Solved SSD Upgrade Advice Needed?.

[bluesjunior]

I have been reading some very good reviews of the Samsung SSD in the link Samsung 850 EVO 120GB 2.5inch SSD - Ebuyer but am unsure if it is compatible with my Win7 64bit PC. The existing hard drive is a 465GB Samsung HD502HJ ATA Device (SATA) if this helps. Sorry for the bother but I am a pensioner who never grew up with modern tech like younger people. Any advice much appreciated.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hiyya blues I can confirm the Samsung is an excellent drive have 5 myself.

If you intend cloning the existing drive to the SSD then it will have to be the same size as it. There are way of cloning partitions but I am guessing you only want the OS to boot from the SSD and use the spinner for data.

Otherwise you are going to do a clean install onto the SSD all over if so you will need to unplug all other hard drives before you do that http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html plus I am presuming you have the original install media if not there is another way of doing that but we shall let you know what that is if that is the case.

By the by I am in your age group too

 

[bluesjunior]

That's correct I will just use the SSD to hold the OS and my programs etc. So it will be a clean reinstall of Windows7. I will then use the existing HDD for storage only as I do at present with my Buffalo 1TB external hard drive. As far as I can see the SSD in the link is just the bare box, can you tell me what accessories I may need for it to function in my 3.5" desktop?. Thanks again.

 

[hungry jack]

You will need a SATA to USB adapter. I bought a Apricorn Notebook Drive Upgrade Kit. It works for desktops too. It comes with software to clone your old HHD to it, but you would have move all your files, pictures, videos, etc. to have enough room to fit you OS & programs on the SSD. You could move all yor data to your external drive, but make sure its there before you delete it off your current HHD. Use Windows explorer to check the size of your data before you move it, subtract that amount from your used space & see if your HHD would fit on your SSD. If it will, copy it to your external drive, make sure its there, then delete it from your HHD & check the size of your used HHD space to make sure it will fit on your SSD; if it will, you can use the cloning software that comes with the SSD or the software that comes with the adapter. When you're done you can copy your data back to your HHD. I would leave all your data on your external HHD in case you have to do it again, like I had to, but I had already put it back on my HHD & deleted it from my external HHD. I had to copy it back to the external, delete it from my HHD, and clone again; time consuming! Hope that helps, I just finished doing it myself. hungry jack

 

[maxie]

I know money is tight being a Pensioner ... But for a little extra would be worth it ...


SAMSUNG 850 Evo 2.5" Internal SSD - 250 GB Deals | PC World

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums
64 bit makes no difference so yes it's compatible
As far as accessories
BYTECC Bracket-35225 2.5 Inch HDD/SSD Mounting Kit For 3.5" Drive Bay or Enclosure - Newegg.com
The actual ssd are pretty darn good and will speed up your machine quite a bit
SAMSUNG 850 EVO MZ-75E250B/AM 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - Newegg.com

The bracket it's self is pretty optional you can also use tape or Velcro to hold it in place ssd's do not produce any heat like hdd's do
Well worth the investment it is the best upgrade for any machine young and old

The one you posted is very small compared to the hdd you have now,
This one is comparable size,
Samsung 850 EVO 500GB 2.5inch SSD - Ebuyer

 

[hungry jack]

SSD upgrade advice

This is hungry jack again. I'm new to forums & a retired old guy. I forgot some important info in my first post. You will need a USB to SATA adapter IF you are cloning your old drive to the SSD & then when you're done turn off ypou PC, install the SSD, boot your PC & go into BIOS & set your SSD as your 1st boot priority. It will then boot from the SSD. If you're NOT cloning, but doing a clean install of OS you don't need the adapter, just mount the SSD the go into BIOS & set the SSD as 1st boot, insert your OS CD into the CD drive & boot up.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Another two cents worth this is a pic of that adaptor that Jack mentioned I use it all the time and they are not expensive and Macrium to clone / whatever and Partition Wizard for manipulating the drives
Macrium Reflect Free & Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

both free and brilliant I keep them on my taskbar I use them so much.

 

[bluesjunior]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have a 1TB external drive which has enough room left on it to hold all my stuff from the 500GB HDD. So I intend to move it there in the interim prior to SSD installation, then I will delete everything from the HDD, unplug both internal and external HDD's install the SSD, set the bios stuff and do a clean Win7 OS install. I will be using my original Windows Home Premier disk but does anyone know if there is a way round about having to reinstall the 4yrs or so of Win& updates etc?.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I take it the install disk doesn't have sp1 on it ?
If it does it's not all that bad just install Important updates Only.
Review the optional and recommended ones just for drivers... you need
View attachment 369921

 

[bluesjunior]

The SSD finally arrived today from Ebuyer but there is no cable in the pack, just the 3.5-2.5 mounting bracket along with the SSD and an installation disc. On the back of the SSD are a 15pin and 7pin socket. Excuse my stupidity but what kind of cable do I need here?.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Nippon Labs SATA3-1.5FT-SL 18" 6.0Gbit/s SATA-III Cable Silver - Newegg.com

If it's a standard SSD, you'd need something like the above link. This is for the 7 pin port.

It's an ordinary "Sata data cable". You may as well get the Sata III version, which should be backward compatible with Sata II.

They come in various lengths and colors.

That's for the data you'll put on the SSD.

You need another cable to connect to the other port on the SSD. That connects to your power supply. The cable for that should be included with your power supply. Quite possibly you'd use the same cable you used for your standard hard drive.

So, you should only have to buy 1 cable: the data cable.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Are you replacing an existing drive with this ssd ?
You don't need anything the exist hdd has the cables.
If the top is true all you need to do is transfer the existing install or install it clean on the new ssd which what I would do it doesn't transfer all of the crap from the other install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[ThrashZone]

 

[ThrashZone]

 

[spike999]

.....
If you intend cloning the existing drive to the SSD then it will have to be the same size as it. There are way of cloning partitions but I am guessing you only want the OS to boot from the SSD and use the spinner for data......

I have had good luck using XXClone. It does NOT care about drive size. If there's enough room for the data, you're good. And it's free!!!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I have had good luck using XXClone. It does NOT care about drive size. If there's enough room for the data, you're good. And it's free!!!

Hmm might have a look at that spike because although doing it partition by partition with Macrium it is fiddly

 

[bluesjunior]

Thanks again for all the help, much appreciated.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Kirk I am just interested in what price that drive is because I think the Samsungs are better and they are not that expensive out here at least.