Installing a new SSd drive...

GoogalyMoogaly · 1 Jun 2011 at 23:19

I recently purchased one of the pre-order OCZ Vertex 120GB SSD drive.

When I set up my recent PC I suspected that I might get an SSD drive at a later date when the prices were more attractive or when my willpower collapsed in a heap. This in mind I created a boot drive that was a mere 60GB in size. The plan being that I could then clone this onto an SSD when/if I got one.
Well now I have one and I'm just wondering if there is any problem clone a drive/partition from a mechanical drive onto a SSD drive?

I'm a bit lazy so I'd prefer the cloning option as it'd be quicker, but I don't want to do anything that will have a negative affect on the SSD drive.

So what's the general consensus on cloning a drive onto a SSD? Big no-no, OK but not the preferred option or absolutely fine?

Thanks guys.

shine · 2 Jun 2011 at 01:08

You can clone the partition if you wish but with Windows 7 a new install will setup the OS to make best use of the SSD. If you clone the drive you'll need to make all the tweaks manually, it's not hard but it's extra work. Your choice really.

Philtor · 2 Jun 2011 at 08:12

Clean install will be a lot less hassle. If you really want to avoid doing this then have a look at Paragon Migrate OS to SSD.

AshenShugar1873 · 2 Jun 2011 at 11:17

I would do the clean install, Windows 7 64 bit took under 10 mins on my Vertex 2E. I have seen posts about alignment problems when you clone to an SSD and the benefits of the automatic optimisation wins it for me.

Captain Chaos · 2 Jun 2011 at 12:09

Deffo need to do a clean install. Even more so with an OCZ drive :eek:

GoogalyMoogaly · 2 Jun 2011 at 13:46

Thanks guys.
Not the answer I was hoping for, but it seems it was a good job I asked.
Hate re-installing Windows as I seem to have lots of utility programs and tweaks/configuration that I forget about.

(Plus I have 2 PCs to do, so it'll take twice as long)

madindehead · 2 Jun 2011 at 20:54

GoogalyMoogaly said:
Thanks guys.
Not the answer I was hoping for, but it seems it was a good job I asked.
Hate re-installing Windows as I seem to have lots of utility programs and tweaks/configuration that I forget about.

(Plus I have 2 PCs to do, so it'll take twice as long)

Make a list of what you need to reinstall. That's what I did

Helped me a lot.

Make sure you install it of a USB drive (cuts the install time RIGHT down). Mine took about 3 mins to install on my SSD. That's from copying files, to the first reboot (the bulk of the install).