MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: GE90 on June 07, 2013, 11:02:20 pm
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Hi all
Thinking of changing the HD in my Windows 8 laptop for an Solid State Drive. What is the best way to completely clone/copy the whole drive, including the OS?
Any help appreciated!
Cheers!
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Take your documents, music and videos onto an external hard drive.
Install a nice fresh OS.
Copy your documents, music and videos onto new hard drive.
I do not know much about Windows 8 but over time your OS gets cluttered with old reg entries, fragmentation on the disc and what not..
You can buy disk-cloners but I've never tried these with a Sata to SSD copy, only from Sata -> Sata.
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Just done this with the aid of a programme called Easeus to do Backup.
Stick your ssd into a caddy and run the programme. Just clone the disk, especially if you are downsizing as I did and voila many minutes/hours later stick the ssd into the laptop and watch it boot.
Check that trim is on and disable prefetch and superfetch. Also make sure defragmenter is turned off although win7 does that anyway. :happy2:
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If you get a Samsung 840 ssd (very good drive) they give you software to do the transfer.
IMO you are much better grabbing yourself a caddy http://www.scan.co.uk/products/dynamode-25-hard-drive-sata-caddy-to-usb-silver-storage-enclosure-bus-powered-pc-mac (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/dynamode-25-hard-drive-sata-caddy-to-usb-silver-storage-enclosure-bus-powered-pc-mac)
Stick your old hard drive in it, install windows on the ssd then plug the caddy in and drag all your data off onto your new install.
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Ye if your buying a new drive its always worthwhile doing a fresh windows install to get rid of all the crap that builds up.
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Great, thanks guys.
The laptop isn't that old, and has to date only been used a handful of times. Although I don't have a fresh copy of Windows 7 or 8, I created set up disks with W7, and then again following the W8 upgrade, so I assume these will be as good as fresh??
Re the Samsung drive, there seems to be a basic and a pro..... Basic OK? I was originally looking at the SanDisk Extreme - Samsung better?
Would the drive be a direct replacement, or would I need a different connector and mount?
Thanks again, slightly less confused now!
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I bought a Sandisk Extreme after a previous bad experience with a Corsair P.O.S.
I agree a fresh install is ideal but with the requirement for multiple drivers, etc, to be installed it was easier to copy the disk in my case.
Core i7 laptop + 8GB ram + SSD is quick. Yes it could probably be quicker but it's good for me. :happy2:
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I was under the impression that if you just clone the OS from a spinning platter hdd to a ssd hdd then the OS will be out of alignment and affecting performance.
Easiest way of checking the alignment in a Windows environment is to start up AS SSD benchmark program. If the alignment is off it will say bad in the top left corner and ok if correct. You don't have to actually run the benchmark test, just open the program.
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Pass. :confused:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FCar%2FGolf%2Fas-ssd-benchSanDiskSDSSDX240806201312-31-15.png&hash=ef9945d81c3073d62bcf572f6532e0cd934fb3d8)
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The basic is fine. Samsung giving £15 back on the 250gb version too making it a few £ over £100.
I would just install w7 forget 8 lol.
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If you get a Samsung 840 ssd (very good drive) they give you software to do the transfer.
IMO you are much better grabbing yourself a caddy http://www.scan.co.uk/products/dynamode-25-hard-drive-sata-caddy-to-usb-silver-storage-enclosure-bus-powered-pc-mac (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/dynamode-25-hard-drive-sata-caddy-to-usb-silver-storage-enclosure-bus-powered-pc-mac)
Stick your old hard drive in it, install windows on the ssd then plug the caddy in and drag all your data off onto your new install.
^I'd do that too.
Vertex4 was quite a quick drive when I bought it... having said that most SSD's will show a clear difference from most HDD's.
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Right, Samsung drive ordered.
My plan is to use the Windows 7 recovery discs I made when I bought the laptop. However, these will need to be ran from an external drive, as the laptop doesn't have an internal drive. Does this sound feasible? Will I need to change the boot sequence to USB port? Which F key is it??
Thanks v much!
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Which version of windows 7 is on your laptop? Look on the licence sticker on the bottom, it will be home premium x64 or something like that
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Home Premium OA
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Home Premium OA
X86 or x64? 32bit or 64bit?
Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
Under System, you can view the system type.
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Home Premium OA
X86 or x64? 32bit or 64bit?
Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
Under System, you can view the system type.
I upgraded to W8, but have the original discs I created before the upgrade, so cannot check at the moment. I am pretty certain it is 64 bit:
http://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/rfb-svt1311b4e-sony-svt1311b4e-13.3-ultrabook-intel-core-i3-2367m-4gb-ram-500gb-32gb-ssd-hdmi.html (http://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/rfb-svt1311b4e-sony-svt1311b4e-13.3-ultrabook-intel-core-i3-2367m-4gb-ram-500gb-32gb-ssd-hdmi.html)
http://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/rfb-svt1311b4e-sony-svt1311b4e-13.3-ultrabook-intel-core-i3-2367m-4gb-ram-500gb-32gb-ssd-hdmi.html
It seems I have 32GB of SSD fitted..... Could the operating system be on this?
Hoping to get this running fast with the SSD upgrade, and back to Windows 7!!!
Thanks!
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The 32gb drive will be msata, take it out if you know how and flog it.
So, download:
http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso
That's 100% legal and provided by Microsoft, its windows home premium x64 in a iso
Then:
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Follow this link to put it on a USB flash drive:
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/7850-Installing-Windows-7-From-USB-Drive-3-Steps-Easy-Process
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Ah right. Can I not use my start up recovery discs? Wouldn't have too much rubbish, as produced when the laptop was new??
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IMO you are better with a fresh install of windows as it manages your data differently on a SSD. you will need to go:
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/SVT1311B4E/updates
Get all your drivers on a disc so you can reinstall them easily.
Where are you btw? You local to me? I'm in Preston
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Kent! Thanks anyway! So download the ISO and convert with say Nero and load onto a USB stick? Just going to collect the drive, will be giving this a go in a couple of hours!
Cheers
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Kent! Thanks anyway! So download the ISO and convert with say Nero and load onto a USB stick? Just going to collect the drive, will be giving this a go in a couple of hours!
Cheers
I'd use the Microsoft tool in option 1 of the link I posted above. It's simple and easy.
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Well, thanks very much indeed.
Since starting this thread, SSD purchased, fitted and W7 back on!
Really please with the result - functions much quicker, more detectable than the upgrade form 4GB to 8GB RAM.
For info, the Samsung cashback offer expire end May!
Thanks again.
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Did you remove the 32gb ssd?
With 8gb ram you can turn of page file, turn of hibernate.
Don't forget to turn off indexing on the drive too.
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I couldn't find the 32GD SSD....
Turn off page file, hibernate, file indexing....? Sorry, except for Hibernate setting, I'm lost???? Why turn off Hibernate?
Cheers
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It writes to the ssd when there is no need, a fresh start up is quick enough.
Google how to turn of page file and how to turn of indexing
They are both un necessary writes to the ssd.
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Sorted, thanks v much!