Advice Going from HDD to SSD, ghosting install?

[old.user4556]

Gents,

I've got plans for an upgrade in the new year, but I want to go from my existing setup to an SSD without changing my setup or installing everything from scratch.

Something like this:

- 1 TB HDD (porn, warez, music, applications, photography, windows)

to this:

- 128 GB SSD (windows, applications)
- existing 1TB HDD (music, photography, porn)

Basically what I want to do is get a quick 128GB SSD and "ghost" my existing install over to that disk so that I can essentially plug it in and start using it right away.

How the feck do I do this?

 

[Deebs]

That is exactly what I am about to do

I shall use Acronis to copy my boot partition to the ssd, then mark that as active, mark the original boot partition as non-bootable and then away I go. I'll let you know how I get on but bear in mind the SSD has been sat on my desk for around 3 weeks so far !

 

[dysfunction]

I don't think it's a good idea. I think an SSD operates a bit different to a regular HDD so you are better off doing a proper install of the operating system.

 

[Deebs]

You do not need to do a proper install. I've done it twice at work going from HDD to SSD without any issues whatsoever.

 

[old.user4556]

I don't think it's a good idea. I think an SSD operates a bit different to a regular HDD so you are better off doing a proper install of the operating system.

That's certainly not what I've been reading around the web.

 

[old.user4556]

That is exactly what I am about to do

I shall use Acronis to copy my boot partition to the ssd, then mark that as active, mark the original boot partition as non-bootable and then away I go. I'll let you know how I get on but bear in mind the SSD has been sat on my desk for around 3 weeks so far !

Acronis seems to be the tool that everyone is recommending to do this - let me know how you get on Deebs and on any pitfalls.

 

[Kryten]

If you must then do use Acronis. I still recommend a proper full install though - it takes minutes on an SSD from a USB drive.

 

[Deebs]

If you must then do use Acronis. I still recommend a proper full install though - it takes minutes on an SSD from a USB drive.

It well might for just the OS install, what about the applications?

 

[Cyradix]

Don't know if windows will detect it's on a SSD after the ghost so make sure defrag is disabled for the SSD and TRIM is enabled.
Should be fine after that...

 

[soze]

Don't know if windows will detect it's on a SSD after the ghost so make sure defrag is disabled for the SSD and TRIM is enabled.
Should be fine after that...

This is a very difficult one to button down. We have spoken to Crucial at work and asked them and they were not allowed to recommend a full install because they sell transfer kits. They also could not tell us if Windows optimizes itself on the fly.

So I would do a clean install unless you have apps you can not install again. Windows Easy Transfer to a USB Disk then clean install and a Easy Transfer back to keep all your settings.

 

[Kryten]

I suspect if you have windows 7 with SP1 then yes it detects an SSD and sorts itself out accordingly.

Personally I find any chance to get rid of the myriad of shit and unused apps a good one

 

[old.user4556]

My copy of Windows 7 is OEM though, could there be issues with it being activated again? I've heard mixed anecdotal stories about MS being cool with that.

 

[Syri]

My copy of Windows 7 is OEM though, could there be issues with it being activated again? I've heard mixed anecdotal stories about MS being cool with that.

If you do the telephone activation, it should be fine. Online might be ok, I'm not sure though as I don't know if it does some kind of hardware snapshot when it activates to see if it's still on the same pc or something. If it does, then it should be fine, but the telephone one should work regardless. This is coming from Microsoft's support centre no less, as I had to switch a license for the family pack when my Mum's laptop got exchanged for a fault.

 

[old.Osy]

One step i missed was to connect the SSD to the computer _before_ starting the cloning process. This is to allow Windows to properly recognize and install needed drivers.

So be wary of that, otherwise it's a painless process. Acronis clone, slap on SSD, mark as active, make sure the old one is not, off you go.