How to Clone a Windows 7 Partition to a new Hard Drive?

[whs]

I suspect your SSD boots off the bootmgr of the HDD. But I will reserve my final judgement until I can have a look at the Disk Management.

If you cannot get into the system, use the bootable CD of Partition Wizard and take a picture of the screen. http://www.partitionwizard.com/

 

[karlsnooks]

Post a full and complete Disk Management snapshot of both drives.

 

[chobo2]

Post a full and complete Disk Management snapshot of both drives.

Here it is



SSD-P = C: drive
SSD-W = E: drive

HDD-P = F: drive
HDD-W = J: drive

 

[Kaktussoft]

SSD-P = C: drive SSD-W = E: drive =>Your bootmgr and bootmenu are on SSD-P. This is working fine (active,boot in screenshot)
HDD-P = F: drive HDD-W = J: drive .

Disk 1 (HDD) has 1 large extended partition with many logical partitions in it). If you disconnect SSD system isn’t bootable. I assume it was bootable before (F is active) .
I assume you want to clone HDD-W to SSD-W?
Steps to do:
Download a free copy of partition wizard (bootable ISO). right click on it burn it to CD. Boot from CD then:
· Mark paritition on HDD which is active now as inactive. Not really needed.
· Delete partition SSD-W.
· Copy partition HDD-W to SSD-W (make it a primary partition!)
· Try to boot normally. Disconnect HDD first so you’re sure it’s not using it!
· If not loading OS on SSD-W try http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (last download "bootable CD")

How to Set Active/Inactive partition with partition magic? Partition Wizard Help
How to Delete Partition with partition manager? Partition Wizard Help
Copy Partition help of magic partition manager - Partition Wizard.

Drive letters in partition wizard are different as in windows, so select the right partition!

Post results

 

[Kaktussoft]

SSD-P = C: drive SSD-W = E: drive =>Your bootmgr and bootmenu are on SSD-P. This is working fine (active,boot in screenshot)
HDD-P = F: drive HDD-W = J: drive .

Disk 1 (HDD) has 1 large extended partition with many logical partitions in it). If you disconnect SSD system isn’t bootable. I assume it was bootable before (F is active) .
I assume you want to clone HDD-W to SSD-W?
Steps to do:
Download a free copy of partition wizard (bootable ISO). right click on it burn it to CD. Boot from CD then:
· Mark paritition on HDD which is active now as inactive. Not really needed.
· Delete partition SSD-W.
· Copy partition HDD-W to SSD-W (make it a primary partition!)
· Try to boot normally. Disconnect HDD first so you’re sure it’s not using it!
· If not loading OS on SSD-W try http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (last download "bootable CD")

How to Set Active/Inactive partition with partition magic? Partition Wizard Help
How to Delete Partition with partition manager? Partition Wizard Help
Copy Partition help of magic partition manager - Partition Wizard.

Drive letters in partition wizard are different as in windows, so select the right partition!

Post results

Assume it works, then you have to do this (only the alignment part):

Speed Up Your SSD By Correctly Aligning Your Partitions
How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows

GParted - Browse /gparted-live-stable at SourceForge.net
perform a "startup repair" after SSD alignment (if not booting).


Proper SSD Maintenance (from with win7 work and personal)

We've covered proper SSD maintenance before, so I won't go too deeply into it here. In order to have Windows optimize itself for your new SSD, we'll need to re-run the Windows Experience Index. Hit the Start menu and type in "Windows Experience", and hit the "Check the Windows Experience Index" option. Click "Re-Run the Assessment" and it should turn off Defragmentation and turn on TRIM.
To double check that it all went as expected, head to your Start menu and type "defrag" in the search box. Click on "Disk Defragmenter". Click on "Configure Schedule" and hit "Select Disks". If all went well, Windows will realize it's on an SSD and your SSD won't even be an option in this menu. Now Windows will avoid defragmenting your SSD, which can be bad for it.
Lastly, we'll want to make sure TRIM is turned on, which keeps your drive from slowing down over time. Open up a elevated Command Prompt and type in:

fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

It will either give you a 0 (it should be 0) or a 1 as a result. If you get a zero, that means TRIM is enabled. If you get a 1, make sure you have a TRIM-compatible SSD—you may have to Google your SSD's model number to find out.

 

[karlsnooks]

chobo,
Thanks for the disk management snapshot.

You are almost already there.

First, there is zero need for any "realightment". You are using Windows 7 which correctly handles alignment.

I know that you have stated before, but would you tell me what you would like to change and, more important, the why.

The Windows 7 file, folder, and library capabilities and their junction points eliminates the need of a multitude of small logical partitions.

 

[Kaktussoft]

First, there is zero need for any "realightment". You are using Windows 7 which correctly handles alignment.

This is only the case if you fresh install win7 on ssd (as he did with win7 personal). win7 work ssd has been cloned so not aligned!!

Aligning an SSD on Linux » Cygon's Blog
SSD Storage Demands Proper Partition Alignment
sdd blocks are 128KB
ntfs disk clusters are 4K.

So 1 SSD block has 128/4=32 ntfs clusters

If win7 reads or writes something it does this for the whole cluster.
SDD treates 128KB as a block that is readable/writeable.

If not aligned properly... first and last ntfs cluster on EACH ssd block belongs to 2 SSD blocks.
2/32=1/16=6,6% ssd performance loss. And SSD life time will be shorter.

You're going for speed.... align!!!

 

[chobo2]

chobo,
Thanks for the disk management snapshot.

You are almost already there.

First, there is zero need for any "realightment". You are using Windows 7 which correctly handles alignment.

