Looking to migrate home pc to SSD

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mailmarshall

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#154176 20-Oct-2014 13:25

Hi

Running a home pc (which also serves as a Squeezebox server, iTunes and Plex server) to SSD.

Current:
Operating sys = Win 8.1
1Tb SATA drive

Challenge is that I am only going to buy a 240GB Samsung SSD i.e smaller than the drive in there now. Will this be a problem?

What would be the easiest\cheapest way to "clone" the existing drive?

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#1158459 20-Oct-2014 13:34

Personally I would install the SSD along with the current HDD and then reinstall everything on the SSD so that you have the space and the speed, and you have the benefit of a clean install.

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#1158461 20-Oct-2014 13:35

Long as you dont have more than 240GB of data (inc Windows), no issues, you should be fine.

Clonezilla should be of help - I dont tend to clone systems these days, I just throw in the new drive and set up from scratch and copy over data from the old one as needed.

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freitasm

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#1158599 20-Oct-2014 16:07

Once you install the SSD you should switch from standard SATA drivers to AHCI. I suggest you actually switch AHCI in your BIOS and reinstall the OS so it's aware and start optimising from the go.

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CYaBro

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#1158653 20-Oct-2014 17:18

All the SSD brands I've seen come with a free basic version of Acronis for doing the clone and it can go to a smaller drive as long as all of your data will fit on the smaller SSD.

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PhantomNVD

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#1158683 20-Oct-2014 17:46

freitasm: Once you install the SSD you should switch from standard SATA drivers to AHCI. I suggest you actually switch AHCI in your BIOS and reinstall the OS so it's aware and start optimising from the go.

As stated, AFAIK AHCI also allows windows 'trim' to work, allowing the SSD to do 'wear levelling' when not actively in use?

I remember having issues trying to switch my first SSD install when cloning the original hdd and then not being able to boot after switching on AHCI in the bios.... An SSD is the best upgrade in a modern computer though, so good luck!

richms

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#1158705 20-Oct-2014 18:12

Move all your media off to an external drive and then shrink the os partition as far as you can and then see if that will clone over.

I find a diskparted live Bootable usb is better than windows inbuilt shrink option.

Richard rich.ms

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#1158723 20-Oct-2014 18:39

PhantomNVD:
freitasm: Once you install the SSD you should switch from standard SATA drivers to AHCI. I suggest you actually switch AHCI in your BIOS and reinstall the OS so it's aware and start optimising from the go.

As stated, AFAIK AHCI also allows windows 'trim' to work, allowing the SSD to do 'wear levelling' when not actively in use?

I remember having issues trying to switch my first SSD install when cloning the original hdd and then not being able to boot after switching on AHCI in the bios.... An SSD is the best upgrade in a modern computer though, so good luck!

correct, AHCI will allow Windows to correctly TRIM SSDs.

You can't boot from the original system once you change to aHCI in BIOS because Windows doesn't have the drivers installed. There are plenty of tutorials on how to install the AHCI drivers BEFORE changing the BIOS, then restarting the PC, changing the BIOS, restarting again and Windows will boot just fine.

I still think a fresh install is best.

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mailmarshall

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#1158777 20-Oct-2014 19:41

Thanks guys. Looks like I need to do bit more work understanding this AHCI and TRIM!

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jeffnz

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#1239428 15-Feb-2015 16:39

I have bought an SSD and foiund this thread but would like to know what the down side is of just cloning the current system across without doing a system restore. I suppose I'm being lazy but wouldn't be so hesitant if I had the disc noyt just a restore partition.

I have a Samsung 250gb 850Evo and total on C: drive is 88gb. I have a 2TB external drive which I have copied all my data to so not too worried about data loss.

I'm guessing that by just cloning I'm taking all the problems across with 3 years of downlaoding but have tried to keep it clean and run Norton tools each month in an effort to keep it tidy-ish.

Also if I just clone I should then change the Bios to reflect AHCI?

any thoughts welcomed

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#1239456 15-Feb-2015 17:02

jeffnz: I have bought an SSD and found this thread but would like to know what the down side is of just cloning the current system across without doing a system restore. I suppose I'm being lazy but wouldn't be so hesitant if I had the disc not just a restore partition.

