How can I swap out HDD for SSD

[ohhh s.k]

if you get a samsung SSD, it should come with magician software that will let you clone your drive. you just need to get a dock or use a USB SATA adapter to connect your drive you want to clone.

LOL at the geeksquad post. if you don't have illegal things out on the open, also if you don't do illegal things on your computer why worry?

[lone shooter]

^ crucial SDD does as well.

[therealnickb]

Does this process render the old hard drive unusable or could you drop it back in the computer and function as normal?

I'm looking at two systems, both identical make and model and identical hardware. One runs a program perfectly the other just hangs when you start the program. The system works but the program just spins and spins.

The program has no registry ties, it's essentially self contained within it's file folder so 'install' is copy the folder to another computer and click the exe.

I want to copy the HDD that is working on to a new drive and see if it works in the box that's not working. I could drop the drive with the functioning program in the other computer but the fear is if it's a hardware issue (damned if I can figure out what that could be) it could damage the functioning drive.

If this doesn't affect the functioning drive this could be the best way too safely diagnose the problem.

Can't speak to skyhawks program, but I used easeus software to partition the original hd. A recovery file was written to the partition. Then the hd was cloned to a ssd in an external housing. After, I just swapped the drives. The new ssd works perfectly. The original is sitting in the housing as a back up to my back up. I suspect you could swap out the bad drive with the good one you removed and be on your way.

I used a star tech housing. Easy peasy.

[Marauder2003]

if you get a samsung SSD, it should come with magician software that will let you clone your drive. you just need to get a dock or use a USB SATA adapter to connect your drive you want to clone.

LOL at the geeksquad post. if you don't have illegal things out on the open, also if you don't do illegal things on your computer why worry?

Who said anything about illegal? Geeks and the FBI do not need to see my financial data stored in Quicken, do not need to see who I communicate with in Outlook, do not need to read my Excel sheets and Work docs and do not need to have access to my saved passwords in my browser.

I assume you are registering all your AWs?

[Rikrong]

Heard this a couple of weeks ago.

http://techguylabs.com/episodes/1465...-my-hard-drive

That link actually helps quite a bit. Thanks.

I believe you have to go into the BIOS and change the setting in there. Something about ATA setting (from my preliminary research).

I should be able to find how to do that with a quick search. Thanks.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled thread...

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

[orangeusa]

Acronis is REALLY good.

[SkyHawk]

Does this process render the old hard drive unusable or could you drop it back in the computer and function as normal?

I'm looking at two systems, both identical make and model and identical hardware. One runs a program perfectly the other just hangs when you start the program. The system works but the program just spins and spins.

The program has no registry ties, it's essentially self contained within it's file folder so 'install' is copy the folder to another computer and click the exe.

I want to copy the HDD that is working on to a new drive and see if it works in the box that's not working. I could drop the drive with the functioning program in the other computer but the fear is if it's a hardware issue (damned if I can figure out what that could be) it could damage the functioning drive.

If this doesn't affect the functioning drive this could be the best way too safely diagnose the problem.

During the process the original drive is not changed in any way, it is only read. So you can definitely revert back to it if you need to, like nothing ever happened.

As you mentioned, I would not risk booting your original working drive in the suspected wonky computer. So a clone is a good way to go.

[meno377]

Does this process render the old hard drive unusable or could you drop it back in the computer and function as normal?

I'm looking at two systems, both identical make and model and identical hardware. One runs a program perfectly the other just hangs when you start the program. The system works but the program just spins and spins.

The program has no registry ties, it's essentially self contained within it's file folder so 'install' is copy the folder to another computer and click the exe.

I want to copy the HDD that is working on to a new drive and see if it works in the box that's not working. I could drop the drive with the functioning program in the other computer but the fear is if it's a hardware issue (damned if I can figure out what that could be) it could damage the functioning drive.

If this doesn't affect the functioning drive this could be the best way too safely diagnose the problem.

During the process the original drive is not changed in any way, it is only read. So you can definitely revert back to it if you need to, like nothing ever happened.

As you mentioned, I would not risk booting your original working drive in the suspected wonky computer. So a clone is a good way to go.

One thing to note: While not common, a few programs use the hardrive ID as a form of registration. I stumbled on this with AutoCad. Not a big deal as I called customer support and they issued a new key, but it's something to mention.

[Dragunov]

The Samsung EVO comes with it's own cloning software. If you need to use something else, Macrium Reflect, or Mini Tool Partition Wizard are better than Acronis, and are free to boot. Find a You Tube video for SSD upgrade for your model of computer.

Get a USB to SATA cable. Clone your drive to the SSD, swap drives.... What works too, is to install Macrium Reflect, image the HDD, to another (3rd) drive, install the SSD, load a copy of windows 10 on it, install reflect on that, use it to pull an image from the third drive.

