Solved Help me avoid a future problems

[florini]

Hi guys,
3 months ago my WD Raptor died on me. I had a primary partition with Win 7 on it.
Now I have 2 hdds, 1st Samsung 320GB 7200rpm T166 with a logical partition ans 2nd Seagate LP 1000GB 5900rpm with a primary and a logical partition.
Now I have Seagate 1st primary partition System Active and Samsung logical partition boot where I installed Windows 7.
I know it doesn't look good but after the Raptor failed I was certain that the Samsung had a primary partition.
In two weeks I will have an SSD and I want to install Windows 7 on it and I want to make the SSD System Boot, so it would boot the OS independently, without the hdds.
Can someone explain me how/what should I do?

PS: I don't want to lose any data.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What do you want to do?

When you get the SSD, disconnect all other drives and install Windows to the SSD. The process is no different than installing to a HDD.

Then reconnect your other drives and consider what to do with the data on them.

 

[gregrocker]

If you want to recover the System boot files into Win7 on a Logical drive, unplug all other HD's, swap Win7 HD to DISK0 cable, set Win7 HD first HD to boot in BIOS setup after DVD drive, boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to convert it to Primary partition, mark it Active, boot into DVD or Repair CD System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair 3 Separate Times to write the System boot files to the Active partition.

After repair plug back in other HD, delete 100mb partition using PW CD Wipe Partition utiliity or Diskpart Delete Partition Override command.

 

[whs]

If you have an installation disk, the easiest is to reinstall - as Ignatz says. That way you get all the SSD settings automatically.

If you want to transfer your current installation, the easy way is to use the Paragon Migration Tool. It does all the settings for you with 2 clicks. It is absolutely foolproof. But it costs you $19,95.

If you want to venture into a "custom OS transfer", follow my tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html But there are certain possible pitfalls and you have to act carefully.

 

[florini]

I will install win 7 on the SSD.
Is there another way? I dont want to open my case and unplug any cables.
I have a 2.5 rack, I have to slide the SSD in and Im done. The rack is connected to the ICH8R SATA ports 0 and 1.

 

[theog]

Installing with only one drive connected is the best way.

 

[florini]

So I disconnect the data SATA cables only?
After Ive finished the windows 7 installation and reconnect the hdds, what problems/conflicts can I expect?(missing partition/data, bsod, unbootable system)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I dont want to open my case and unplug any cables.

Disconnect the power cables to all drives other than the SSD so they cannot spin or be written to.

If you DON'T do that, you have a pretty good chance of having problems.

If you DO that, you have only a small chance of any problems and almost no chance of a problem that can't be solved on this forum---assuming a new SSD and a fresh install is all you are planning.

 

[gregrocker]

If you can't unplug cables, then enter BIOS setup at boot (by tapping the key given on first screen) to disable any other HD's besides Win7 HD.. Follow the steps I gave exactly..

 

[florini]

OK guys, Im back and I want to thank you all for the support.
I installed the ssd, disconnected the hdds power cable, installed the os+apps, reconnected the hdds power cable, everything went almost flawlessly.
I got 2 freeze ups/black screens but I discovered that they were Avira Premium Security Suite 2012 fault, so I changed security app and no more black screens.
After Ive finished installing everything I tested my hdds with HD Tune Pro and my Seagate 1TB drive gave me 2 warnings(Reallocated Sector Count 1870, Ultra DMA CRC Error Count 2).
Can I fix this? How much time do I have?

 

[whs]

I would run a chkdsk /r on the HDD

 

[gregrocker]

Also run Seagate SeaTools extended CD scan.

 

[florini]

Ive run the short tests in windows seatools and the drive passed all of them.
If I run seatools extended CD scan I have to do a backup to 700GB of data and I cant afford that now.
If I run the chkdsk /r command do I risk any data loss?
Should I run the command from DOS or windows?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

There is always a slight risk of data loss, at any moment in time, whether you run Checkdisk or not. Your hard drive could die as you read this.

Having said that, I would run chkdsk /r.

If you are trying to check the C drive, it won't run from Windows. Try it.

It will complain, and ask you if you want to run it on a reboot.

Say yes to that and reboot.

It might take hours to complete, depending on the size of your drive.

 

[gregrocker]

The very repairs the HD may need are what might put your data at risk.

Running any System without having important data backed up is always reckless.

It's as easy as plugging in an external and turning Win7 Backup on, or dragging your named User account over. Done.

 

[florini]

Ive run the full error scan in HD Tune Pro and after 3 hours and 30 minutes the test completed successfully.
I will run the chkdsk /r tonight, hopefully it will be done when I wake up.
How come the drive passed all the tests in windows seatools?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

How come the drive passed all the tests in windows seatools?

In post 10, you said:

"I tested my hdds with HD Tune Pro and my Seagate 1TB drive gave me 2 warnings(Reallocated Sector Count 1870, Ultra DMA CRC Error Count 2)."

Two possibilities:

The warnings provided by HD Tune Pro are simply erroneous.

The warnings provided by HD Tune Pro are valid, but within the limits necessary to pass the Seatools test.

I'd pay more attention to the Seatools test.

And I would reevaluate after running Checkdisk. It may fix some things and you may then even be able to pass the HD Tune Pro test.

 

[gregrocker]

If you ran it from Windows I believe it only checks the SMART data which can also be done at all times from desktop using a program like CrystalDiskInfo. It can't scan sectors because it's running.

The DOS CD scan can check sector by sector and even do some repairs.

The surest way to test a HD is using the manufacturer's extended CD scan along with Disk Check.

How is your Win7 performance on that SSD?

I always wipe the old OS HD's to prevent boot sector code from sometimes interfering, even at POST. Clean - Diskpart Command. If this is the old OS HD you can zero it using SeaTools CD.

 

[florini]

The ssd is smooth 7.8 WEI.
I got the Reallocated Sector Count warning in CrystalDiskInfo too.

 

[gregrocker]

I have gotten that SMART warning so many times in CDI that I've started ignoring it.

Others may disagree with that but it's never yielded anything in CD scans or Disk Check, although those still need to be done to be certain.