I want to clean up OS HDD for transfer to SSD

[JohnnyScience]

I currently have a 500g HDD that my OS & programs reside on and some how it's taking up around 157g worth of space.

How much does Win 7 64 itself take up, less than 70g right?

I'd really like to clean this up for when I move it to the SSD. But I'd like to do it based on how big the programs are. I tried looking in Programs New/Delete but it really didn't list every programs disk space.

Is there any way to do this?

Also should I disk de-frag the HDD before transfer to SSD? I also believe that this particular HDD is starting to go & makes noise upon start up. I also ran some test before (sorry not sure which) that scanned the HDD's & this one came up with a less than perfect rating. When I make the transfer to the SSD, do these errors also transfer with it? Also when I make Paragon backups, are these HDD disks recorded?

All media resides on a separate 1tb HDD

Thinking of getting a 250g Samsung 840 EVO

 

[michaelst]

I've used this little program since 2003. It's very helpful for researching the size of folders and apps. It;s free to use for 30 days, then it's only $19. I find it an invaluable tool.

DISKdata

 

[kbrady1979]

A full install of Windows Seven Pro is about 17-20GB, add updates and drivers you are looking at less than 30GB total. Personally, I would do a fresh install of windows on your SSD and keep your User data on the 1TB drive like you are doing now. It takes about 12 minutes using a USB stick to install windows and you are on the desktop.......really quick and easy. That way, windows can set the OS up FOR the SSD and you won't have to go back and change settings that are turned off/on for a normal HDD. I know many people don't want to have to reinstall all of their programs, but when using an SSD, it's significantly faster. Also, there is probably a bunch of junk on there that you won't even need to reinstall......that's what I've experienced anyway. To help with the initial setup, go here and get the programs you need: Ninite. Using Ninite, you get the programs you need, ALL in one installer file, and it blocks the third party applications that try to install with the program.........and it can be used to update all of those programs! I run my Ninite installer application about once a month to get updates for all the programs I've installed through it. Just that alone cuts 2-3 hours off initial installation and setup.

The Samsung 840 Pro/Evo SSD's are probably the best on the market. If you've never had the chance to work on a machine with an SSD, prepare to be blown away!

 

[essenbe]

I agree with Kbrady, a clean install is the best way to go. A clean install is not as bad a people make it out to be if you prepare for it. I am not aware of Nanite, if it works that well, I may have to check it out. But, I download all my drivers from the motherboard makers/manufacturer's web site to a USB drive. I get all my installer programs, disks and activation keys and put them on the/a USB drive also. I do the install from a USB drive. It is like Kelly says, very quick from a USB drive on an SSD. Once on the desktop, I install all the drivers, then Windows Updates then start installing programs. Windows will take about 17 GB, I install Windows and Programs to the SSD. Everything else to a spinner. It can be pretty painless if you prepare for it.

When you do the install, make sure your bios sata controller is set to AHCI mode, disconnect all drives except the SSD, have the data cable to the SSD in port 0 or 1 on the motherboard. Do the install. After the install is done, shut down and reconnect the other drives. You can change the letters, if you want in disk management, or leave them as they are. Any way you want it.

 

[whs]

I agree too. No need to mess around. The HDD you can clean-up afterwards. If you post a picture of your current Disk Management, we could make some suggestions.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Hmm, I do understand the point of installing a new copy on a clean SSD, but I have done so much customization & hacks/cracks on various programs & things on my computer over the last 4+ years that I don't think I could ever re-create it with out spending days & days & weeks worth of time back to back.

I have never used an SSD, so I am really interested in seeing the speed increase.

If windows only needs 30gb, I could almost just get the 120gb Samsung EVO, but I might as well get the 250g because once I get all of the programs on I want, I don't want any slow down or full drive errors like I've had in the past.

Say I just wanted to clean up my current HDD, is there a program that allows me to see absolutely EVERYTHING on it and how much said program is actually taking up on the disk?

 

[whs]

That program is: http://windirstat.info/ It gives you a nice colored picture of all the files (plus the text lines).

But if your OS installation is 4 years old, I would seriously consider a new install. It probably has accumulated so much junk that it is slow.

For a transfer, see this tutorial. In there is a link for the Paragon Migration Toll. It does the job with 3 clicks and never fails. But it costs $19.95.

 

[Comp Cmndo]

Hmm, I do understand the point of installing a new copy on a clean SSD, but I have done so much customization & hacks/cracks on various programs & things on my computer over the last 4+ years that I don't think I could ever re-create it with out spending days & days & weeks worth of time back to back.

