Resolved: Reinstalling Win7 from backup on secondary drive

[Rpger28]

This question is hopefully trivial for someone to help me with.

If I wanted to wipe my current system disk and reinstall from a backup on a secondary drive, I know how to do that. But I need to know if I can just choose to install windows on said secondary drive and make it into my system disc.

1. Is this possible?

2. Does Win7 system backup create a full image of the backed up disc when I choose "create system image?" That is, will I need to separately back up any data from this disc?

3. Will I need to create a new partition on the existing secondary disc in order to do what I want to do? If so, how does this affect said secondary disc?

I guess it wouldn't hurt to explain myself. I currently run a 64gb ssd as my operating system disc with a 1tb 7200rpm hdd as the secondary (storage) disc. I also have many programs installed on the secondary disc.

The ssd is now failing, resulting in mandatory hard reboots. I get about an hour before each reboot, then I hit some sort of bad area of the memory. I've done the whole "power cycle" thing a few times, but that didn't bring the drive back.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I am not sure if what you want to do will work. I strongly urge you to keep your OS drive the OS drive. Get a replacement.

 

[Rpger28]

It's about 10 months old and is still under warranty. I just don't think the inexpensive SSD's are going to be able to handle the number of read/write cycles I need from an OS drive. The drive that's giving me trouble is a Crucial M4 64gb.

I've talked to at least 8 or so other people now who have had the same problem from using this drive or a similar one as an OS drive. All of us are using it as a main pc with at least 6 hours per day of use. All have failed in under a year. I haven't talked to a friend with a still-useable sub 256GB SSD.

I'm broke right now, so I don't have the extra scratch for another drive out of pocket. When I do, I'm going back to magnetic. Even once I can buy a new OS drive, I won't be able to afford a 128GB+ drive. I think size is an issue.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The ssd is now failing, resulting in mandatory hard reboots. I get about an hour before each reboot, then I hit some sort of bad area of the memory. I've done the whole "power cycle" thing a few times, but that didn't bring the drive back.

An hour between reboots? Sure you aren't falling for the Crucial M4 firmware bug? After so many power-on hours of operation, the SSD shuts down in an hour. The 000F firmware fixed that bug, I believe.

 

[Rpger28]

Oh reeeealy. I might look into the firmware update then.

 

[Rpger28]

Updated to firmware version 10g yesterday. So far, at least 12 hrs of idling and other operation with no issues.

 

[Rpger28]

Is there a "problem resolved" feature on these forums? It at least appears that my issue is resolved without issue. I can't say how awesome it is to not have to RMA or buy another primary drive right now.

My laptop is nice, but it doesn't keep up with my regular pc.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Edit the original post, choose "Go Advanced", edit thread title to resolved. Thanks VL for dropping knowledge!!