SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

Thanks for the prompt responses.

I am still weighing cloning vs. imaging.

What is the advantage of the Macrium software vs. the Microsoft firmware (e.g. Windows Backup)?

Lady Fitzgerald said:

I don't why people insist on going about this the hard way. Cloning, using Macrium Reflect Free, is a simple, one step process that has never failed me when transferring an HDD with the OS installed on it to an SSD. It also works just fine when transferring from an HDD to another HDD. This the way I do it.

1. Put the new drive (SSD or HDD) into a USB dock and connect it to the computer (if there is room for it, you can temporarily install the new drive inside the computer although there is a bit more work to that).
2. Run Macrium Reflect, setting it to clone the original drive to the one in the dock. You can continue to use the computer during the process or just walk away until the clone is finished.
3. Swap out the original drive with the newly cloned drive and boot up.
4. Correct any partition letters as needed.
5. Use MiniTool Partition Wizard (the free verison works just fine for this) to extend any partitions as needed, if needed.

This way is faster with fewer steps and no intermediary drive is needed to store an image

Although I don't believe it is necessary, it wouldn't hurt to disconnect any other drives until the process is finished. Better safe than sorry.

mjf said:

For transferring to another HDD just:
1) Make a system image using a reliable program like Macrium Reflect (free)
2) Make the Macrium rescue disc
3) Temporarily disconnect other internal drives
4) Connect your new HDD where the original was
5) Boot the Macrium rescue disc and restore the image
6) Check Windows boots
7) Use Windows disc management or Partition Wizard mini tool to extend any unallocated space on the new HDD.
8) Reconnect any other drives

HDDs don't need alignment or trim like SSDs.

Thanks for the prompt responses.

The clone option should work for me.

What is the purpose of temporarily disconnecting other internal HDDs?

If there are errors on the old/original HDD (the one to be cloned), will they be copied to the new/destination HDD?

Also: what is the advantage of the third-party software (e.g. Macrium, Acronis) vs. the Microsoft firmware (e.g. Windows Backup)?

Lady Fitzgerald said:

There is no purpose when cloning. Only the drives/partitions you specify will be cloned over.



Yes.



The third party software can do both cloning and imaging and are far more reliable than Windows Backup, which only does imaging.

Okay, thanks.

After the boot/system HDD has been replaced, how can it be re-purposed? Can it be re-installed in the same PC? If so, can it be used as an alternate/redundant boot/system HDD, or only as an auxiliary (non-boot) HDD?

If any, what is/are the protocol(s) to follow? Can Windows 7 "reject" HDDs, or the data thereon?

(Links/referrals to alternate resources appreciated.)