How to correct misallignment in new ssd drive just cloned by Acronis?
Have read threads on the subject of alignment and don't understand them.
Is there an EASY way to correct this without a clean install?
Windows 7 64 bit
Cloned using Acronis 2011.
Deleted Z partition and extended OS C drive partition before cloning.
Why do I have that empty partition in front of my C Drive? Can I delete it?
Help, damsel in distress.
Could not upload jpeg attachments so I have to use a link.
My running of the AS benchmark showed the misaligned....it's in one of my jpegs that I posted.
I am trying the full image backup with Acronis 2011. Looks like it will take a few hours. Will let you know how it turns out.
Hope, If you cloned the disk and it is mis-aligned, this is indicating the different source alignment needed adjustment before the cloning occurred. If you wish to reclone, choose the manual method (rather than automatic) and all manual options. When the screen appears showing both partitions, choose the really small partition as it was the first partition as your picture indicated. Edit that partition and type "1" (no quotes) into the free space before window (MB is the unit of measure) as shown in this picture below. The partition size should not be changed or same size as original. This picture not specific to you but will give you a feel about the 1 mb setting needed.
Note the active partition encircled above, this was not meant for you but you may have to accept the setting and change it on when restoring the second partition.
The second partition(Windows system) will probably not need any adjustments as there should b 0 free space before and 0 free space after but you would need to make certain that this user partition is marked as the active partition as your picture showed the system partition as being the active partition.. One of the nice things about TrueImage is that you can practice the procedure and when you get to the last screen or the summary screen, you have the opportunity to cancel (if practice) or you can click on the Proceed option to initiate the restore.
My suggestion is that you do a practice run and get the feel for what is needed and if you have question, come back with the questions. This practice run can be done from the CD or from within Windows.
Once you are ready to do the actual cloning, then boot from the CD and use the Add Disk option and delete the partitions from the SSD so all the space becomes unallocated. Then do the clone.
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The picture below is another indicator that can be used to determine whether alignment is correct on the disk
This is the msinfo referred to above.
As to whether you delete the first partition depends upon you. It appears to be an OEM partition but it also appears to be empty which you can recheck. Deleting it could cause your computer not to boot and you would need to use the repair option(2 or 3 times) when booted from the Windows Recovery CD. If you have such a CD, then the partition could be deleted, otherwise, the size of that partition is so small, any space gain would be insignificant.
As you already know (most likely), many of us prefer to use the backup and restore method when moving to a different disk. Using this method, there is no risk to the master source. If you choose this method, you would still adjust the starting partition so it has the 1 (mb) of free space before the first partition. If you choose the backup and restore method, you would need to restore the smaller partition first with the 1 mb of free space and do that restore and then restart the restore again (without a reboot) and restore the larger user partition plus checkmark the "Recover disk signature" option which is located on the same screen page as the when you select the target disk.
There are a couple guides which you could review but non specific is to your situation but reviewing would give you a feel for the use of manual cloning and how the adjustments are made. Click on first line of my signature below and check out item 3-CC for examples--but not specific to you.
Thanks, Grover, for your time and assistance.
When I try your first step by using F11 to boot into Acronis 2011, when I choose "clone" and get to the manual adjustment screen, it only allows me to adjust the first value. I cannot navigate to the box that I need to change to "1". Also, that partition is Fat16 on my computer and not active. Should I be checking the "active" box?
I used EasyBCD long ago to move the boot to the C Drive so it is not on that partition. Does that change anything?
I have a Puppy Linux usb stick which allows me to boot into Linux and use GParted - would that be easier?
Edit: I just used GParted to delete the parition in front of my main partition on both my old hard drive AND the new ssd drive. The space is "unallocated".
What do I do at this point to get an aligned ssd drive?
http://files.myopera.com/creegah/files/after%20delete%20paritions.JPG
http://files.myopera.com/creegah/files/0disk%20manager%20unallocated.JPG
I will respond later about your cloning. In the meantime, what issues are you having with uploading direct to the forum? This link may help.
Hope,
Ran out of time. Will have some attachments for you tomorrow night.
Grover,
Don't worry. I fixed the alignment with GParted and then used your excellent instructions to reclone my ssd the other day and all is well. My ssd performance score improved tremendously. Thanks a million.
I know how to upload and attach pictures to the forum, I was just getting a server database error while trying to do so.
