(Storage) SSD Software

[twlee88]

Im going to install my new SSD tonite. any recommended software that can transfer operating system from hardisk to SSD?

anything to note on this installation?

thanks

 

[Alternative X]

What SSD do you have?

 

[twlee88]

What SSD do you have?

Hi Alternative X =).

Got "SanDisk Extreme PRO 480GB SATA 6.0GB/s 2.5-Inch 7mm Height Solid State Drive (SSD)".

 

[Alternative X]

Darn, Sandisk did not pack a free disk cloning software with their SSD.

Here, read these to get you started. Comes with recommendations for free disk imaging software.

How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows
The Best Disk Cloning App for Windows
11 Top Free Backup Programs to Keep Your Windows Files Safe | Lifehacker UK

Do note that disk imaging can also be used for backups and hence the articles that talks about disk backups will also apply to you as some of the disk backup programs also uses disk cloning to make a image of the HDD.

Alternatively, if you do not mind reinstalling Windows, download the Windows 7 .iso from Microsoft's website and just install it into the SSD and use your license key for activation. Do remember to get a large external drive to help you port over important stuff from your old HDD to your new SSD.

 

[twlee88]

wao. thanks! just a question though, the process is like this?

1) plug in SSD
2) re-install new OS
3) transfer file to SSD
4) format existing hardisk OS

and is there any diff if the game is install in the SSD? faster loading?

 

[Alternative X]

1) Cloning route:

i) Make sure your HDD partion is smaller than SSD capacity. Delete anything not needed to free up space.

ii) Plug in SSD.

iii) Run cloning software.

iv) After cloning is finished, restart and enter BIOS and change boot priority such that the system will boot the SSD first.

v) If bootup in SSD is successful, go to Disk Management in Control Panel and format HDD/partition.

Reinstallation route:

i) Using an external drive, copy over any important files. Download Windows .iso from Microsoft and put the .iso into thumbdrive.

ii) Unplug HDD, plug in SSD.

iii) Install Windows from thumbdrive into SSD.

iv) After installation is successful, plug in HDD and go to BIOS and change boot priority such that the system will boot the SSD first.

v) Format HDD/partition using Disk Management in Control Panel.

2) If games are loaded in the SSD, the game will open up faster and if the game has any in-level loading, the loading will be much faster.

 

[twlee88]

1) Cloning route:

i) Make sure your HDD partion is smaller than SSD capacity. Delete anything not needed to free up space.

ii) Plug in SSD.

iii) Run cloning software.

iv) After cloning is finished, restart and enter BIOS and change boot priority such that the system will boot the SSD first.

v) If bootup in SSD is successful, go to Disk Management in Control Panel and format HDD/partition.

Reinstallation route:

i) Using an external drive, copy over any important files. Download Windows .iso from Microsoft and put the .iso into thumbdrive.

ii) Unplug HDD, plug in SSD.

iii) Install Windows from thumbdrive into SSD.

iv) After installation is successful, plug in HDD and go to BIOS and change boot priority such that the system will boot the SSD first.

v) Format HDD/partition using Disk Management in Control Panel.

2) If games are loaded in the SSD, the game will open up faster and if the game has any in-level loading, the loading will be much faster.

haha! thanks! you are awesome~ thansks!

 

[twlee88]

and does it matter if i plug in in any sata in motherboard?

 

[Alternative X]

and does it matter if i plug in in any sata in motherboard?

Would be better for you to connect the SSD into a SATA 3 6Gb/s slot (One of the light grey SATA slots) for better performance.

Even better idea to use the SATA 3 slot that is provided by the Intel chipset (the light grey SATA slot next to all those black SATA slots) for better reliability. (Because I am not very sure whether is it fine to use a SATA 3 slot provided by the extra ASMedia chip added by Asrock for your OS drive.)

 

[twlee88]

Would be better for you to connect the SSD into a SATA 3 6Gb/s slot (One of the light grey SATA slots) for better performance.

