Correct Installation/Restore method for SSD

Hi Tabascosauz,

The Dell DataSafe recovery discs cannot be used to restore the disc image to a smaller hard drive than was originally installed on the system. Really, the nest way to go is a clean install using the installation guide I've linked to below. In fact, I just did this a week ago in my XPS 8100 and the system is running great! 

You'll want to back up your files to an external hard drive, if you are not already doing that (which you should!). Don't forget documents, pictures, music, IE favorites, mail, contacts, etc.

When you reinstall applications, you can choose which applications you want to install on the SSD and which ones you want to install on your hard drive. All of your data files can go on the hard drive. I have a 250GB SSD and have used only 60GB to install Windows 7, MS Office, Quicken and several other apps.

Pretty much got my mind set on the SSD 530 so that's done, but I haven't the dimmest clue on how I'm going to move all my data.

You have the option of "cloning" your partition to the SSD, which would negate the need to reinstall anything. I did this with homebuilt last month with Acronis TrueImage: I backed up the partition I wanted to move over, and then restored it to the new 240gb SSD. I then used the free EasyBCD utility to create a multiboot so that the user could boot from either the SSD or the original hard drive.

TrueImage is normally $40, but sometimes it goes on sale for half that. There doesn't have to be anything nerve-wracking about upgrading to an SSD.

Or you can use Free software like Macrium Reflect

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

HOWEVER you then need to adjust things so that the drive will survive more than a few hours.

Automatic Defrag is a big one.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2727880/en-us

You need to know about SSD hard drives

SSD stands for Solid State Disc or also Solid State Drive and refers to a still relatively young memory technology that is appropriate due to falling hardware prices as an alternative to traditional hard drives. SSD drives are offered in different versions, for example, as a pure Flash or hybrid plates, which combine traditional hard drive with a solid state memory. In many cases, SSD drives offer compared to "old" hard drives with write-read head distinct advantages:

• SSD drives offer better speeds when accessing data, especially at system startup
• SSD drives are quieter than ordinary hard drives
• SSD hard drives require no cooling on the fly
• SSD drives have no mechanical parts such as write head and are therefore more robust
• SSD hard drives consume less power during operation

Currently you can buy SSD hard drives as internal hard drives for desktop PCs and notebooks or as external USB disk.

While you see mostly an available free slot with SATA port in desktops, notebooks are often forced to exchange the existing drive to an SSD drive. However, you must transfer your operating system and your data to the new drive or reinstall. As an alternative we offer SSD USB-stick around for data protection.

No matter which solution you choose, please bear in mind, that you experience the time advantages especially when reading the data - about when you start programs or loading large image or video files. When writing data, SSD disks are so far still not superior to conventional hard disks.

To use the advantages of SSD drives, you should include it best in Windows. This article and the other chapters of this series can help you. Please see the notes in each chapter. Some tips are only useful if you have only one SSD disk in your PC. Other tips can only run if you are using both a traditional and an SSD drive in your PC.



Disable automatic defrag for SSD drives

Windows 7 usually detects SSD disk after this has been installed or connected and integrates it properly. This also includes the detection that some services are disabled, which would restrict the functionality, performance and service life of the drive. First of all, you should check whether the automatic defragmentation is disabled. This is not the case, you should disable the automatic deactivation for the disc manually.

Note: If you disable automatic defragmentation, this applies to all connected drives. If you use conventional hard drives in addition to the SSD drive in your PC, you should manually start the defragmentation on a regular basis for these drives.

HOWEVER you then need to adjust things so that the drive will survive more than a few hours. Automatic Defrag is a big one.

AFAIK Windows 7 will detect SSDs and adjust settings accordingly. I haven't had to do this on any of the several Windows 7-configured SSDs I've set up.

I can't imagine that an Intel SSD would ship without cloning (data migration) software on a CD. If not, such software is available on Intel's web site:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19324

Thanks for all the quick replies, guys.

I now know for a fact that Intel does in fact have a data migration program that can clone the drive.

But I want to put the HDD in Sata 2 and SSD in Sata3; sorry if I sound like a noob, but do i just switch the connectors around? No data loss, nothing? No changes in letter designation for each drive? So I take it that I should put the SSD in, turn off auto-defrag, use Intel's Data Migration wizard, then turn my computer off and re-install the SATA connectors?

Actually, I'm really just considering a clean install now. Should I use the disc that came with the computer? (I never used it I think, because Windows was already on the HDD I think and I just used System Restore that time when my PC wouldn't boot)

But I want to put the HDD in Sata 2 and SSD in Sata3; sorry if I sound like a noob, but do i just switch the connectors around? No data loss, nothing? No changes in letter designation for each drive?

I don't remember having any trouble with doing exactly that.

Acronis TrueImage is on special at Newegg for $20 (including shipping). Use promo code EMCWVTW98 at checkout.