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Cloning original HDD to new SSD

post #1 of 7
12/6/10 at 11:33pm
Thread Starter 
I just installed a new SSD and formatted it with a single partition. I'd like to move (clone) my original HDD and make the new SSD my boot disk with the OS and programs installed. But I'm not exactly sure how to do this.

Disk 1 (the original HDD) has 3 partitions:

1 - DellUtility 39.1MB Capacity, 8.99 Used
2 - RECOVERY 750MB Capacity, 203.27 MB Used
3 - OS (C 464.989 GB Capacity, 16.96 GB Used

Disk 2 (the new SSD) has 1 partition:

1 - SSD Drive (D 119.24 GB Capacity, 89.48 MB Used

I installed Macrium Reflect Free to handle the cloning but I'm now confused as to what to do.

I'm not sure how to handle the 3 paritions on Disk 1 versus the single partition of Disk 2.

I know I need to make the SSD Drive the boot drive in BIOS, but do I also change the driver letters so the SSD is the C drive and the old HDD the D drive?

Do I reformat/re-partition the HDD after the cloning process?

Macrium seems to create a file which then is used to restore. So do I just save the image as a file on the HDD and then restore it to the SSD?

I've searched around (not just here) but can't find any clear answers and would really appreciate some guidance.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 7
12/6/10 at 11:41pm
While it is doable to clone your hard drive content to your SSD, your system will probably perform better and be more stable if you install your operating system and programs on the SSD from scratch. This allows Windows 7 and your system to make important SSD-related optimizations during the install process that will extend the operating life of your SSD and make your system run smoother.

Basically what I'm suggesting is to create a system restore disc (you should be able to do this via the Dell recovery partition) and then use the disc to install Windows on the SSD. Then re-install your programs and transfer your files. It will take longer this way, but there's a much lower chance of long-term failure as opposed to the cloning approach.
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post #3 of 7
12/7/10 at 1:20am
:yeathat:

Cloning to a SSD drive will cause alignment issues.
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post #4 of 7
12/7/10 at 9:57pm
Yep, much better off reformatting.

However, if you insist on cloning; most clone utilities support doing a sector by sector clone wiping out any partition or file system on the destination drive.
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post #5 of 7
12/8/10 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the responses. I obviously want to do this the right way so I'll start from scratch. Unfortunately the Dell support person says my only option for reinstalling is to use a Windows OEM CD and Dell application CD that he will have to ship to me. He says that the recovery partition is only for doing F8 fixes and doesn't actually include an image. I say that here because, of course, Dell support reps don't always give 100% accurate info.

But I can't figure out how to boot into the recovery partition to even see. Tried Ctr F11 but that doesn't work.
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post #6 of 7
12/8/10 at 6:53pm
macrium reflect is great for back up software, when you get setup with your new drive, cheap for a multiuser package too which is handy if you have a lot of machines in your hosuehold

i just did a clone to a larger drive (regular non ssd) and went well. Recomend the software as the support is great - i used to use acronis but they are truely awful in support - they rolled out an iffy win7 product and basically ignored all complaints.
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post #7 of 7
12/11/10 at 9:29pm
"the Dell support person says my only option for reinstalling is to use a Windows OEM CD and Dell application CD that he will have to ship to me. He says that the recovery partition is only for doing F8 fixes and doesn't actually include an image. I say that here because, of course, Dell support reps don't always give 100% accurate info."


"Disk 1 (the original HDD) has 3 partitions:
1 - DellUtility 39.1MB Capacity, 8.99 Used
2 - RECOVERY 750MB Capacity, 203.27 MB Used
3 - OS (C 464.989 GB Capacity, 16.96 GB Used"
The Recovery partition often contains a factory.wim (in ImageX format) recovery image, but given your two statements above, it sounds like the support rep is telling you the truth. Factory.wim is typically around 5-7 GB, so if your Recovery partition has only 203 MB used, you evidently don't have an image file in there.
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