I know that you have stated before, but would you tell me what you would like to change and, more important, the why.

The Windows 7 file, folder, and library capabilities and their junction points eliminates the need of a multitude of small logical partitions.

Well the first thing I would like to do is have it so I actually can log into my work partition on my SSD drive(as this is the whole problem).

Many of the partitions were made just to give me a separation of how much space I actually used and what stuff I would get on my HDD as I wanted to get the smallest SSD possible as they are expensive.

My final partition structure probably will be something like this(maybe I can do what you stated to reduce the number of partitions).

SSD
1. Personal Partition
2. Work Partition
3. Remaining Might be a shared Partition(files that I actively need to access from both drives...such as Visual Studios Projects).

HDD
1. Storage Partition
2. Music Partition
3. Picture Partition
4. Backups Partition

I might be able to merge Music and Pictures partition into one. I have to think about it. The reason why I want to do this is these partitions don't change to often(I do have an external backup drive) so they don't get regularly backed up and again both personal and work partitions might access say the Music partition.

With the dual boot of Windows it's all about separation of work and personal(licensing of software and other stuff).

 

[karlsnooks]

False!

MS correctly creates partitions and volumes on a SSD.

Try it. Use DiskPart if you would like, although of course don't go in there and change the alignment.


Please see:
Support and Q&A for Solid-State Drives - Engineering Windows 7 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

[Kaktussoft]

As a first step you can do tis: http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...7-partition-new-hard-drive-3.html#post1889431
You can stop after · If not loading OS on SSD-W try Startup Repair
All the rest is to speed up everything.

With partition wizard you can customize further:

• Resize the partitions
• Move the partitions to the left or right

Quite simple.

Do a startup repair afterwards if you changed "start sector" of some windows partition or boot partition. Maybe parition wizard is smart enough and does it automatically (I mean update bootmenu)

 

[chobo2]

As a first step you can do tis: http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...7-partition-new-hard-drive-3.html#post1889431
You can stop after · If not loading OS on SSD-W try Startup Repair
All the rest is to speed up everything.

With partition wizard you can customize further:

• Resize the partitions
• Move the partitions to the left or right

Quite simple.

Do a startup repair afterwards if you changed "start sector" of some windows partition or boot partition. Maybe parition wizard is smart enough and does it automatically (I mean update bootmenu)

Ya that is my first goal getting it to load up . Maybe by then an consensuses will be determined if doing the other steps are needed.

 

[Kaktussoft]

False!

MS correctly creates partitions and volumes on a SSD.

Try it. Use DiskPart if you would like, although of course don't go in there and change the alignment.


Please see:
Support and Q&A for Solid-State Drives - Engineering Windows 7 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

If you meant that then you're right.
But you CAN'T clone a partition with win7 standard. If you clone with 3rd party tools or bootable CD (for example partition wizard) you HAVE TO realign afterwards

 

[karlsnooks]

chobo,
My last post related to alignment was directed at a dissenter. Please forgive any confusion.

Define for me, perhaps by example, what you mean by "work partition' and "personal partition".

As a warm-up for consequential recommendations,
take a look at:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html

I'm not a big music, video or pic collector. My SSD (128 GB) is divided into 3 partitions (the third is new and for experimental purposes). There is what I call a System partition with Win 7 and all programs. There is a Data partition. To this Data partition, I've placed the majority of my user folders.

 

[karlsnooks]

I "clone" using Win7 software. No problems.

 

[Kaktussoft]

chobo,
Define for me, perhaps by example, what you mean by "work partition' and "personal partition".

His WORK partition is a win7 installation he uses for work
PERSONAL partition is a win7 installation he uses for personal things

 

[chobo2]

I "clone" using Win7 software. No problems.

Windows 7 has a cloning feature?

 

[karlsnooks]

chobo,
Define for me, perhaps by example, what you mean by "work partition' and "personal partition".

His WORK partition is a win7 installation he uses for work
PERSONAL partition is a win7 installation he uses for personal things

Let us let Chobo speak for himself.

Thanks,

 

[chobo2]

chobo,
Define for me, perhaps by example, what you mean by "work partition' and "personal partition".

His WORK partition is a win7 installation he uses for work
PERSONAL partition is a win7 installation he uses for personal things

Let us let Chobo speak for himself.

Thanks,

Thanks but that's pretty much of the gist of it.

Work = A special partition that contains all software needed to do my job licensed by my company, vpn access and etc.

Personal = A partition for my personal use(think video games, personal software, etc)

 

[whs]

False!

MS correctly creates partitions and volumes on a SSD.

Try it. Use DiskPart if you would like, although of course don't go in there and change the alignment.


Please see:
Support and Q&A for Solid-State Drives - Engineering Windows 7 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

If you meant that then you're right.
But you CAN'T clone a partition with win7 standard. If you clone with 3rd party tools or bootable CD (for example partition wizard) you HAVE TO realign afterwards

I would prefer if we talked about 'imaging' in this context. 'Cloning' has a special meaning that does not apply here.

You can image the C partition by itself with Windows imaging provided it contains the bootmgr and no system files reside on other partitions. If, however, your bootmgr resides on a seperate active 100MB partition, that will automatically be imaged too. That makes sense because after a restore you need that partition too.

Some 3d party imaging programs align partitions automatically (if you do it right). Here is the Macrium example: Reflect_v5 (look under Advanced Topics). And I believe that Paragon can do that too. Not sure about Windows imaging. Karlsnooks may know.

 

[karlsnooks]

Good point. and Yes, as explained in the article for which I provided a link, Windows 7 correctly handles alignment.