Question How to replace HDD with an SSD

[dan99t]

Hi,

I have been using 3.5 inch 500 GB HDDs & have never used an SSD.

I clone my 500 GB HDD every night using Acronis software so I have a spare HDD in case something goes wrong.

Now I want to buy Western Digital Blue 500 GB SSD.

My question is would I be able to clone it just like regular HDD ? Meaning I will have to make this new SSD as a slave drive & clone it from my HDD so I will have a new bootable SDD with OS & data from old HDD ?

Thank You

 

[TheELF]

Yes, since it's the same size you won't have any issues, just make a full clone instead of just imaging every partition so that it also copies over the boot info.
You will have to change boot order in bios or disconnect the old drive to boot from the ssd.
You can easily re partition the old drive afterwards or even keep it in the system as another backup.

 

[dan99t]

Yes, since it's the same size you won't have any issues, just make a full clone instead of just imaging every partition so that it also copies over the boot info

Thank You. Really appreciate your help.

 

[dan99t]

How should I initiate ? MBR OR GPT ?

All my 500GB SATA HDDs are "MBR"
Other 3 TBs are GPT.
I was under the impression that if HDD is smaller than 3 TB you have to go for MBR OR for 3 TB & Larger you have to do GPT.
Please advice.

 

[Tech Junky]

Gpt is the way to go if you don't want to convert them later. MBR size limit is 2TB.

New systems that run UEFI only work with gpt for booting.

Gpt works on all sizes.