The HD to SSD Migration Question
I've found posts on this, but I'm wondering if there's an official guide for migrating from my system HD to a new SSD using a TIH backup of my system?
Or if there are new developments, i.e. the easiest way to do it?
Do any companies sell an SSD that's already offset? That would be nice.
How about the easiest software to prepare the transfer?
And last, but most importantly I guess, are there any drawbacks to using an SSD? Does Acronis get along with it for incremental backups, etc? Any reason at all I shouldn't get one for my workstation's main drive?
Thanks
At risk of being repetitive, can someone clarify further. Do I have this right??
To move from HD to SSD, DON"T USE CLONE, use backup then restore, right?
Create partitions by installing a fresh W7 or using TIH 2011. Then restore from the HD backup. Do you restore the MBR also? Can you restore just the OS partition or do you have to restore the whole drive? Do the partition sizes on the SSD have to exactly match the HD or just be bigger?
Should this work also if I use Plus Pack to restore to different hardware (MB)?
I have TI Home 2010. TI home 2011 claims to fully support SSD. Just what does this include that you cannot do with Ti Home 2010?
Exactly, it sounds easy but I want to make sure I'm not missing a step?
Do a bit-for-bit backup of C drive, or a regular hard drive backup?
How can I skip the Windows install using TIH? Sorry, just a little more clarity on this would be great and I'll feel confident to go for it.
@baba & Dave,
Moving your Win 7 to an SSD involves a change of disk driver. When you look around the Internet, some users were successful in making this change, some less successful (Win 7 didn't fully recognize the drive as an SSD and the user had to manually tweak the system), and some hit a wall.
So your mileage will vary.
If you hit a wall and if you have the Plus Pack, it might help you. Universal Restore is not as obvious as it sounds and you need the unpacked drivers to point ATI at. So your mileage will vary again with your controllers, drivers, SSD firmware, etc.
Look at it this way: your alternative is a fresh Windows install, there is nothing wrong with trying with ATI.
Use an image. Not a clone.
If you use the 2011 recovery CD, you can create the partitions on your SSD when you select your destination ("add partition") to recreate what you have currently. 2011 will add the 1024bytes offset automatically. Your partitions will be aligned on your SSD.
If you use 2010 or before, you have to do the partitions of your SSD using your Windows 7 DVD. This will ensure that they will be aligned.
You definitely have to restore the OS partition. If you have other partitions:
- If you have a "system reserved" partition, keep it. With ATI2010, use the Win 7 DVD DISKPART to recreate this system reserved and the c:\system partition. Create first the system reserved parition with a 1024bytes offset. Make it active. Then create the c:\system partition. With 2011, use the recovery CD to recreate them.
- If you have other hidden partitions (OEM, Recovery, Direct Media), ignore them.
When you restore, select the partitions you keep and restore them on each corresponding partition separately (remember the drive letters are different from your Windows environment). Then you can restore your MBR, Track 0 and disk signature.
Let me know if I didn't answer your questions clearly.
Thanks for the informative replies!