Looking for a Cloning GURU - I am HAVING PROBLEMS

Delbert,

You cannot clone your way out of this!

First, put back your old disk in the computer, boot your computer on the recovery CD, and create a full disk disk and partition backup of your system disk. Note that ATI on the disk will show you disk letters that are not the same as windows. Look at the disk labels carefully!

If you have another USB disk that you can use, backup the entire disk (check the box at the disk level: every partition will be backed up). Look carefully for any partition hidden in windows that will show up on the disk (for example: OEM, Recovery, System Reserved, Diagnostics) and include it in the backup.

If you don't have another USB disk, select D: (maybe different drive letter now) as the destination and put in the backup any hidden partition discussed above and the C:\ partition.

At any rate, make sure that the active partition is in the backup with C:\System . Right click my computer, manage, storage, disk management to see all partitions. Print a screenshot of that.

Then remove your OLD disk, put the SSD in place, boot on the CD. Put the OLD disk somewhere else in the computer or connect the USB disk you used.

Choose add new disk, select your SSD, confirm it will delete everything on the SSD (again make sure you have selected the SSD and not any other disk, since the drive letters are all weird).

Choose restore, browse, for the TIB file. It will now show up in ATI. Right click on the TIB file, choose restore.

Restore each partition one after the other, in the same order they were laid out on the old disk (use the screenshot):
- no need to reboot inbetween each partition,
- the new destination for each restore is your SSD,
- when you restore the active partition, mark it primary, active as a restore option,
- do not resize any partition other than C:\,
- FOR THE FIRST PARTITION (for example system reserved), leave a 1MB space before the restored partition to align the SSD. ATI should propose that by default, but just in case...
- do not change any drive letter in the restore option

Finally, restore the MBR and the disk signature.

That's it!

See this post also for SSD tweaks: http://forum.acronis.com/forum/26162

Delbert,
Partition size of Drive C (OS) is 100 Gb but how much used space?

As you look at your disk via Windows Disk Management graphical view,
1. do you any any non-lettered partitions
2. and is C the active partition?

You have indicated an 100 GB C and 500GB (D) for a dumping area, is there other partitions?

Hi and a huge thanks for such a detailed reply, I really appreciate the time you have taken :-)

The best way to respond is just put up a screen shot of my Disk Management so if you follow the link below you should be able to see my current setup.

http://www.zen101724.zen.co.uk/Drives.jpg

Many thank
Delbert

Based on your picture attachment, your disk is different than many other Win 7 disks, this is my suggestion. Afterward restoring the Drive C backup, I expect your new SSD will boot but if it does not, then you will need to use the Windows Recovery CD/DVD and do a Windows repair--perhaps several times. Repair only does one repair per boot. If you do not have such a Windows Recovery CD, most Win7 computer has this capability of user creating such a DVD.

First, assign a volume name to your Drive C which can be done inside Disk properties. Note, your other partitions have names but Drive C has no name. A name is needed so help prevent confusion within the backup program.
Inside Windows Explorer, right click on Drive C and choose properties.
Under volume name, type "Win7_C" without the quotes.

Boot from the TI bootable media CD and create a backup of your Drive C partition--probably stored on an external Disk. This backup will be used to restore to your SSD.

Your system does not appear to any have special non-lettered boot partition so all you need to do is to restore the Drive C only.
To restore to your SSD, place the SSD in the intended boot partition within the computer using the same connector as prior disk.

As your old disk has multiple partitions,
DO NOT RESTORE THE MBR/TRACK0
DO NOT RECOVER DISK SIGNATURE

Boot from the CD and restore Drive C. Restore should consume all the space on the SSD. If it does not, then you will need to adjust the partition size so all space is allocated to Drive C. Before you leave the partition sizing window, be sure there is a 1 mb assignment in the "Free Space before" and a zero in the "Free space after"
After restore, you should get a successful restore window. Shut down and disconnect any usb or others disks so only the SSD remains connected. Reboot. Hopefully, the computer will boot successfully, but if it does not, then you will need to use the Windows Recover CD.

One of the nice feature about using the CD is that you are able to simulate the intended procedure and at the very last part, you can choose the CANCEL option rather than the PROCEED option.

If you are not familiar with the intended procedure, it could be helpful if you were to review one of my guides. Click on the first line of my signature below and browse to index item 3-BB. This is not the exact procedure you will use but it will give you a feel for how to use the CD resizing features.

This illustration should give you some idea as to how the resize option should appear.
http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/mvp/user285/2012-5545/snag…

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Regarding your old disk. Your attachment shows a non-lettered partition at the end of the disk which is 25GB in size and appears unallocated. What do you know about this space? Is this some type of special partition as it has no label and does not appear to have any space used. If this space is not in use, it could be assigned to Drive E-Back up.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the advice.

I am going to try and give this a go in the next few days so fingers crossed.

Wishing all you helpful guys a hugly enjoyable Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Regards
Delbert

:-(

Just tried to follow the instructions and have hit a wall :-(

Firstly I gave my current "C" partion a label of "Win7_C".
Then I created a Windows 7 recovery DVD
Then I rebooted to the TI boot disk and performed a full back up of "Win7_C" qand stored the resultant archive to my Storage partition.
Next I selected the Restor option within TI.
I followed the instructions for disc sizing resulting in a partion of 111.8GB , made sure the target was my SSD and was sucessfully made primary and active, when I pressed the "Proceed" buttion in TI, it hung for a few seconds then displayed a black screen before forcing a reboot.

So I tried again but the same issues happened :-(

The link below is an updated screen shot from my Device Manager if that helps?
http://www.zen101724.zen.co.uk/Drives_update2.jpg

HELP, Anyone got any ideas what I have done wrong, missed or what the issues may be.

Regards
Delbert

Guys,

I have sussed it :-)

Turns out a TI restore from within Windows worked a treat.
Following the restore I have now put in all the advised OS tweaks.

FYI, I sussed out that the odd 25GB Partion was there for Acronis Secure Storage which I dont use.

Fantastic advice, you are my heros :-)