Moving data to a new SSD

[ROBO731]

I am planning on getting a 256 GB Samsung 840 pro SSD, but I have some questions first. I plan on using it for my OS and my programs and games. How would I move that to the SSD? Is there anything else that would see a speed increase if moved to the drive? What would my libraries (videos, pictures, music) be like if my media was stored on my HDD? Is there anything else I should know before I buy one? Thanks in advance.

 

[bigmck]

I am planning on getting a 256 GB Samsung 840 pro SSD, but I have some questions first. I plan on using it for my OS and my programs and games. How would I move that to the SSD? Is there anything else that would see a speed increase if moved to the drive? What would my libraries (videos, pictures, music) be like if my media was stored on my HDD? Is there anything else I should know before I buy one? Thanks in advance.

Getting an SSD is a very good move. It speeds things up so much. As you said, you want to put your OS and programs on the SSD. Pictures, music, etc and such can be put on a HDD. Here is your tutorial for the switch to the SSD http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html You will see two methods in the tutorial of moving files. One is the Geeky method which requires a lot of steps. The other is the easy way which requires you spending $19.95 If you can spare the $20, do it that way. If at all possible do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html and reinstall your programs. It is always best to start with a Clean Install when possible.

 

[Cr00zng]

The easiest way moving your OS, programs, etc., on your "C" drive is create an image and restore it to the SSD drive. As long as the "C" drive is equal, or less in size than the SSD, it'll work. You can use Windows backup, or Macrium Reflect for creating the image. Other partions can be imaged as well and restored on a new drive. I've just done that on a laptop and it has no issues, it didn't even ask for reactivating Windows.

The boot sector size for the SSD needs to be certain size, the HDD does not have this requirement. When the image from the HDD is restored to an SSD, Windows is smart enough to adjust the boot sector size for the SSD since Vista.

It is also possible that Windows always installs itself based on the SSD requirements. Pick your take...

 

[Britton30]

Install w7 to the SSD, a clean install, and use this tutorial to move Users to a separate HDD after.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location.html

 

[ROBO731]

Thanks everyone. I think I will just transfer to the ssd since there's a tutorial on it. i read through the tutorial, but I'm a little confused. Hopefully all will go well when the time comes. Will the steps in this tutorial lead me to moving my pictures, documents, videos, and music to the ssd as well? My video's folder alone is too large to be moved to the ssd.

 

[essenbe]

Thanks everyone. I think I will just transfer to the ssd since there's a tutorial on it. i read through the tutorial, but I'm a little confused. Hopefully all will go well when the time comes. Will the steps in this tutorial lead me to moving my pictures, documents, videos, and music to the ssd as well? My video's folder alone is too large to be moved to the ssd.

Just use the tutorial linked by Britton30 to move the user folders to the hard drive. That's what most of us do, and you will notice no difference except the location.

 

[ROBO731]

That's what I plan on doing. I think I was just a little confused. I'll give it a try when I get my SSD.

 

[ROBO731]

Would games even benefit from being moved to the SSD?

 

[essenbe]

Would games even benefit from being moved to the SSD?

Only start up time. They will load faster but will not run any faster. The in game performance will be the same as a mechanical hard drive.

 

[ROBO731]

Okay, thanks. I figured.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

the same applies to movies and music.
For both a HDD is fast enough (yeah, even HD or ripped blurays) for playback, but from a SSD they start faster. Not something you'll pull your hairs off, as that's the same speed you are accustomed to (probably still faster as the media player is a program and as such it will be on the SSD, thus will load itself faster).

 

[ROBO731]

Thanks.