Even better idea to use the SATA 3 slot that is provided by the Intel chipset (the light grey SATA slot next to all those black SATA slots) for better reliability. (Because I am not very sure whether is it fine to use a SATA 3 slot provided by the extra ASMedia chip added by Asrock for your OS drive.)

great info! im connecting it to the light grey SATA 3 (not those beside the black SATA). i have done my cloning. change the boot priorities. but still it boots from HDD (since its 1tb still C drive and cant be formatted)...must have miss out something

 

[Alternative X]

great info! im connecting it to the light grey SATA 3 (not those beside the black SATA). i have done my cloning. change the boot priorities. but still it boots from HDD (since its 1tb still C drive and cant be formatted)...must have miss out something

Wait, try pulling out the HDD from your system and see if the system can boot from the SSD.

 

[twlee88]

Wait, try pulling out the HDD from your system and see if the system can boot from the SSD.

doesnt work. i think its something to do with stupid Acer agn. since the drive have 3 partition (recovery partition, system reserved and OS)..i try clone the C drive to the SSD. but it doesnt boot

mayb i try clone the other partition..see whether it boots

 

[Alternative X]

doesnt work. i think its something to do with stupid Acer agn. since the drive have 3 partition (recovery partition, system reserved and OS)..i try clone the C drive to the SSD. but it doesnt boot

mayb i try clone the other partition..see whether it boots

Why not try to offload any large files into an external drive and shrink down the content of the entire HDD to something slightly less than 480GB and then just clone the entire HDD and all the partitions over? Uninstall any games and backup any save files to reduce the size of the HDD image further.

 

[twlee88]

Why not try to offload any large files into an external drive and shrink down the content of the entire HDD to something slightly less than 480GB and then just clone the entire HDD and all the partitions over? Uninstall any games and backup any save files to reduce the size of the HDD image further.

tried that. i can only shrink the C drive to 465GB where my SSD only have 447GB...still cant clone the entire HDD

 

[twlee88]

and using driveimage XML, i cant clone as the HDD size is bigger than my SSD (tried offload by shrinking the C drive but as per below, maximum shrink > SSD capacity)

by using EaseUS, it shows 3 partitions, i tried clone the C drive but cant boot...now im trying the other partition (system reserve and recovery partition)

 

[Alternative X]

tried that. i can only shrink the C drive to 465GB where my SSD only have 447GB...still cant clone the entire HDD

Just asking though, what stuff do you have in your HDD? Go download and run CCleaner to clear any unnecessary files. Download and run Revo Uninstaller to see if any bloatware can be cleared. No more games/programs to uninstall?

Also, how many external drives/thumbdrives do you have? Can also use your smartphone internal storage and SD card as a last resort.

 

[twlee88]

Just asking though, what stuff do you have in your HDD? Go download and run CCleaner to clear any unnecessary files. No more games/programs to uninstall?

Also, how many external drives/thumbdrives do you have? Can also use your smartphone internal storage and SD card as a last resort.

sorry for being misleading. in actual fact, my C drive is completely empty (left with OS items). its just that when i clone the file to SSD...the computer doesnt recognise it as a boot drive. it will still load the HDD as the operating system.

I unplug the HDD and it cant boot into window..

 

[Alternative X]

sorry for being misleading. in actual fact, my C drive is completely empty (left with OS items). its just that when i clone the file to SSD...the computer doesnt recognise it as a boot drive. it will still load the HDD as the operating system.

I unplug the HDD and it cant boot into window..

Sorry if I am not very clear enough. I meant that as a alternate strategy, focus on also emptying excess stuff on the D drive as well and then just clone the C, D and the hidden system partitions together into the SSD in one shot. (ie. the entire HDD.)

 

[twlee88]

Sorry if I am not very clear enough. I meant that as a alternate strategy, focus on also emptying excess stuff on the D drive as well and then just clone the C, D and the hidden system partitions together into the SSD in one shot. (ie. the entire HDD.)

i gave up. when i unplugged both of my HDD...it cant boot from SSD...guess now i narrow down to the cloning problem. i used easeus. Driveimage XML cant use. any other softwarre?

 

[Alternative X]

A clean install to the SSD using the Windows .iso from Microsoft's website would be easier and painless. Got anything important in the HDD?