I have a Samsung 250gb 850Evo and total on C: drive is 88gb. I have a 2TB external drive which I have copied all my data to so not too worried about data loss.

I'm guessing that by just cloning I'm taking all the problems across with 3 years of downloading but have tried to keep it clean and run Norton tools each month in an effort to keep it tidy-ish.

Also if I just clone I should then change the Bios to reflect AHCI?

any thoughts welcomed

After 3 years a re-build is overdue.
Do it right, and rebuild on the new drive.

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jeffnz

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#1239461 15-Feb-2015 17:15

Sideface:
jeffnz: I have bought an SSD and found this thread but would like to know what the down side is of just cloning the current system across without doing a system restore. I suppose I'm being lazy but wouldn't be so hesitant if I had the disc not just a restore partition.

I have a Samsung 250gb 850Evo and total on C: drive is 88gb. I have a 2TB external drive which I have copied all my data to so not too worried about data loss.

I'm guessing that by just cloning I'm taking all the problems across with 3 years of downloading but have tried to keep it clean and run Norton tools each month in an effort to keep it tidy-ish.

Also if I just clone I should then change the Bios to reflect AHCI?

any thoughts welcomed

After 3 years a re-build is overdue.
Do it right, and rebuild on the new drive.

thanks wasn't the answer I was hoping for but know you are right.

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kiwigeek1

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#1239497 15-Feb-2015 17:41

cloning drives is never straight forward I find.. drive IDs windows not booting cos of it and other software
stopping cos ID changed..

if can I would install fresh on SSD windows and build it up again and leave the other drive as a 2nd drive
so can move data back of it and use it for the swap drive and temp files for windows.

simplest I found was install ghost 15 on windows but not its not supported and called symantec system restore

backup full to usb drive then install new drive and remove other and boot to the restore dvdrom and use usb drive backup to restore it back

however the drive ids will be identical and need to change the other drive so it dont conflict

also this simple tool and freeware is great dup drives
HDDRawCopy1.10Portable

jeffnz

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#1239500 15-Feb-2015 17:50

kiwigeek1: cloning drives is never straight forward I find.. drive IDs windows not booting cos of it and other software
stopping cos ID changed..

if can I would install fresh on SSD windows and build it up again and leave the other drive as a 2nd drive
so can move data back of it and use it for the swap drive and temp files for windows.

simplest I found was install ghost 15 on windows but not its not supported and called symantec system restore

backup full to usb drive then install new drive and remove other and boot to the restore dvdrom and use usb drive backup to restore it back

however the drive ids will be identical and need to change the other drive so it dont conflict

also this simple tool and freeware is great dup drives
HDDRawCopy1.10Portable

Thanks for info thats great but dumb question, I was going to use the HP restore manager then clone using Samsung migrate software, is that not a good idea

I've backed up to ext drive and have a dvd restore as couldn't do a system backup to usb drive as option wasn't there

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kiwigeek1

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#1239504 15-Feb-2015 17:58

HDD raw copy does a sector by sector copy.. 2nd drive copying to must be bigger though
and copies even bad sectors.. identical copy.
http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-Raw-Copy-Tool/

however you need to boot to BartPE or similar usb stick so the windows is not mounted.

I know this works.. then edit the drive ID on another pc of cloned drive and put on 2nd channel or
usb case.. is what i normally do

this tool is good to back up key thumb drives as well. and dup them to another.

but theres probably lots of different tools and ways to duplicate the drive to a new one.

but I say start from scratch,. fresh install of windows we know how corrupted it gets espc the registry
and if pc ever power off without shut down properly. permission corruption I get all the time
like that. espc now my laptop battery wont charge and power cuts and UPS batteries need servicing lol

try it your way I guess.. take out original drive and put in SSD and see if it boots and works
if not put back old drive and try another method :)

kiwigeek1

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#1239506 15-Feb-2015 18:03

HP restore manager? not sure on that soft.. is it like what you do if windows is corrupted and want it back to store prebuild? normally boot to bios and kick it off and uses the secret partitions of windows preconfiged zips?

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/change-disk-signature.shtml
weird both links go to same page.. just cut and paste in browser
above link on Drive IDs

might come in handy and theres rufus or something can use
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/install-windows-8-usb.htm

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