how hard is it to "Move" install to another hdd?

[DirtyElf]

eventually I'm going to get a SSD, right now I have one main drive a 7200 rpm wd hard drive.

when i eventually get my SSD, what would be involved in moving my OS and programs to the SSD? is it a simple click and move?

is there a tutorial somewhere?

thanks

 

[mckillwashere]

Short of exporting your registry, your user profiles, and the rest of your non windows folders. I cannot think of any other way to do it.

 

[gregrocker]

You can clone directly from HD to SSD using the excellent free Acronis programs available if either of the drives are WD or Seagate. Those programs also have imaging options so you save the image first to external or another HD, then unplug the Source HD to reimage to the SSD using Boot Disk.
http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/discwizard

Win7 has its own built-in backup imaging program: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

Many prefer Macrium Reflect as an alternative free imaging program. http://download.cnet.com/Macrium-Re...45728.html?part=dl-6288502&subj=dl&tag=button

I would personally run the free Acronis cloning program on Auto setting as it is real easy and works well. Be sure to include the MBR and Track0 it it asks.

 

[mckillwashere]

Very true greg. I always forget about ghosting...

 

[ProfQ]

There might be an easier way, quite similar in nature to what has been suggested above. Just that this is what I actually did to install my SSD with a Windows 7 OS image a few months ago, using Windows all the way.

After prepping my SSD with new Firmware, etc., I shrank my C partition (running Windows 7 Ultimate to my satisfaction) to a partition size about 10% under the available (accessible) drive size of my new SSD, then created an image of the C Drive (OS partition) using the Windows 7 backup. Windows saved this, my current System's image, in a second installed HDD on my pc.
Then disconnected my current C drive, plugged in my new SSD, and restarted the computer into the Windows 7 repair DVD, and rebuilt and mounted the Windows 7 OS backup image into my new SSD, and presto.

Has been working perfectly ever since.

Hope this helps.

 

[kword88]

would the built-in "windows easy transfer" work?

 

[Barman58]

Windows easy transfer will migrate only the user files and program settings to a New OS install all programs would need to be re-installed.

 

[michaelst]

Elf...

I did the exact thing back in May. After weeks of thinking, and planning it turned out to be as simple as using the software, in this case Acronis True Image 10, that came with the hard drive(Kingston).

Clean and defrag your OS drive.

Have a connected back up and system image drive. and make one just before final shutdown before adding the new drive.


NOTE: make sure the partition you're cloning is the same or smaller size than ssd drive your cloning to.

Connect the new drive, and make sure you can identify it.
Make sure your bios is set to boot from cd/dvd drive first.
Put the acronis disc in and reboot.
follow the directions in the software.
After its done, when rebooting, go into bios and change the boot drive to the ssd.
reboot and enjoy your old, but now faster, OS on a new drive.

Click on the ssdnow software installation link:

Kingston Technology Company - SSDNow - Learn More

 

[whs]

You have 2 options:

1. Either do like ProfQ has described and use imaging. That requires that you first adjust your current C to a size that is slightly smaller than the SSD. Imaging cannot "squeeze" e.g. an image of a 100GB partition to a 60GB SSD. For that I would use Macrium: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I
2. Cloning can "squeeze" and move the clone to a smaller SSD. Here I would use free Acronis (there are also a lot of Pro (paid) versions of other programs that can do that). Acronis True Image Home - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

 

[ProfQ]

You have 2 options:

1. Either do like ProfQ has described and use imaging. That requires that you first adjust your current C to a size that is slightly smaller than the SSD. Imaging cannot "squeeze" e.g. an image of a 100GB partition to a 60GB SSD. For that I would use Macrium: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I
2. Cloning can "squeeze" and move the clone to a smaller SSD. Here I would use free Acronis (there are also a lot of Pro (paid) versions of other programs that can do that). Acronis True Image Home - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Thanks whs
Your post reminded me I should mention software I used for my SSD install/migration
For both HD and SSD partition sizing I used partition wizard home edition- a free software
For the SSD I only used the windows image and then benchmarked it.

