Upgrading to larger SSD

[HarvardAce]

I'm considering replacing my current Win 7 64bit boot drive, an 80GB SSD, with a larger one. I was wondering if it would be possible to just clone my existing drive to the new one, swap them, and then go on my merry way without having to reinstall anything (with the possible exception of drivers/software for the new SSD)?

Even if it's possible, or especially if it's not, is there a better way to go about doing it?

Edit: Any recommendations for software to use for the best solution would be greatly appreciated as well.

 

[FishAk]

It's both possible, and quite easy.

Download Macrium Reflect home edition, (free) and use it to image your OS partition. Save the image someplace it will be accessible, and won't be disturbed by defraging or moving. Only use an original image- not a copy.

Use the program to make a boot CD, and test it to ensure you can access the image file.

If the OS partition is already aligned, the program will restore it aligned. If it's not aligned, you can fix it before or after restoring to your new drive. You can try to download the Paragon Alignment tool, but the link I had was free only till the end of July.

Windows 7 has an image tool, and it may be worth trying. Some of us can't get it to work, but others have no trouble.

 

[JTravers]

It's both possible, and quite easy.

Download Macrium Reflect home edition, (free) and use it to image your OS partition. Save the image someplace it will be accessible, and won't be disturbed by defraging or moving. Only use an original image- not a copy.

Use the program to make a boot CD, and test it to ensure you can access the image file.

If the OS partition is already aligned, the program will restore it aligned. If it's not aligned, you can fix it before or after restoring to your new drive. You can try to download the Paragon Alignment tool, but the link I had was free only till the end of July.

Windows 7 has an image tool, and it may be worth trying. Some of us can't get it to work, but others have no trouble.

Macrium is a great tool. Incredible that it's completely free. You can even create a bootable USB flash drive using instructions on Macrium's site.

During restore Macrium shows you the offset of the original partition and (I think) what the offset will be on your restored partition. So that should help clue you in to whether or not the restored partition will be aligned. Macrium will even ask if you want to expand the size of the restored partition to fill the target drive. And if you don't do it then, you can always increase the size of the partition from within Windows 7's disk manager utility.

 

[HarvardAce]

Download Macrium Reflect home edition, (free)

I went to their website and all I see is a free 30-day trial. The home edition is only showing up as a 4-license-pack for $80, and the standard edition (which is the only one available in a one-pack) is $40.

Did this change from when you had last looked at it, or are you suggesting to just use the free trial? Assuming it's not limited in any way, if I did it, it would certainly be within 30 days that I would make the image and restore it.

 

[FishAk]

Download the trial version. If you agree to the license, and keep clicking forward, it will give you a license for free non-commercial use. There is no time limit.

 

[JTravers]

Link to the free edition of Macrium Reflect.