getting the right SSD drive- what if new one is smaller?
A year ago I purchased a Dell XPS 8700 with a Samsung SSD PM830 mSATA 256 GB boot drive. I want to replace that, though it works perfectly. The reason is I've had problems with MS updates. Of course my backup program (Acronis True Image)- can and did restore my system, but I like he idea of having a backup drive, ready to install. So, I'm thinking of installing a new drive- do the MS updates- and if that whacks the system, I'll put the original drive back in. (assuming the Acronis disk backups I'll do with the new drive, after restoring from the backup of the original don't succeed)
I have in the past purchased new drives from Crucial, Inc. But when I check Crucial for drives that are going to be compatible, it comes up with a 250 GB (not the 256 GB as my original) and a 500 GB drive.
When I replace the drive, I'll use Acronis TI to restore the new drive with the image from the old drive. The problem is that I'd prefer to have the same size drive. I know that sometimes when a drive is specked- how they determine the size can be different. So, is it likely that the Crucial 250 GB drive is actual identical in size? I believe it's possible for Acronis TI to restore to a smaller drive, but it would be easier not to have to worry about that possible problem. Or is it really easy? Will Acronis see that the new drive is smaller- but if the data is far less than the size of the new drive, it'll do the disk restore to the new drive flawlessly?
If I go for the 500 GB drive- then it fails, it might be seriously difficult to reuse my original 256 GB SSD- but if they are the same size, that just makes it very easy.
So, when a drive maker indicates capacity- is it really exactly as they say- or is it a matter of how they are defining the term?
I'm very unhappy with the problems with MS updates- enough to turn off all updates. I was traumatized back in the spring with one major update for W8.1 blew up the system- though I think it may have been due to the following: I had Acronis configured to do a backup after every shutdown- but that feature didn't seem to work at all- but lo and behold- when the MS update required a shutdown, Acronis tried to do the backup- and somehow- the system got trashed.
Apparently, Acronis can successfully restore from my WD My Book external drive (USB 3.0 and it's 4T) since I have done this- but that doesn't make me feel confident enough- so having a second boot drive I can put back in which I know will be OK- that gives me an extra feeling of safety. I've got my business on this system with many years worth of files- which I can't afford to lose- or rebuild- that would traumatize me again.
Of course, I could look around for other SSD makes- others must make 256 GB drives- that might be the easiest solution- but I like Crucial- good prices and fast service.
Joe
PS: I've posted in Acronis forums before- but I can never understand why we click on a button that says "Save" rather than "post". Any thoughts on this? I don't want to save it- I want to post it!
Yes. A new "240" will have about 220 gb of formtted usaable space,
Hopefully your used space on your old disk is less than 175gb or thereabouts.
Yes. A new "240" will have about 220 gb of formtted usaable space,
Hopefully your used space on your old disk is less than 175gb or thereabouts.
Grover, I only ask because somebody in another forum said that Acronis will choke if the new drive is smaller than the old drive- even if the amount of data is far less than the the size of the new drive. It will save me money to go with the slighly smaller drive- since my original SSD boot drive is 256G and a replacement from Crucial would be 250G. The drive now has only 95G. So clearly the only issue is if Acronis is able to properly install the new drive. It makes sense that it should be able to- just as, on a different computer, I installed the new drive which was much bigger and Acronis had no trouble installing it and moving the image to it. So, I should think from a programming point of view- the image itself isn't the size of the original drive- the size is based on the amount of data. Actually, I think when I've checked the .tib file size, it's always even smaller than the actual amount of data as reported by checking the drive's properties.
thanks again Grover!
Joe
When checking for used disk space, do so from within Windows Disk Management or Explorer.
Don't use the tib file size as it usually a compressed file and its size it not a 100% match.
Usually a tib files is about 70% of actual used space.
If it fits on an old 256, it will probably fit on a 240 but you may just have to try it.
Grover, the boot drive (SSD) is about 96 G and the matching .tib file is just about half that. I just needed to be certain that a smaller drive (not by much) is not a problem with ATI as long as the data size is significantly smaller. I called Crucial and asked why their web site- which will show drives that will work on whatever computer you have-- didn't have one that is 256G- he said that that their 256G drive is out of production, that they now make a 250G drive- but that I can find the older model on various online sites- and I did find one- but it's more expensive. The Crucial tech also said the newer drive is faster- so, for the loss of a mere 6G, I'll get that, as long as Acronis is smart enough to handle it and do the full restore. I have little doubt it'll work, but I'm always ultra cautious with my main office computer. I know that things can go wrong- so I check out all the potential problems.
It's kinda funny that on my older, less important PCs, I often do upgrades with hardly a thought to what might go wrong, and it always goes well- knock on wood.
Joe
The smaller drive will not be an issue. However, Crucial SSD drives have serious compatibility problems with True Image. Search the forum and you will see many problems have been discussed.
Mustang, I'll have to look for those discussions- about the problem with Crucial SSD drives. I installed one on an old Dell, then restored from the original HDD with ATI 2013- and have done a full disk restore several times- with no problem. My SSD on my newest Dell is a Samsung PM830 mSATA. I suppose the safest thing to do is to try to find the identical SSD or one larger.
I've also had to do a full disk restore on this newest Dell and it worked. I had to do it after an MS update messed up the drive.
The reason I'd like another SSD drive- is to install it, then continue with MS updates and see if i can get passed them and/or install W10. If all that messes up the system, I'll just put back the original- a form of extra insurance above and beyond trusting Acronis- despite my past success with it doing a full disk restore.
In addition to worrying about doing the full disk restore to a new SSD- I also worry about installing it- since it's type of drive installed directly on the MB- I've never touched one of those so far, and to get to it I need to remove a very large video card. I'm sure it'll go well, but I do worry.
Joe
OK, just read through some of the threads about conflicts with Crucial drives. I don't have to get a Crucial, so I'll look around- maybe find an identical Samsung, as my original.
But, just curiously.... since the original is mounted on the MB, I wonder if I could get the standard type that is not mounted on the MB, mount that in my Dell XPS, assuming there is room next to my 2nd internal drive, a 2T HHD--- then clone the original to the new one- then tell my system to boot from the new SSD. If that actually works, what's to lose? I presume the SSD mounted directly on the MB might be faster- I dunno. I'm not a rank amateur at this but not advanced either. I can graps the gist of most discussions, but I don't have enough confidence to just experiment with my main business PC.
I've never cloned a drive- just made a full disk backup then a full restore to a new drive from that. That seems simpler if it works.
Joe