Upgrading HDD to SSD- Am I Doing This Right?

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Millar14

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May 10, 2013
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As you can tell this isn't just a 'how do you do this" sort of question, rather I'm going to tell you what I intend to do and if I'm overlooking something I'd be very grateful for anyone to give me some info/ guidance.

Before I begin, I have been researching a lot on this and I have read a lot of slightly different ways on how to do the process. I am a beginner at this, I've only ever changed RAM, that's my computer hardware skills so I want the way that causes least fuss.

I acquired a used 128GB SSD from a friend so I want to replace my 1TB hard drive with it. I only really use my laptop for watching movies, word processing and internet browsing and I have not got a lot of big files; mainly just documents and a few pictures (hence 128 should be ok).

The computer is quite new and it only has a few docs and other things like common programs on it, so ideally I would like to do a clean install of windows 10 on it but the cloning of the hard drive method seems easier for me as I mentioned I'm pretty unfamiliar to it all.
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1) I plan on connecting the SSD to the computer via usb to SATA connector and wiping (and/or formatting) the drive.
2) Download a cloning software (Macrium Reflect Free seems ok) and copy all the partitions of the hard drives over to the SSD from the HDD while remembering to shrink the main (user?) partition to ensure it fits in the available space.
3) Shut down laptop and change HDD for SDD.
4) Boot laptop and it should just work but will be faster.
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So after all my reading that is basically my framework at least of what I intend to do. I feel though I should be entering the BIOS to set my computer to run on SSD instead of HDD?

Also, I'm confused that it will just work since windows obviously has license keys and things like that so how will my computer just work, do i not require another license, etc and will my old HDD still be able to get switched in in future and work?

That's basically where I'm at. So if you think you have anything to add please advise as I get the feeling it wont be as easy as I've described.

Lastly, if you think I am better going for the clean install method also advise on how to / where there is good info on how to do that.

Apologies if this Noob post annoys anyone but I am trying to learn and everyone's got to start somewhere.

Thanks a lot in advance.

 
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Hello everyone. Again many thanks for everyone's advice, it's really appreciated. So, good news I managed to replace the HDD in my machine with the SSD as desired, without breaking anything.

All I done was replace the drives, put in the windows creation media USB stick and turn the machine on. Didn't need to boot into the BIOS or UEFI so it was really straight forward.

The only couple of queries I have now is 1) is my laptop now properly configured for the SSD or is there some other things to change like in the BIOS for instance, and 2) I have no Lenovo partition (it's a Lenovo machine by the way) or any of the 'bloatware apps' ... do I need any of these for like system updates, etc?

Thanks,

David
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Hey there, Millar14.

It seems like you have a pretty good idea about how things are supposed to go. Don't worry we've all been noobs once. There's nothing to be annoyed of, your questions are straight to the point.

Basically a fresh install is always recommended. However, that doesn't mean that you'll necessarily have issues if you clone the drive, so you can go ahead and try that first. You should backup your data before you start managing the partitions, just to be on the safe side. The steps you've described are perfectly fine in my opinion, although there's probably no need to reformat the SSD as the cloning process will do that for you. Anyway it wouldn't hurt to do it, so go ahead and run Quick Format before you start (you should never run full format on an SSD, as well as defragmentation, while we are on this point).

There's no option for your computer to run Windows from an SSD and not an HDD. I guess you are referring to the SATA mode. It would be nice to change it to AHCI if it's not set this way now, but if everything is working fine under IDE, you should be OK. However switching from IDE to AHCI is not s simple change of settings in your BIOS/UEFI in most cases. You should also edit the registry before that. Here's how to do it: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2347183/change-ide-ahci-reinstall-windows.html

You don't need any other product keys or licenses of any sort for Windows if you're cloning your OS and using the same computer.

As for clean install, it's as easy as connecting the SSD to the computer and installing Windows as you'd normally do, by using your installation media (USB flash drive or a DVD).

Here's a pretty good guide on how to clone an HDD to a smaller SSD: http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows. Note that you can use whatever cloning software you want. I'm just sending this for the tutorial and the tips.

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions whatsoever.
Boogieman_WD
 
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Millar14

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Hello, thanks for trying to help me out it's really appreciated. It's daunting fiddling with computers if you are mainly just an end user like me so I wouldnt go near it unless I asked for some help even if I was just slightly unsure.
I actually think I'm going to go down the route of a clean install now as I've researched that now.

