Imagine Current partitioned HDD to new SSD drive

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StevieT

702 posts

Ultimate Geek

#116554 2-May-2013 14:20

Hi there,

In reference to this thread - http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumId=45&topicId=114233 - I have been receiving messages informing me of my hard drive failing. Hard disk activity is at an all time high, even just opening a new tab in Firefox causes the laptop to 'freeze' for a few minutes.

I have ordered (and should be here tomorrow) this SSD hydrid drive - http://www.wiseguys.co.nz/seagate-st500lm000-500-gb-2-5-internal-hybrid-hard-drive-207141. My current hard drive is 500GB, but split into two drives: C is 178GB in size, with 118GB free (OS / programs reside on this); D is 266GB in size, with 126GB free.

I've seen information such as http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid+state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows.

I was wondering if I created an image of both C and D drives [on an external HDD] (but there is also SYSTEM which is 100.00MB in size, with 58.94MB free; and SAMSUNG_REC which is 20.28GB in size, and 726.40MB is free), would:

1. The imaging of both C and D include those SYSTEM and SAMSUNG_REC items?

2. If I boot, with the new drive installed, with my Windows 8 Pro install disc, and follow the instructions under 'To restore using a Windows installation disc or a system repair disc' in this link - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows7/restore-your-computer-from-a-system-image-backup

But, because the new drive would not be partitioned, plus their would be no OS on it yet, if I encounter the username and password section of booting Windows into recovery mode, what would I action to undertake the task?

Or could I follow the steps outlined in http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid+state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows, but somehow in command prompt (opened in recovery options via boot disc) migrate all clones to the new hard drive, and at the same time set up the partitions with the same sizes as my current HDD?

Many thanks for any guidance in this,
Stevie

macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#810182 2-May-2013 14:25

Ah just a FYI from my experience.

With Windows Image recovery, if your HDD was bigger than your new SSD (in total volume not just used space) you will be unable to move your HDD image to your SSD

I had a big plan to move from my 750GB HDD to a 512GB SSD...still had plenty of unused space but since the SSD was smaller it just wouldn't work.

geocom

594 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#810209 2-May-2013 14:47

Not had much experience with windows but I have done this on a mac with no issues.

If it was me I would not copy everything over take the time and install a fresh copy of windows onto the new drive and set it up again. Anytime you do this you remove most if not all of the issues you where having before.

It will take time but you will be far happier than taking the quick route.

Also you do know that the hybrid drives only have like 8GB of them are SSD and the hard drive dictates what goes where so the speed increases will be small as most of your data will still be pulled from the hard drive.

Best way is to buy a SSD even a 60gb one is better and install that. If you need more space then you would need to install a second drive depending on the laptop you should be able to install one in the CD drive bay if you don't use it very often.

Geoff E

sidefx

3716 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#810218 2-May-2013 15:03

I'm afraid I can't recall all the details, but I think I used EaseUS backup to do something somewhat similar a while back with very little pain...

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networkn

Networkn
32369 posts

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#810219 2-May-2013 15:03

Use something like Paragon Softwares offering and it will let you resize, and take care of the whole thing with wizards. It's fantastic.

bagheera

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#810226 2-May-2013 15:10

personal if the HDD is that bad i would not trust the OS on it - i would backup and data you want to keep ASAP before HDD dies, and start again with a fresh install of OS on the SSD and copy back the data you want to keep, but remember that the data may have been corrupted by the dying HDD

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#810932 3-May-2013 16:57

norton ghost used to to do this sort of thing with ntfs.

It would take all the partitions, and resize them proportionally, as long as there was enough free space total across the whole drive for the data of all partitions.

I havent tried this with windows 8 but it might still work. Surely other leading software like paragon can do this now.

StevieT

702 posts

Ultimate Geek

#811071 4-May-2013 04:00

Did a system image, installed the new HDD and booted from repair disc. Image restored, and hard disk showing as 'Good' as per this program: http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html

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MadEngineer

4305 posts

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#814096 8-May-2013 23:24

Seeing that you're getting yourself a seagate drive, use the seagate disc wizard to transfer to the new drive. It works mint, have used it plenty of times myself and even copes ok with failing drives.

You're going to love that sshd drive btw. I'm doing that drive as an upgrade and the difference it makes to old machines is amazing. Just be sure to update your chipset drivers beforehand, especially if you have "intel rapid storage".

Edit: doh, didn't read that you've already done it :)

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