New SSD OS install

Rhyswh · 28 Oct 2013 at 11:29

Hi. I'm going to install a SSD for a friend and want to know the easiest way to make it the boot drive. I was thinking of installing a fresh Windows 7 on the SSD and then just deleting the system files off the original HDD. Is this wise? My logic was that the HDD drive will only be used as a storage drive so the OS will never want any info from the HDD therefore it's just a case of deleting it.

I've seen these cloning software but I'm not sure how it would work. I only want the OS on the SSD and nothing else i.e. I don't want to clone the whole storage drive onto the SSD (because it won't fit!).

wazza300 · 28 Oct 2013 at 11:59

first set sata ports to ahci mode in the bios

unplug old hdd attach new ssd and install windows,once done reconnect the old hdd and set ssd as first boot device in bios

rapt0r · 28 Oct 2013 at 12:00

Yes just install the new OS straight onto the SSD. You can safely delete the old OS files from the HDD that you will be using for storage as the new installation won't need them.

Rhyswh · 28 Oct 2013 at 12:46

wazza300 said:
first set sata ports to ahci mode in the bios

unplug old hdd attach new ssd and install windows,once done reconnect the old hdd and set ssd as first boot device in bios

Yeah I get this, I was just wondering if it was safe to just delete the system files off the old HDD.

rapt0r said:
Yes just install the new OS straight onto the SSD. You can safely delete the old OS files from the HDD that you will be using for storage as the new installation won't need them.

Would it be a good idea just to leave the OS on the HDD as well? If something goes wrong with the SSD in the future then it's just a case of changing the first boot device back to the HDD to have a working system.

Another thing, how do I find the product key for Windows 7 on the computer? I haven't got the case for it anymore!

rapt0r · 28 Oct 2013 at 13:04

Rhyswh said:
Would it be a good idea just to leave the OS on the HDD as well?

Yeah you could do it that way, although I would probably just take a backup image of the new install you do on the SSD once you've got all drivers installed and updated.

Rhyswh said:
Another thing, how do I find the product key for Windows 7 on the computer? I haven't got the case for it anymore!

I've never used these but they seem to be highly recommended.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
http://download.cnet.com/Product-Key-Finder/3000-2094_4-10694022.html

edit*the magic jellybean works fine here

Dervious · 28 Oct 2013 at 13:23

Every time I do a clean OS intsall onto an SSD, I use Easeus Todo Backup Free to create an image of the newly installed OS (with updates and drivers). This means the customer has "restore" discs. In the event of SSD failure, or serious virus/other damage, I haven't got to "start again". I would use the restore discs to get the system back to "new" in about 10 minutes.

You can either burn the image to DVDs or if you have a secondary hard drive in the system, put the image on that drive. Better still, do both !

Rhyswh · 28 Oct 2013 at 14:11

rapt0r said:
Yeah you could do it that way, although I would probably just take a backup image of the new install you do on the SSD once you've got all drivers installed and updated.

I've never used these but they seem to be highly recommended.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
http://download.cnet.com/Product-Key-Finder/3000-2094_4-10694022.html

edit*the magic jellybean works fine here

Thanks.

Dervious said:
Every time I do a clean OS intsall onto an SSD, I use Easeus Todo Backup Free to create an image of the newly installed OS (with updates and drivers). This means the customer has "restore" discs. In the event of SSD failure, or serious virus/other damage, I haven't got to "start again". I would use the restore discs to get the system back to "new" in about 10 minutes.

You can either burn the image to DVDs or if you have a secondary hard drive in the system, put the image on that drive. Better still, do both !

I have never created an image and stuck it onto a CD before! Any chance you could talk me through the process.

So I install my OS onto my SSD, download the Easeus Todo Backup programme........then what?

Thanks in advance.

Dervious · 28 Oct 2013 at 14:37

Here's a brief summary of what to do.....

Install OS, drivers, updates, basic apps and add-ons (Adobe Flashplayer, Reader, Antivirus etc). Just the basic stuff that you use. I don't usually include main apps in the image, as it just increases the file size and time taken to produce.

Run Easeus and choose "Disk/Partion backup".

Select the SSD (usually Disk 1). Make sure you have just the main drive selected, I think it's possible to accidentally select other drives you may have in your system. You only want to include an image of your main drive.

Click on the folder icon, far right hand side of "Destination".

From the list that pops up, choose where you want the image file to go. If you choose your DVD writer, you'll be burning DVDs (a basin Win 7 install usually requires 3 or 4 discs). If you choose a folder on your secondary hard drive, it'll create the image there.

Click "Proceed" and wait.........

Hopefully, job done !

You may also want to create a recovery boot disc (on CD or DVD). That can be done from "Tools" on the home page of the app.

As I advised before, if you have got a seconadry hard drive, I'd burn discs and an image to the hard drive. Recovering from a hard drive image is a lot faster and easier (recovering from DVDs seems to involve many disc swaps !).

Dervious · 28 Oct 2013 at 14:48

"what to do" with Easeus Todo ! :rolleyes:

R3X · 29 Oct 2013 at 14:56

hmm never heard of this easeus todo. Thanks, sounds like norton ghost and acronis true image home, still if its free and makes a backup ill give it a try!

I usually do a backup just after installation of windows.
Then do a backup of drivers and windows updates.
Then the last one with drivers/updates/all basic software

3 backups but just for personal use, this way at any stage you can refer back to it or start fresh in-between sessions.

I would advise to do similar if its your own pc, but since its your mates one back up an image of all drivers/basic software is good enough and store in 2 places as suggested above.

Rhyswh · 29 Oct 2013 at 15:14

I'm confused! Once I've made a CD of it, how do I use it? Do I just stick it in the tray and re-install windows??

wazza300 · 29 Oct 2013 at 16:36

be easier to keep your old hdd as it is,windows n all

can use it as a backup ect,or grab a cheap spare hdd and clone the hdd ect then format the one you wanna use for storage

Fruitbooter · 31 Oct 2013 at 12:49

Rhyswh said:
I'm confused! Once I've made a CD of it, how do I use it? Do I just stick it in the tray and re-install windows??

+1 Can someone confirm once you have made an image of the boot drive with basic stuff and saved it on another internal mechanical drive, how would you go about using it if say your boot ssd drive fails or you suffer a major system fatality due to virus etc..

Inferno99 · 31 Oct 2013 at 15:50

I tend to upgrade the firmware on new SSDs prior to loading it with software.

With reference to restoring an image from a backup, the majority of imaging software should allow you to create a rescue disk and/or rescue partition.

Dervious · 31 Oct 2013 at 20:27

Fruitbooter said:
+1 Can someone confirm once you have made an image of the boot drive with basic stuff and saved it on another internal mechanical drive, how would you go about using it if say your boot ssd drive fails or you suffer a major system fatality due to virus etc..

Dervious said:
You may also want to create a recovery boot disc (on CD or DVD). That can be done from "Tools" on the home page of the app.