Migrating to ssd but with many partitions

graphicsgriffin · Mar 9, 2017

Hi everyone hope you are all happy with your PCs

I am planning to install an ssd to my current pc. It has 2 hdds now each with two partitions. First is c and f, second is g and h. D and e are optical drives. Windows 7 is on the c partition. Now after i clone c to the new ssd and make it c and then format the old c, will windows keep old f as f?

SkyNetRising · Mar 9, 2017

Can you post screenshot from disk management?
What is the size of new SSD?

graphicsgriffin · Mar 9, 2017

Code:

SkyNetRising :

Size of first hdd is 1 tb
C is 440 gb and f is 500

Ssd will be 500 gb

Windows 7 64 pro
Fx 8350
Asus sabertooth 990 fx r 2.0
32 gb ddr3
Rx 480

13thmonkey · Mar 9, 2017

You can use disk management to set them to the right drive letters, so the initially might come out wrong, but setting them right and a few reboots will sort it out.

SkyNetRising · Mar 9, 2017

Problem is not with F: partition keeping it's drive letter.
Bigger problem is, that new OS partition on SSD may get some different letter like I: .

Then you'll need to use Registry Editor to fix that. OS partition drive letter can't be changed with Disk Management.

Also, why I asked for screenshot from Disk Management - there may be other partitions that need cloning to SSD.
Bootloader partition for example.

USAFRet · Mar 9, 2017

As above...screenshot of Disk Management, please.

Lkaos · Mar 9, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

You know you can remap the drives, dont you?

Report to this: http://support.wdc.com/knowledgebase/answer.aspx?ID=137

graphicsgriffin · Mar 9, 2017

this is the screenshot. Actually now there are more drives but most are temporary to be removed later.

https://ibb.co/chJxVa

USAFRet · Mar 9, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

OK...mostly no problem.
This, with a slight change noted in RED.
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD You might have to reduce it more than the current 440GB
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive DESELECT the 'other' partition ( F ) on that drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

After, you can remap the drive letters as desired.

graphicsgriffin · Mar 10, 2017

Thanks all for the help.

However, if after I clone the C drive into the new SSD I keep the old C,F HDD attached, alter boot order to make priority for new SSD and start Windows, new SSD will be the C right? what would be the drive letter of the old F drive and what would be that of the old C drive? will Windows alter all other attached drives like g and h? or will it just keep f as f and give old c as a new letter?

USAFRet · Mar 10, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

Following the steps above, the new SSD will be the C drive.
The old drive will be other things.
That partition may or may not retain the F drive letter.
The old C partition may be D, E, Z, Y whatever....

This is when you go into Disk Management, and alter the drive letters as desired.
Just don't try to alter the new C drive on the new SSD.

graphicsgriffin · Mar 10, 2017

Thanks for the quick reply!

Is it that important to disconnect all drives except the new SSD as you mentioned? is it also possible if I keep them attached they will retain their letter designation which is better right?

USAFRet · Mar 10, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

Have only the target drive, the SSD, connected when you do this install.
What happens is, Windows often puts the boot partition on some other drive. And you, the human, do not get to choose. It just does it.

6 months from now, when that drive dies or you take it out...no boot for you.

Having only the single drive connected forces that boot partition to be on the same drive.

graphicsgriffin · Mar 10, 2017

Thanks a lot.

Just a curious question. Are there any cases when changing drive letter in Disk Management fails?

USAFRet · Mar 10, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

Only if you try to change the drive letter of the actual OS partition.
Anything else is just secondary.

Might take a bit of trickery, depending on what exactly you have.

For instance:
Partition 1 - 100GB E drive letter
Partition 2 - 300GB F drive letter.

If you wish to reverse those, you'd first have to change the F to X or something.
Then change the E to F.
Then change the X to E

But as long as the second partition was F originally, and after swapping letters around it ends up as F again, should be no problem.

graphicsgriffin · Mar 11, 2017

Thanks a lot! will do and tell what happens

graphicsgriffin · Mar 19, 2017

Hi everyone. I got today my new Samsung EVO 850 500GB. Will migrate the OS soon and tell what happens.

As a precaution measure, should I for example make a back up copy of OS partition to an external HDD for example in case everything fails?

USAFRet · Mar 19, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

Absolutely.

graphicsgriffin · Mar 19, 2017

Hi guys... its done

cant believe cant believe itttt!! boot time less than a minute!! before it was 10+ minutes!!! I am gonna cry

USAFRet · Mar 19, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

graphicsgriffin · Mar 19, 2017

I will post what happened to be of use to other guys wanting to migrate to an SSD:

Turned off system and installed the ssd. Restarted. Used AOMEI Backupper Professional. Used the option "system clone". It automatically selected C partition and the system reserved partitions and did not select the F partition (since the first HDD is 1 TB which had the OS and has two partitions C and F and together they wouldn't fit on the new 500 GB SSD, the free version of AOMEI Backupper wouldn't let you clone a selection of partitions and I had to use the PRO version)

Once done, turned off and unplugged all other HDDs (4 I have).

Restarted and into the new SSD.

Turned off again and reconnected the HDDs and again into Windows. all seems fine as all partition have their original letters (except for the old C of course).

I now have the old Windows partition as drive "E". Can I format it now?

USAFRet · Mar 19, 2017

graphicsgriffin :

If you're absolutely sure it is all running properly from the SSD, yes.

graphicsgriffin · Mar 19, 2017

Please have a look at these Crystal Disk Mark scores

http://www.mediafire.com/file/iltk7igt2u1cujl/SSD_speed_01.jpg

I know they are pretty fast but is it true that other users are getting much faster speeds?

Migrating to ssd but with many partitions

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Titan

Titan

Titan

Honorable

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Share this page