Using Windows backup to copy onto SSD

MissChief · 18 Jun 2012 at 15:04

My SSD just arrived so I'm using windows backup to create a system image to the SSD. Will that allow me to simply plug the SSD into the correct SATA port and boot from it or is it in some funny format?

Will Norton Ghost do what i want or is windows back up good enough?

Surveyor · 18 Jun 2012 at 15:09

You won't be able to boot from an image saved to the SSD using Windows Backup.

The image needs to be saved and then restored so you would have to save it to a third drive and then restore it to the SSD.

The caveat with that is that you can only restore to a drive/partition the same size or larger than the original.

If your current system drive/partition is larger than the SSD then you can't do it.

I've no idea about Norton Ghost as I've never used it.

MissChief · 18 Jun 2012 at 15:11

meh that wasn't what I wanted to hear!

OK, so what's the best way to image my C drive to the SSD then be able to boot from it? Would rather not have to reinstall, even though i probably should!

Surveyor · 18 Jun 2012 at 15:42

Norton Ghost may do it but I've never used it.

These may be of use:

HDD > SSD just backup then restore?

Clone SSD from one to another

Drive cloning from 1 SSD to another

eyetrip · 18 Jun 2012 at 15:47

have a look at easeus todo. think there free version, and much prefer to windows backup.

MissChief · 18 Jun 2012 at 15:56

Changed the BIOS mode to AHCI and suddenly the PC wouldn't boot so decided to reinstall anyway. Hopefully it'll be relatively painless and fast.

mranderson · 18 Jun 2012 at 18:21

If you had the OS installed for more than a year I would suggest you do a clean install and then restore your docs backup.

MissChief · 18 Jun 2012 at 18:22

have reinstalled Windows, installing updates (only 81 on first update!) and have everything setup. Even managed to move BF3 and ME3 over to the SSD without reinstalling!

roman59 · 18 Jun 2012 at 21:58

Fitted a new samsung 830 into my windows machine tonight.

I used the clone drive function in Arcronis it worked a treat, all running sweet as a nut plus it copied over both partitons in one hit.

Cheers all

jimmy321 · 19 Jun 2012 at 09:17

Surveyor said:
HDD > SSD just backup then restore?

Got round to that last night and it did not work for me as windows restored the partition alignment with the image. I have another problem with my PC at the moment so need to fix that before deciding to use cloning software of fresh install.

Durzel · 19 Jun 2012 at 09:22

You can use Windows to back up the whole partition to a file, and it'll ask you to create a recovery DVD as well. You just boot from that with the new drive in situ, tell it to recover from a file and it will do the rest. No third party software needed.

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/12/ssd-migration-made-easy-in-windows-7/

Surveyor · 19 Jun 2012 at 09:49

Durzel said:
You can use Windows to back up the whole partition to a file, and it'll ask you to create a recovery DVD as well. You just boot from that with the new drive in situ, tell it to recover from a file and it will do the rest. No third party software needed.

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/12/ssd-migration-made-easy-in-windows-7/

You can but you can't restore the image to a drive/partition smaller than the one it was taken from.

So if you image, for example, a 500GB HDD you can't restore that image to an SSD smaller than 500GB.

Durzel · 19 Jun 2012 at 14:04

Ah right, never knew that. Thanks!