HDD to SDD migration

[JimLewandowski]

If you have any suggestions, I will edit/update this original post rather than scatter add'l posts in this thread.
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Below is my step-by-step guide for moving my 2-yr old Win7 installation to a new SSD.

Current:

unnamed - 100MB System Reserved partition
C - LIVE OS (physical HDD 0) - 750GB Seagate -100 GB partition
D - LIVE DATA (physical HDD 0) - xxxxxxxxxxxxx - 650GB partition - Win7 Libraries, TIF, etc.
E - SCRATCH (physical HDD 1) - 80GB partition (all)
G - Iomega external HDD - 250GB


To become:

C - LIVE SSD OS (physical HDD 0 - Intel 120GB 320 SSD)
D - LIVE DATA (old physical HDD 0, now HDD 1)
E - SCRATCH (physical HDD 2, no change)
G - Iomega external HDD (no change)


The Intel is already installed in my desktop. I downloaded the Intel SSD toolbox. It seems that running that without specifying to upgrade the firmware, DID upgrade the firmware. It shows as being "unallocated" in Disk Management. NO DRIVE LETTER YET.

I had an old PATA drive (80GB) also in my desktop. When I deleted both of those partitions (i.e. delete VOLUME), when I tried to create a "simple volume", it kept telling me not enough space to complete the operation. I have since found out (this drive might have been bootable as it was in my old XP PC) that I ALSO need to delete the partitions to be able to convert that to UNALLOCATED space?? drive letter E - SCRATCH

I assume that once I get the SSD up and running, then I would shutdown the PC, reconnect the old HDD, reboot, and delete the C partition (which should also nuke it's once ACTIVE boot partition status). What about the old 100 MB partition? Then REcreate my D (LIVE DATA) partition. Then I would "file restore" my old D data partition (backed up to External HDD G) backup to this "new D LIVE DATA" partition.

Also, once I get the SSD up, I will NOT have the D Data Partition alive just yet. So, any IE browsing or accessing of Libraries, etc. would go belly-up.

I plan to do a File Backup (Win 7 built-in) to a G external HDD. I also will take a system image (Win7 built-in) to G.


***************************************************************

Install new SSD

! steps to get to final System Image

- using Backup and Restore (File backup) backup D.LIVE DATA to G.Iomega
! - physical drive 0 (C/OS) must have MBR with ONLY system reserved and C.LIVE OS partitions
- delete D.LIVE DATA partition (for eventual final System Image) using Disk Management (delete volume followed by delete partition??)
- take System Image of -allcritical (reserved and C.LIVE OS)--> internal PATA HDD E.BACKUP (just in case)
- take System Image of -allcritical (reserved and C.LIVE OS)--> external USB G.Iomega (to be used for restore)

! first shutdown to finalize SSD to SATA port 0

- disconnect original HDD/drive 0 (C.LIVE OS) from SATA port 0 as no longer needed (System Image on G.Iomega)
- install SSD to SAME SATA port (0) on Motherboard
- disconnect PATA E.BACKUP
- insert Win7 DVD in drive
- reboot using Win7 DVD or repair disc
- DEL to get to BIOS and set CD drive as first boot device
- click on Repair Your Computer
- check "restore your computer using a system image you created earlier"
- check "use the latest system image" (double-check date/time) - G.IOMEGA should be present
- click "exclude disks" button. Verify only 2 drives present (SSD and G.Iomega - exclude G).
- click finish to begin the system image restore to the SSD (physical drive 0, SATA port 0, drive letter ??)
- automatic shutdown/restart

! now booting from SSD

- DEL to get to BIOS - verify SSD drive attached and is FIRST boot device, CD/DVD second boot device

! SAVE BIOS updates and exit BIOS and continue boot from SSD

! AHCI

- edit registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci from 3 -> 0
- restart again
- DEL to get to BIOS
- set SSD to AHCI this time. SAVE BIOS updates and exit BIOS.

! AHCI halfway there

- Windows will install AHCI drivers on eventual boot

! reboot with AHCI complete

- restart required again

! final boot (all should be good - VERIFY!)

- VERIFY SSD and AHCI is on

! prepare to decomission old boot drive C.LIVE OS to be used as a single data partition
- shutdown
- reconnect old HDD to different SATA port

Determined I can just delete the C partition (also delete System Reserved?) so can skip these INACTIVE-related steps

! reboot to mark old HDD C (now drive letter ??) INACTIVE
- diskpart to turn off ACTIVE boot partition on old C: (now likely D:??)
1. Open up an elevated/admin command prompt and type DISKPART.
2. Type LIST DISK
3. Type SELECT DISK n (where n is the number of the old OS drive)
4. Type LIST PARTITION
5. Type SELECT PARTITION n (where n is the number of the active partition you wish to make inactive)
6. Type INACTIVE
7. Type EXIT to exit DISKPART
8. Type EXIT again to exit the command prompt
9. Reboot

- eventually, delete D?? (new drive letter??) partition from old HDD (using Disk Management)
- delete volume, then delete partition to remove all remants from old HDD
- create new single partition (what will the drive letter be??) and QUICK FORMAT
- File Restore saved-D data on G.Iomega to old boot HDD which is now a single data partition
- somehow make the old HDD data parition drive letter D as that's what the C drive has for various items such as Libraries, etc.

