SSD and Windows back up system image.

[Michael001]

I'm currently using Windows 7 on a standard WD HDD and am about to swap over for a SSD. Now, using Windows back up, I created a system image onto a separate standard HDD. It works perfectly, so my question is that since an SSD operates differently from a HDD, I am presuming that all I have to do with the new SSD is just give it a quick format, then load the system image directly from the standard HDD onto the SSD.

Is this workable, or do I need to install and format the new SSD, and then manually reinstall Windows 7 and re-install all my programs one by one, which is obviously going to take a few hours?

Apologies if this question has already been addressed, but I read the sticky and through part of the forum, but couldn't see any mention of this. A fast response would be appreciated, since I pick up the new SSD this Friday (so long as it's not the end of the world!), and would like to have it operational before Xmas.

Cheers.

Michael001

 

[FiLeZz]

NO
Plug in the old HDD and also plug in the SSD
Then run paragon Migtare OS to SSD.
This will clone to new SSD and also align the SSD this is critical.

 

[Michael001]

Cheers for the fast response. I've saved the Paragon site but I wont go with it just now, I'll wait a day or so and see if any other suggestions or advice comes in.

Michael001

 

[Michael001]

I got my drive earlier than expected today, so I'm going to hook it up tonight in a few hours time. It's an Intel 330 series and comes with cloning software. Has anyone used this, or is there anything I should be aware of before I start? The idea was to install the SSD as the primary drive and use the current HDD drive as drive 2, then just clone that across to the SSD. It looks good in theory, but..........I'd appreciate any comments within the next couple of hours before I start.

Cheers.

Michael001.

 

[Michael001]

Ok, here's the outcome. I fitted the new SSD tonight, cloned the old standard HDD onto it using the free Intel software and it's working perfectly. I ran the Intel SSD toolbox to optimize it and that's it. The entire job took under 45 minutes. The 'hardest' part was because this is a Dell box, the mounting holes weren't all in the usual places so I could only mount the unit using two screws instead of four but since I'm not going to be throwing this box around, that's not a problem.

I'm happy so far, but I want to push it and see how fast it is with things like video encoding and stuff. My Windows performance score for the hard drive jumped from 5.9 to 7.6 immediately, so at least Windows thinks it's faster!

Ciao.

Michael001.