Clone SSD to HDD then back to SSD

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Spiral Nemesis

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Jun 1, 2013
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I have a bit of a complicated situation. I currently have 2 drives installed on my computer:
120GB SSD(OS Win 7)
3TB HDD(most other program and data)

I got a new 1GB HDD. I want clone my SSD onto the new HDD, update the firmware on my SSD(updating firmware wipes all the data and require a system with an OS to perform), and then move the stuff from the new HDD back to the SSD without having to modify anything. Can this be done just by using normal cloning software or is there other tricks that i should know about? I know that i have to unplug my 3TB HDD but other than that, what should i be aware of?

All drives are connected with SATA
 
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giantbucket
I prefer using native built-in tools, but you can also try a third-part app to just clone the current OS drive to another drive, and then clone back. I've never used any, but Acronis is one you can try.

even if you were to use the built-in tools from Windows itself, you only need to ask Win to create a repair disc (which is not the same as the system image), and Win should make that even if you keep your original install disks in a friend's closet on his boat in the Bermuda triangle.

if you go Start - Control Panel - System And Security - Backup And Restore, then on the left side you should see two functions: "create system image" and "create system repair disc"

the first (system image) is what makes a copy of the entire OS (and if...
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giantbucket

giantbucket

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Nov 17, 2013
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the annoying bit is that you have to have a running OS to update SSD firmware, which means you need to (1) create & save system image, (2) restore system image on some other drive temporarily, (3) boot from that drive to do your SSD firmware update, (4) restore the image again but this time onto your SSD, and (5) boot from the SSD and hope things went well.

do you have a temp hard drive you can use for steps 2+3 above?

or can you use another computer for those steps, like a machine at work or at a friend's place?
 
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Spiral Nemesis

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Jun 1, 2013
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I have an another hard drive for this job so it shouldnt be a problem. Also, is there a difference between cloning the boot drive to another drive and create then restore system image on another drive? which one would be the better way to go about it in my case? I do not have the window disc as i used online installation and not sure where that iso file went.
 
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giantbucket

giantbucket

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Nov 17, 2013
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I prefer using native built-in tools, but you can also try a third-part app to just clone the current OS drive to another drive, and then clone back. I've never used any, but Acronis is one you can try.

even if you were to use the built-in tools from Windows itself, you only need to ask Win to create a repair disc (which is not the same as the system image), and Win should make that even if you keep your original install disks in a friend's closet on his boat in the Bermuda triangle.

if you go Start - Control Panel - System And Security - Backup And Restore, then on the left side you should see two functions: "create system image" and "create system repair disc"

the first (system image) is what makes a copy of the entire OS (and if you select certain options, data files as well, so pay attention), and this will likely need 40G or more of space somewhere

the second (repair disc) is just a small set of files burned to a CD or DVD, and that's what you boot into to do the actual restore after you did the first bit above

what you COULD do (if you have enough free space on your 3TB drive) is to make the image, save it on your 3TB drive, make the CD, take out your current SSD and hide it for a few hours, boot CD, restore image onto new 1T drive, and boot into 1T drive - just to see how the process actually works. and play with the OS on the 1T drive a few times, reboot a few times, until you're happy that yes this works and if your SSD explodes you CAN continue to use Win from that 1T drive.

once you're feeling safe and confident, go ahead and update the firmware on the SSD.

then, restore image onto SSD. and keep the 1T in the closet for a few hours, just in case the SSD doesn't work!
 
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