 

[DavidE]

Hi Jim,

Have you seen this tutorial by whs?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

I followed it when i migrated the OS from HD to SSD and it worked very well for me.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
even easier

1) Attach SSD to USB2 port via SATA==>USB connector. You probably got one of these connectors when you bought the SSD. The SAMSUNG SSD's come with one of these.

2) Image existing system using Acronis or any other backup program --to SSD -- don't forget the "system reserved" partition too if it exists.

3) Connect SSD into computer -- if it's a laptop just open the back - remove the old HDD and insert the SSD. You can still use the old HDD as an external USB drive via the SATA==>USB connector.

If it's a workstation type of computer connect the SSD to the MOBO.

4) In the BIOS change the boot priority to boot the SSD first.

5) Optional - wipe and re-allocate the old Windows partition on the HDD.

Modern SSD's don't need all the fuss with TRIM etc --- especially for W7 (and W8).
Alignment etc done automatically.

(If your original OS partition is large -shink it via a stand alone partition manager so it will fit on SSD before you start. even a large W7 / W8 installation won't be more than 45 GB usually).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[JimLewandowski]

Hi Jim,

Have you seen this tutorial by whs?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

I followed it when i migrated the OS from HD to SSD and it worked very well for me.

Yes, I've read it as well as tons of other webpages related. Most aren't detailed enough to cover "eventualities". For example, I'm not sure what needs to be done to the old HDD once I want to turn it into a data partition-only drive. Does it need to be marked inactive since it once was a boot? Or, will a delete volumes/partitions via disk management and a quick-format wipe it appropriately?

 

[JimLewandowski]

Thanks Jimbo, but my drive only came with what looks like a molex 4-pin >> SATA power adapter.

Also, I can't system image to the SSD outright as that places a compressed folder/files on the drive to be used in a restore image process (Windows 7 built-in).

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm not sure what needs to be done to the old HDD once I want to turn it into a data partition-only drive. Does it need to be marked inactive since it once was a boot? Or, will a delete volumes/partitions via disk management and a quick-format wipe it appropriately?

All you should need to do with the old HDD is delete all partitions. Don't connect it at all until you have confirmed the SSD installation is running well by itself.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Also, I can't system image to the SSD outright as that places a compressed folder/files on the drive to be used in a restore image process (Windows 7 built-in).

Can you rephrase that for the sake of clarity?

I don't understand why imaging is a problem unless you have no place to store the image file prior to restoration to the SSD.

Typically: make an image of C; store it on a separate drive, say partition X; restore from X to SSD.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
that's why I use commercial products like Acronis -- copies a useable image to the target device in one go.

BTW a USB==>SATA cable is really cheap anyway --worth having one --then your old HDD can be used as well as an external USB drive too.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/ide-sata-to-usb-2.0-48965

Cheers
jimbo

 

[JimLewandowski]

Also, I can't system image to the SSD outright as that places a compressed folder/files on the drive to be used in a restore image process (Windows 7 built-in).

Can you rephrase that for the sake of clarity?

I don't understand why imaging is a problem unless you have no place to store the image file prior to restoration to the SSD.

Typically: make an image of C; store it on a separate drive, say partition X; restore from X to SSD.

Jimbo suggested creating a system image directly on the SSD itself. You can only create a system image to be stored somewhere. Then you would RESTORE a system image to a "then-to-be-live" drive (using Win7 built-in System Image function).

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Jimbo suggested creating a system image directly on the SSD itself. You can only create a system image to be stored somewhere. Then you would RESTORE a system image to a "then-to-be-live" drive (using Win7 built-in System Image function).

I'm guessing he means a clone from HDD to SSD----as opposed to making an image file and then restoring that image file to another drive. Clones don't use an intervening image file that must later be restored.

 

[JimLewandowski]

Jimbo suggested creating a system image directly on the SSD itself. You can only create a system image to be stored somewhere. Then you would RESTORE a system image to a "then-to-be-live" drive (using Win7 built-in System Image function).

I'm guessing he means a clone from HDD to SSD----as opposed to making an image file and then restoring that image file to another drive. Clones don't use an intervening image file that must later be restored.

Yes, that makes sense. He used the word "image" so I assumed intermediary step which doesn't apply to Win7 SI.