by Samsung and the cloning function in Macrium Reflect and both times the SSD failed to load Windows (with different symptoms). I did the disc image and restored it to the SSD and no problems. We had a discussion about this, on this forum, and one of our software gurus did some testing using clone and it was hit or miss on whether it worked, but disc image worked every time.

 

[jsanchez1221]

VerY interesting. I heard a lot about imaging too but I thought it was mostly for backup purposes and not cloning. I was planning on getting the samsung evo 500 gig ssd too. I guess I will be doing an image then. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[jsanchez1221]

Will the image take care of aligning my ssd too?

 

[fireberd]

When you "restore" to the new SSD it will make it bootable, etc. When you "image" the disc, image ALL partitions. Windows 7 has two partitions, the "System reserved" and the OS partition (usually the C drive). And, if you have other partitions include them with the image.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Will the image take care of aligning my ssd too?

It certainly should. If it's properly aligned before the image is made, it should be properly aligned after the image is restored.

But you can check it after you're done and correct if necessary.

 

[Layback Bear]

Take a read through this tutorial by WHS for SSD alignment check.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I've had excellent results using Macrium Reflect (Macrium Reflect Free; here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect) to clone from a HDD to a SSD.

 

[fireberd]

Macrium (paid version) failed me doing a clone to a Samsung EVO 840, 500GB SSD from a hard drive. WHS tried it on a test and it failed him too.

 

[essenbe]

Fireberd, I have used the Paid version of Paragon Migrate for years. I have never had it fail me. It only does Operating systems, but it does it very well. If you have spare drives, it makes the best 'backups' you can have.

I did a small video on using it if you are interested.

 

[fireberd]

I don't need it. My SSD drive is working. If I ever need to transfer to another drive I'll use the image method. I believe that was one of the programs WHS tried when he was testing clones with various cloning software. His conclusion was no program that he tried was 100%.

 

[essenbe]

WHS recommended it to me several years ago. I've been using it since. I have used it at least 100 times and never had it fail. I suppose any program can fail on occasion though. Anyway, I just thought I'd throw that option into the conversation.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Macrium (paid version) failed me doing a clone to a Samsung EVO 840, 500GB SSD from a hard drive. WHS tried it on a test and it failed him too.

Curious. I use the paid version also and it has yet to fail me.