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"SSD FAQ"

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Mon 05/12/11 at 23:12
Regular
Posts: 595
Hi,

I'm considering replacing my HP laptop's hard drive with a SSD.

I have read the best way to proceed is to clone the original drive then install the unit. The guide also says that if it is to be your primary storage device, you then install your O/S.

If I have cloned my original device (including hidden "System/Tools" partitions) which includes pre-loaded W7, surely I wouldn't need to install the O/S.

I'm confused.

Neil
Mon 05/12/11 at 23:12
Regular
Posts: 595
Hi,

I'm considering replacing my HP laptop's hard drive with a SSD.

I have read the best way to proceed is to clone the original drive then install the unit. The guide also says that if it is to be your primary storage device, you then install your O/S.

If I have cloned my original device (including hidden "System/Tools" partitions) which includes pre-loaded W7, surely I wouldn't need to install the O/S.

I'm confused.

Neil
Tue 06/12/11 at 13:02
Moderator
"Are you sure?"
Posts: 5,000
I'm guessing the guide you are reading wasn't being clear if the cloned drive contained the OS?

You've got a few choices -
Try a full clone and see if it works!
(If not you still have your old drive/data to try again)

Or start from scratch with a nice clean OS install and then copy your data over. I think you've had a few re-installs etc. in the past so this would be my choice as you'll be starting with a nice clean OS which is always a good thing.

[s]Hmmm...[/s]
Tue 06/12/11 at 17:57
Regular
Posts: 595
This is a new laptop with pre-loaded Windows 7 and two hidden partitions.

I have a boxed W7, so I suppose I could install that but use the laptop's key.

N.
Tue 06/12/11 at 18:35
Regular
"Feather edged ..."
Posts: 8,536
Neilj99 wrote:
I have a boxed W7, so I suppose I could install that but use the laptop's key.

Probably won't work :¬)
Wed 07/12/11 at 11:32
Staff
"The Killer Techie"
Posts: 459
I've heard bad things about cloning drives onto SSD's, the reason for this is mainly TRIM and it's failure to become enabled. Although you can enable it manually I would suggest a clean install, then moving your data across.

Most laptops come with the ability to create recovery media, such as a DVD which should allow you to reinstall without the recovery partition on the hard drive.
Wed 07/12/11 at 14:21
Regular
Posts: 595
What is TRIM?

I have previously made a recovery disk set, so I should be ok on that front.

N.
Wed 07/12/11 at 15:19
Moderator
"Are you sure?"
Posts: 5,000
Thu 08/12/11 at 20:11
Regular
Posts: 595
Interesting read.

Thanks.

N.

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