Installing OS to SSD from Scratch

[bigmck]

There have been a lot of threads about migrating an OS to a SSD, but I have not seen anything about doing a clean install to an SSD. Other than changing to AHCI, is anything else required? Do I have to do anything that Paragon Migrate did or is that unnecessary since it it a clean install. Thanks, == Let me explain further. I was going to use Paragon Migrate to transfer to my new SSD. My motherboard died before I could do that. If I install Win 7 staight to the SSD and get it going, then restore my Macrium Reflect image, I should be in shape to go. Is that correct?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jim,

Nope, nothing else is needed other than to make sure that you are using AHCI in BIOS before starting the clean install of Windows 7 just as you normally would on a HDD.

 

[bigmck]

Hello Jim,

Nope, nothing else is needed other than to make sure that you are using AHCI in BIOS before starting the clean install of Windows 7 just as you normally would on a HDD.

Brink -- I added something to my message after you made your post I believe. See if you are still in agreement with my procedure. Thanks,

 

[kegobeer]

Are you restoring a complete image, made from a system with a standard hard drive?

 

[bigmck]

Are you restoring a complete image, made from a system with a standard hard drive?

What has happened is that I purchased a SSD. Before I could do the Paragon OS Migrate to SSD, my motherboard died. I thought it might be easier to install Win 7 on the SSD, get my PC going then use Macrium Restore to get my files from the HDD to the SSD. Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[kegobeer]

Yes.

 

[Brink]

 

[bigmck]

Thanks to both of you for your help.

 

[Brink]

Anytime Jim. Please let us know how it goes.

 

[essenbe]

Won't resrtoring a Macrium image contain all of the old motherboard drivers? That could cause problems down the road. But, doing a clean install is no problem, as has been said, the installer will do everything needed.

 

[bigmck]

Thanks essenbe for bringing that up. The main thing I am trying to save is my email contact list. I guess I will be forced to do a clean install, restore with Macrium, export my email lists and then do a clean install again. I don't know of any other way to save them. == I have a question here. When I do the clean install on the SSD, I will unplug all HDD drives. When I plug back in the HDD and reboot to my SSD, will I need to do anything to make the old OS drive non active or does it do that by itself? I will be very soon be formatting the OS partition of the HDD. Thanks, == PS - If anyone knows of a way to solve the problem of the old motherboard drivers being loaded from Macrium so I don't have to do a Clean Install twice, please point that out.

 

[essenbe]

As far as your emails and contacts, you can back them up to another drive, then import them when you set up your new email program. When you reconnect your hard drive, I assume you are going to want to use it for storage. You can wipe it or just delete the partition and create another. when you create another partition, it will not be active unless you make it that way.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/200318-windows-live-mail-export-import-contacts.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/116162-windows-live-mail-export-import-email-messages.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/115976-windows-live-mail-export-import-email-accounts.html

 

[bigmck]

When the new motherboard is in, I can't just plug in the HDD with the OS / Programs and it will run. If that were possible I could just export the email contacts and then do a clean install on the SSD.

 

[DavidE]

What is the MB chipset in the old and new motherboards?

If the MB chipset is the same in both boards, the HD OS from the old MB may work without (many) issues with the new MB.

 

[essenbe]

It may or may not work. But it does not cost anything to try it.

 

[jeepmann4x4]

I may be wrong, but why can't you just clean install the SSD get it up and running. Then just shut down, plug in your HDD and boot up (make sure u boot from SSD) and just access the HDD and get your files off of it. You may need to give it a different drive letter.

 

[bigmck]

Thanks for all of your help. Having the MB go out was not in my plans. Even though I made my Macrium Image, in this case it just does not help. Thanks,

 

[essenbe]

If I am not mistaken, you can mount your image and copy files from it. WHS and Kado would be the ones who know, but I believe that is possible.

 

[essenbe]

It won't hurt to try to boot up with your original OS drive. If it will boot, run sysprep following the tutorial, then install all of your new motherboard drivers. The tutorial gives good step by step instructions. It would normally be done as the last thing on the old motherboard, but since that is impossible, try to boot up your old OS and run Sysprep if you can, then shut down and restart. the tutorial will give very good instructions and the process works very well.

 

[whs]

Hi Jim, sure you can mount the Macrium image and recover any file from it. Just double click on the image and go thru the prompts. Then go to Computer and double click on the mounted VHD. Take it from there.