I have never used an SSD, so I am really interested in seeing the speed increase.

If windows only needs 30gb, I could almost just get the 120gb Samsung EVO, but I might as well get the 250g because once I get all of the programs on I want, I don't want any slow down or full drive errors like I've had in the past.

Say I just wanted to clean up my current HDD, is there a program that allows me to see absolutely EVERYTHING on it and how much said program is actually taking up on the disk?

You don't need to do a fresh install. I just converted my laptop to the Samsung EVO 120GB about a month ago. Win7-64 plus installed programs is about 30GB. Since I create Macrium Reflect images on a regular basis, I used that to restore the image to the SSD. When completed, install the Samsung Magician to optimize the drive & update the firmware (if necessary).

Boot time is now about 1 minute.

 

[whs]

Boot time is now about 1 minute.

If your boot time from a SSD is 1 minute, something is wrong. It should be at most 20 seconds.

 

[JohnnyScience]

That program is: http://windirstat.info/ It gives you a nice colored picture of all the files (plus the text lines).

But if your OS installation is 4 years old, I would seriously consider a new install. It probably has accumulated so much junk that it is slow.

For a transfer, see this tutorial. In there is a link for the Paragon Migration Toll. It does the job with 3 clicks and never fails. But it costs $19.95.

Well I really do want a super fast experience & I'm sure there is a lot of bloatware on my computer at this point so I would like to clean it up.

But I am really starting to get sold on the whole new-clean install idea.

I have Paragon Backup, is the Migration Tool included in it do you know?

With the Paragon Migration Tool, can I just select certain products for it to transfer, allowing me to only take what I want/need?

 

[Comp Cmndo]

Boot time is now about 1 minute.

If your boot time from a SSD is 1 minute, something is wrong. It should be at most 20 seconds.

It was 2 minutes before.

 

[whs]

With the Paragon Migration Tool, can I just select certain products for it to transfer, allowing me to only take what I want/need?

If I remember right, you can select files and folders, but not products by name. But why don't you clean it up before you migrate. That's a better solution.

 

[JohnnyScience]

That program is: http://windirstat.info/ It gives you a nice colored picture of all the files (plus the text lines).

But if your OS installation is 4 years old, I would seriously consider a new install. It probably has accumulated so much junk that it is slow.

For a transfer, see this tutorial. In there is a link for the Paragon Migration Toll. It does the job with 3 clicks and never fails. But it costs $19.95.

In my Paragon Backup & Recovery I have a "File Transfer" option, is that the same as the Migration Tool or would the Migration tool work even better in this case?

 

[Comp Cmndo]

...In my Paragon Backup & Recovery I have a "File Transfer" option, is that the same as the Migration Tool or would the Migration tool work even better in this case?

I would say "No" to File Transfer option.
Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview
You want to perform a Complete Backup from the old drive to your backup media. Then perform a Complete Restore from your backup media to the new SSD.

 

[essenbe]

The only problem with that is most backup and restore media do not provide the proper alignment of the SSD. Paragon Migrate does. It will transfer the OS and programs, format and align the SSD in about 20 minutes. I own it and have used it at least 100 times. It has never failed once. What the OP wants to do is what the software was designed to do. But, I believe you are correct on the file transfer part of the Backup and recovery. It is not the same as Paragon Migrate.

 

[whs]

Steve is absolutely right. You need to watch the SSD alignment. If you do not use the Paragon Tool, you must make a predefined, aligned, primary partition into which to restore. Best with Command Prompt.

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your SSD in List disk)
Clean
Create partition primary align=1024
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active
Exit

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok just for the record I have agreed to install a new & fresh copy of Win7 64 on this SSD since that will be optimal for performance (which is the #1 thing I'm shooting for here) & hopefully just migrate a few certain programs over from my HDD to the SSD - is that what the Paragon Migrate will do for me? And hopefully in an easy manner by just allowing me to select the program by name & it will handle transfer of all proper files making it very plug & play easy?

Or is it going to make a copy of the entire OS & migrate that along with all of the programs? Which is NOT what I want to do now, but was my original idea in this thread.

 

[whs]

is that what the Paragon Migrate will do for me? And hopefully in an easy manner by just allowing me to select the program by name

That is not the way to do it. If you do not want to transfer certain programs, uninstall them on the HDD-OS. Use the free version of the Revo uninstaller (advanced option). Then you get all registry entries and files of that program removed.

Also, if you don't use hibernation, get rid of the hiberfile. The command is:

powercfg -h off

And reduce the pagefile to 2GBs.