Solved Replacing the hard drive with an SSD - easy?

[Windows7Trainee]

Got an 128 GB SSD last night.

Did a backup on the hard drive.

Need to revisit the instructions, but it's install the SSD, put the boot CD in, plug the old hard drive in an USB port and let the process go.

That easy?

Will Microsoft be asking for activation on Win 7 and/or Office?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If it's a brand new unused drive, it is painless.

I assume you have a Windows install disc and want to put Windows on the SSD? If so, boot from the install disc.

Be sure to UNPLUG all other drives before you start.

You'll re-install all programs. You will have to activate Windows, but I don't recall any such thing for Office.

 

[Kipper]

Easy beans

If you have an OEM copy of Win7 MS could ask you to call in to activate; its an automated call takes only a couple minutes and painless. If its a retail copy it should activate perfectly as long as you have the key number.

Office should be the same if its OEM as Win7 OEM.

 

[revmike]

I replaced a 32gb ssd with a 228gb one in my hp slate 500. All I did was to boot from the system repair disk that I created and then restore from a image and all was as before including my programs and files.

 

[Windows7Trainee]

I assume you have a Windows install disc and want to put Windows on the SSD? If so, boot from the install disc.

The notebook did not come with an install disk...is that something I burn one myself?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What are your intentions?

1: "Transfer" your existing installation to the SSD?

or

2: Do a fresh install to the SSD and then reinstall all of your programs

or ????

Do you have an external hard drive of any type?

Did you get any disks at all with the notebook?

Describe your intentions as best you can.

 

[badger906]

you can buy an insulation disk for relativity low amounts of money, and use the CD key on the bottom of your notebook. or.. if you have a friend borrow theirs (no implying you dont have friends lol... just not everyones a computer person)

 

[Windows7Trainee]

What are your intentions?

1: "Transfer" your existing installation to the SSD?

or

2: Do a fresh install to the SSD and then reinstall all of your programs

or ????

Do you have an external hard drive of any type?

Did you get any disks at all with the notebook?

Describe your intentions as best you can.

I want to transfer (clone if that's accurate) the OS and data off my hard drive to the SSD.

Got a USB hard drive with 340 GB free - plenty

No disks came with the notebook.

I have 1-2 insulation disks. What I think the SSD kit wants me to do is go ahead and swap the hard drive with the SSD, boot with their CD, with my old hard drive in an insulation pack plugged in a USB port, and apparently will clone my data to the SSD.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I assume you bought a retail package SSD that included those installation discs you refer to?

If that is right, I would go ahead and attempt to use it per their instructions.

If it fails, there are other methods---namely "imaging"---which is a transfer of a certain type. Or a "clean install", which is a brand new installation and would force you to reinstall all of your programs.

If you have to use "imaging", that would require the use of your external USB---that's why I asked.

What brand and model SSD did you get?

I'd go ahead per the instructions in the box.

First, be SURE be SURE to back up your personal data. You never know what will happen and should be prepared to land in the toilet.

 

[Windows7Trainee]

^ Yes, to the 1st question - it has an installation disk

It's a 128 GB Kingston

 

[ignatzatsonic]

OK;

I assume your notebook will only accept 1 hard drive and that you can fit all Windows and all of your data on that 128 GB space?

If so, rock on and follow the instructions. I assume the application on the included disk will do a true "clone", which is a method of transfer that does NOT include an image file, like the imaging method uses.

Good luck.

 

[Windows7Trainee]

^ Yes, it can take only one hard drive, and I'll be attempting to clone 76 GB onto the 128 GB SSD.

 

[Windows7Trainee]

I now have the SSD installed, running and all the software running.

The kit had me to remove the hard drive, replace it with the SSD, put the hard drive in an installation case plugged into the USB port, have the notebook boot from the disk provided by the SSD manufacture, then it cloned it in about an hour.

I'd rather been nervous for nothing than be caviler and get burned. The main thing was to make sure my data was smaller than the new SSD.

 

[whs]

I would check whether the SSD is properly aligned (see under "Verification"): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S