SSD Installation via imaging

[jimfoto]

So I'm looking at a Sandisk Extreme SSD on sale:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820171567

and thinking I might take the plunge. I'm not sure if 120 gig is big enough (more on that later) but I'm wondering about the install.

Is it possible to decrease the size of data on my primary hard drive and simply image it to the SSD using Acronis or something similar? I know that's an oversimplification but I'd obviously like to avoid a new win7 install.

Intel DH67L mobo
Intel I5 2500 3.3g
win7 home premium 64bit
16gb mushkin ddr3 1333
Samsung Spinpoint 1tb primary drive

As to the SSD size; My primary drive currently has 659gb in use and 271 free. I've got 502gb of data (photographs) on there which when removed would leave 157gb in use. I'm sure I can pare that down some more (my Adobe Lightroom catalog is well over 50gb). Will 120g be enough for my OS and main programs (PS CS5, Lightroom and various plugins) plus whatever else should go on an SSD?

 

[exdeath]

Yes. You can configure apps/data, optimize OS for SSD (disable defrag, hibernate, prefetch, etc), installed AHCI drivers, use something like Paragon to align the partition for SSD if it isn't already, all while on the HDD.

Take an image, restore it to the SSD, and you're good.

Doesn't sound like 120GB of space is enough for you though.

Also don't forget other places to free up space:

Windows update download cache, restore points, temp folders, antivirus download cache if present, service pack uninstall data, CCM cache if present, MSO cache, etc. There is potential to free up dozens of free GBs.

My most recent install for my laptop, I was able to gut my Windows 7 Home Premium 64 to just under 14 GB, including a handful of 3rd party tools and applications (but nothing huge like an Adobe suite). So my laptop is sitting at 14 GB with 226 GB free on it's SSD :awe:

 

[Coup27]

As exdeath has said, if you prepare correctly then you can simply image onto the SSD and you're done.

Also with 16GB of RAM, you could probably reduce your Windows page file to something like 1024 - 2048MB. I doubt you need another 16GB being of space being took up by that.

Disabling hibernation if you haven't already will give you a huge chunk back there. Potential for 32GB just there.

 

[paperwastage]

if you have like an afternoon free, i'd rather start afresh re-instaling windows 7 (and hence not install the random crap that you don't need, to optimize the 120GB free space you have)

I'd get a slightly larger one (160GB comes to mind) just b/c Adobe takes up quite some space, plus space for your media files to edit

and if you wait for a good deal, you can get a better value (performance vs price) SSD

 

[exdeath]

if you have like an afternoon free, i'd rather start afresh re-instaling windows 7 (and hence not install the random crap that you don't need, to optimize the 120GB free space you have)

I'd get a slightly larger one (160GB comes to mind) just b/c Adobe takes up quite some space, plus space for your media files to edit

and if you wait for a good deal, you can get a better value (performance vs price) SSD

Lol. Installing Windows from a thumb drive* to a SSD takes like 4 minutes, not an afternoon.

* a real thumb drive not a 5 MB/sec free one from a cracker jack box

 

[paperwastage]

yes, 4 minutes... then microsoft office takes 10, then downloading/installing updates takes 30 minutes

then adobe itself takes 30 minutes to an hour

then cloning the SSD onto a separate HDD (so you can reclone it anytime you want) takes maybe 20 minutes

yeah, i'd say an afternoon is a good enough time

 

[Coup27]

and endless settings, customisation, and all those small little utilities and phone software yada yada

come on exdeath

 

[exdeath]

10 mins to install Office?

The reason you get an SSD is to be fast. Input commands faster and don't let it sit there on the Next -> screen for 9 minutes :awe:

Unless it's because you're installing off optical media... in that case I don't want to talk to you at all anymore.

*twitch*