How do I clone a HDD to SSD?

[anthd56]

Hi guys, I have an Acer Aspire S3-391 which has a 500GB HDD and 20GB msata SSD cache. Even with the cache, it still feels relatively slow and the cache doens't seem to have an effect so I'm planning to get a SSD to replace them.

My dilemma is that I don't have an idea on cloning a bigger HDD to a smaller SSD. I only want a 128GB SSD as I've only filled 70-80GB of my current 500GB HDD. My plan is to connect them both up to my desktop using sata cables and clone using some utilities, can someone guide me on this?

Also, I'm unsure on where I should get a 2.5" SSD or mSata SSD. I'm tempted to get a mSata SSD because I could shed more weight on the laptop with just a mSata. However I'm unsure on how I would clone the 500GB hard drive to the mSata. Do I swap the 20GB SSD with the 128GB and clone using the laptop, then remove the HDD?

Sorry if this question is very nooby, I get the general idea that I should shrink the partition and then clone it. But what software utilities should I use? Also do I clone the 300mb Recovery and 100mb EFI System partition?

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[corkyg]

Most of your questions are answered in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2377390

 

[ichie]

there are many software: free and paid. my tool is aomei backupper. I suggest you clone the whole disk. "migrate os to ssd" is also ok. google "migrate os to ssd".

 

[Z15CAM]

Basically you can't unless you build and align partitions on SSD using EFI Boot CMD Diskpart commands. Then dump the Boot Fat 32 Partition and OS NTFS images. In other words, you have to prepare the SSD first using Diskpart with each partition offset at say 1024Kbs.

Learn how to EFI Boot into Diskpart, Build and Align Partitions on SSD's using Diskpart CMD before dumping HDD OS images onto SSD's. Really not that different from old DOS FDisk with a few more command lines.

Is your OS a Partition or Disk Image? I prefer partition images that way I can design my new media disk whether it be a HDD or SSD.