I'll tell you where I am with that:



  • Download and create the windows media creation tool on USB device (i have a 16GB flash drive).
    Get product key from my computer via command prompt (I got this and it's noted down).
    Connect SDD to alptop and wipe it.... not sure exactly how to do that to what setting.
    Remove HDD and replace with SSD.
    Power on computer.
    And this is the bit where I'm not sure what to do: just somehow boot from the USB drive? Would my laptop automatically start up and give me this option or do i need to boot to the UEFI?
    Then after that I think windows will install and I would be prompted to put in my product key at some stage.
    End.

Thanks again
 
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ArtPog

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Sep 17, 2014
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As a general proposition as long as certain critical conditions are present with a user's system, I see no problem in undertaking the data migration (disk-cloning) route...
1. Does the user's present system function without any problems in that the system boots without incident and thereafter functions trouble-free?
2. Is the disk-capacity of the new drive sufficient to contain the total contents of the drive that they would like to transfer?

So if the user can answer "yes" to those questions the data-migration process is a viable option.

On the other hand if you feel more comfortable with a fresh-install of the Win 10 OS then that's the way to go. "Yer pays yer muny and yer taikes yer cherce" as the saying goes.

1. Remember that the Windows Media Creation Tool will contain the setup files for creating a Win 10 OS on your SSD.

2. With the SSD connected you'll boot to that USB device to begin the installation process. In your situation you will choose the "Custom: Install Windows only..." option.

3. You'll have an opportunity at the beginning of the installation process to format the SSD. I assume that's your intention so you'll be installing the OS onto a disk empty of data. Thereafter the installation process will proceed.

4. The request for the product key comes at the beginning of the installation process.
 
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Millar14

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Thanks a lot, I am feeling more confident about the process thanks to everyone's contributes. I think I am just going to go with a clean install as now I know about the windows media tool on USB it doesnt seem too hard, plus i haven't got a lot on the laptop in the way of files, etc.

The only queries that remains now are: 1) Upon switching on the laptop with the new ssd and usb connected, will i be given the option to boot with the USB or should I boot in UEFI mode (or whatever it is) to allow this? 2) Do i need to make any further changes in the UEFI/bios menus to prepare the device for SSD while i'm there? 3) If for some reason i muck this up, can i still put in my HDD and my laptop will still operate on that? 4) What about my back up and recover partitions in my HDD, does the creation USB take care of that too?

That saying sounded awfly Scottish, ArtPog lol

That
 
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ArtPog

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1. You'll boot to the USB flash drive (not the UEFI interface). I'm assuming the SSD is MBR-partitioned (not GPT). Actually the likelihood is the system will boot directly to the USB device without your intervention. It depends upon the motherboard's BIOS/UEFI setup.
2. No
3. Sure. And I'm glad you brought that up because I should have emphasized in my previous response that you should make no changes whatsoever re the HDD's data until you've worked with the SSD for a reasonable period of time to determine all is well with that drive. This would be especially important if you had undertaken the data-migration route but it applies here as well.
4. The appropriate partitions will be created by Win 10 during the fresh install of the OS.

Actually no, it's decidedly Irish - Tammany Hall to be precise - but I'm certain that was way before your time...
 
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Millar14

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They sound similar on paper and yeah I'd think so- I have no idea who that is haha.

OK, all that sounds good, I'm feeling better that the HDD will be usable as a fall back as literally anything can happen knowing me in this situation.

Thanks again.
 
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Millar14

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May 10, 2013
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Hello everyone. Again many thanks for everyone's advice, it's really appreciated. So, good news I managed to replace the HDD in my machine with the SSD as desired, without breaking anything.

All I done was replace the drives, put in the windows creation media USB stick and turn the machine on. Didn't need to boot into the BIOS or UEFI so it was really straight forward.

The only couple of queries I have now is 1) is my laptop now properly configured for the SSD or is there some other things to change like in the BIOS for instance, and 2) I have no Lenovo partition (it's a Lenovo machine by the way) or any of the 'bloatware apps' ... do I need any of these for like system updates, etc?

Thanks,

David
 
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