SSD question

Daestrum

Daestrum

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OK this may sound a noob question but not having installed an SSD before I need some reassurance I haven't wasted my money.

I purchased an SSD kit (a 500GB + all cables + carrier)
My used space on my current system drive is only ~360GB.
The SSD will be in addition to the existing drive.

Now the actual question
Do I just clone the existing drive (C) onto the SSD after it's been fitted and formatted, then change the boot disk in bios?
 
Does that mean I have to resize the partition on C before I clone it ?
 
1614087496433.png

It's partition is half the physical disc.
 
Daestrum said:
Does that mean I have to resize the partition on C before I clone it ?
Click to expand...
From experience, it is best to resize the to be cloned disk to a size smaller than the target SSD drive. If you have Windows 10, this may be as simple as shrinking the partition and it just does the shrinking to a size below the SSD drive. Sometimes, system files (cache, hibernation, synce, etc) may make that process a little bit more complicated (you have to disable a bunch of stuff).
As to cloning, I've had rarely any luck with cloning software that runs directly under Windows. I've had more luck with cloning software that you have to boot from another medium. I've had great luck with Macrium Reflect (the free edition) booting from an USB stick. It also has a menu entry for fixing boot issues after a clone process (now and then, the SSD will not boot due to some boot configuration entries that need to be fixed. This can be done via a recovery USB stick and DOS commands, or just use Macrium Reflects menu entry to do the fix)
 
Daestrum said:
Do I just clone the existing drive (C)
Click to expand...
have look at what Clonezilla provides : read all its instructions and questions carefully : resizing can be part of the process of cloning.

its the one i have used the most in the past.

DonManfred said:
i would install a fresh windows on the SSD
Click to expand...
provided you have all the installation disks / ISOs / keys /; driver files -> etc.
 
A fresh install is the best option. Today, WIN10 installs in 5 Mins on a older I3 or I5 (get it from Microsoft. Home versions are usually free). WIN7 keys work, too (e.g. for the pro versions).
 
Part one of the process completed - windows can see the new drive (even though it's just dangling on its cables lol )
Now to move the OS........
 
Yep. Same for Office 20xx. I bought an used I5/8 GB pc a month ago for 90€ and put a 40€ SSD in it. It came with a licence sticker (WIN7 pro) on it. These keys are good to activate WIN10 pro, too. I did a fresh install via USB stick.

My 6 years old laptop has the 2nd SSD now (I bought a new one to prevent problems) and migrated the SSD via Sandisk tools (now WD). 2nd migration now (hdd with WIN8 to SSD to WIN10 update to 2nd SSD). Never had problems.

A fresh install is (of course) the best way.
 
DonManfred said:
A Full Win 10 PRO Key is around 5,- on Ebay.
Click to expand...
Please note that this type of key may be an enterprise key. Now and then Microsoft catches on and disables them. If you happen to have a newer machine (since Windows 8) that has the key stored in the BIOS, then Win10 seems to happily install on those (doing a fresh install).

This is from personal experience:
Since using Windows 10, I've not had to reinstall to "clean out" a system*, both personally and at my place of employment. Of course, I'm not a user that constantly installs a myriad of software. I have migrated several Win 10 systems from rust platters to SSD's without issues. In the end, this seemed faster to me since I did not have to re-install any other software on the system.

*Not quite true: On a initial system purchase, I may re-install Windows 10 in order to remove any unwanted vendor software. From then on it's smooth sailing.
 
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Think I will go with the install windows onto it. The clone software is too complicated for my old brain.

My key is in bios - I just skip the enter key part.
 
Found an easy to use cloner ( nothing like keep changing my mind on how to copy the system ) a paid for one so hopefully nothing goes wrong.
Luckily if it does go wrong I will still have original disc to boot from just a bios change.

But just in case I backed up my B4X files ( all 11365 of them)
 
Lol gonna take a while analyzing 2.2m files.
 
It just finished cloning the disk and boots up from the new one ok (relieved sigh) 3.5hrs to clone the disk while windows was still running.
 
Thanks all that posted for the tips - really appreciated.
 
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