Did try Acronis first, since I've had some experience w it, but failed twice

So used above simple imaging and never looked back.

 

[DirtyElf]

ok, so i ended up getting a x-25m for christmas and i was wondering if you guys ever came to a concensus about the best way to go about this.

acronis can clone the C: partition onto my new drive, and then i just boot from that drive and wipe the C: partition from my old spinner? or am i missing something?

 

[whs]

I tried out the Paragon Migration Tool yesterday to move Win7 from a HDD to a SSD. It worked flawlessly and is super easy to operate. It transported the 100MB partition automatically and made the alignment. For the $20 you pay for it, it is worth having. I could have done it with the free tools, but I like my creature comforts.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd try cloning using Acronis in Auto mode to adjust to size differentials if any.

After cloning, unplug the source HD and try booting the clone after setting it as first HD to boot (after DVD) in BIOS setup.

If it fails to boot, make sure (if you have it) the 100mb Sys Reserved or Win 7 partition are marked Active, boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to repair or write the MBR until it starts. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't know what Acronis app or version you have, but if you have a WD or Seagate somewhere in your PC, you can get the free Acronis version from those drive manufacturers.

I looked at mine the other day and it looks like "cloning" is included. This free Acronis version might be more recent or capable than whatever paid Acronis you might have now?

Cloning bypasses the complexity of imaging and would be my first choice, barring evidence to the contrary. I don't have an SSD now, but likely will within 6 months, so I am trying to stay on top of this question.

 

[DirtyElf]

i have a wd caviar black in my machine now which i use.. where do i get the acronis free version?

edit: i will also want to remove the C: partition from my wd caviar black and add it to another partition on my drive.. acronis can easily accomplish this once i am running off of the ssd correct? even if the partition is to the left in the disk management screen?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

i have a wd caviar black in my machine now which i use.. where do i get the acronis free version?

edit: i will also want to remove the C: partition from my wd caviar black and add it to another partition on my drive.. acronis can easily accomplish this once i am running off of the ssd correct? even if the partition is to the left in the disk management screen?

WD Acronis here:

WD Support


Assuming you are moving your operating system to the SSD, I would get the SSD up and running first.

You can remove partitions on the Caviar black with Disk Management, but it won't expand a partition to the left into unallocated space.

Normally, C is to the left, so if you deleted it, the unallocated space would be to the left in disk management, as you imply.

I don't think Acronis True Image or the WD is the tool for expanding partitions.

Look at Paragon products or Partition Wizard, the free editions. There may be others?

 

[gregrocker]

I thought you were referring to the Acronis free cloning/imaging app linked earlier in the thread.

To Move a partition on your System, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD: Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

Or use Acronis imaging to backup the partition, then reimage it to the target partition.

 

[DirtyElf]

im not so worried about the extra 100 gigs of space on my 1 tb drive, i can extend the "left" partition later.. i just want to get the OS up and running on the SSD

 

[gregrocker]

I think Acronis' free WD app will let you clone just your OS partition to whatever space you select on the target HD. You would manually set up cloning instead of choosing Auto in that case.

If not, once cloned you can Move the unneeded partition elsewhere using free Partition Wizard CD, delete the original, then Resize the adjacent partition into the space.

Save the source HD until it is all set up and running perfectly then you can plug it in a wipe it using Diskpart from elevated Command Line: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here are the 2 menu choices in WD Acronis for cloning.

The first is auto. The second is manual. Note the different wording.

I went 2 steps beyond these screens. You choose the source at the first step and the destination at the second step.

Neither of those steps said anything about "partitions". The choices were about "disks".

I can only assume that the manual choice lets you specify particular partitions at step 3 or 4 and that you are NOT restricted to cloning an entire drive, as opposed to a partition.

Any confirmation on this?