IF your computer has a UEFI BIOS, you MUST go in there, and disable Secure Boot. first, before doing any windows reload, or you'll FAIL.

You can get a USB 3.0 enclosure from Ebay for between $3.50, and $20. Put your old HDD in that, and use it to back up your new SSD.

You'll need:

BIOS access.
Macrium Reflect.
Windows 10 .ISO, easily downloaded from Microsnot for free.
Your new SSD.
Either a cheap USB 3.0 enclosure, or just a USB to SATA cable (Cheap) from Ebay.
A cheap, 256gb HDD from Ebay.

I would go with the Samsung EVO, as not only is it a better drive than most of the others, the cloning software is near fail safe.

In pictures:

Macrium Reflect is a good idea anyways. MUCH better than Acronis:

https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

HDD enclosure:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-5-Inch-USB-3-0-Aluminum-SATA-HDD-Hard-Drive-External-Enclosure-Case-Cover-Box/382324133954?hash=item59044b5042:g:3pQAAOSwUoNaQ7dk

Or this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-3-0-to-2-5-inch-SATA-22-Pin-HDD-SSD-Hard-Drive-Disk-Power-Adapter-Cable/122673289061?epid=716240074&hash=item1c8fe5d765:g:La8AAOSweQBZpMsA

This is BEST:
Samsung EVO with software:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-850-EVO-500GB-SATA-III-Internal-Solid-State-Drive-SSD-MZ-75E500B-AM-New/253474699238?epid=216301445&hash=item3b0444f7e6:g:12MAAOSwYNxacCSY

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This will work, if you want to just load windows on the new SSD, and pull a Macrium image from a third HDD:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Western-Digital-WD-WD2500LPLX-250GB-7200RPM-SATA-6-0Gb-s-2-5-Laptop-Drive-NEW/142711052989?hash=item213a3ddabd:g:A8AAAOSw6lRadOSO

Windows 10 .ISO from Microsoft:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

With either method, you'll need the USB to SATA cable.

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Keep your old HDD for making Macrium images of your HDD, OR, if your computer has an optical drive, you can remove it, and install a second HDD caddy, with your old HDD installed in it, and have a D:\ drive.

If you do this, you can direct Windows to place your Swap file (if you use one), all your temporary files, and your downloads, pictures, music, etc. folders to the D:\ drive, to save write cycles on your new SSD. This is what I do. If you NEED a DVD/BlueRay optical drive, the USB 3.0 external optical drives work fine.

You can also image your new SSD to your new D:\ drive with Macrium Reflect.

DON'T forget to DISABLE SECURE BOOT IN YOUR BIOS!!!

BTW, I've done this at least a hundred times. It works.

My "Daily Driver" was done using the second method, with a third HDD:

ThinkPad T440p/16gbRAM/960gb SanDisk, Ultra II SSD/1tb Toshiba HDD in the optical drive bay. No swap file, all temp files, and downloads/pictures folders are on my D:\ drive. The "My Documents" folder remains on my SSD.

To me, this is the ideal setup for any computer.

[NYT]

dont clone your current OS from the hdd to the ssd. it wont turn out as stable as a fresh install will be.

you want to get all the speed and performance out of the ssd as you can, go with a fresh install.

the simplest explanation i can give you for the reasoning is that an hdd and ssd have different types of controllers that arrange data in different ways. a 1:1 copy never turns out well imo and i have been working with ssds for many years now.

to give you more precise instructions, i would need to know the make and model of your laptop and your budget.

[Dragunov]

dont clone your current OS from the hdd to the ssd. it wont turn out as stable as a fresh install will be.

you want to get all the speed and performance out of the ssd as you can, go with a fresh install.

the simplest explanation i can give you for the reasoning is that an hdd and ssd have different types of controllers that arrange data in different ways. a 1:1 copy never turns out well imo and i have been working with ssds for many years now.

to give you more precise instructions, i would need to know the make and model of your laptop and your budget.

Somewhat agree, I load windows on my new SSD, then pull the factory image (that I built) with reflect, clean it up real good, then save the image. He will be fine with that. If he starts with a plain, clean windows install, he has to hunt drivers and install them in the correct order, if he doesn't pull the backed up, factory image. Not only that, the newer controllers, sort that stuff out on there own, unlike the older ones.

The EVO drive/software is the easiest way to do this for someone who doesn't do this on a regular basis (you, and I for an example).

[pchang1201]

Perhaps I'm missing something (and wouldn't be the first time). If you clone the HD to the SSD in order to retain installed programs why not refresh the OS on the installed SSD from a Microsoft iso in order to remove any HD specific stuff that might impact performance.

If there's no need to keep any software then why not do a clean install directly on the SSD? Win10 allows you to do clean installs on the licensed pc without the need for a product key as far as I know.

[C.G.]

If there's no need to keep any software then why not do a clean install directly on the SSD? Win10 allows you to do clean installs on the licensed pc without the need for a product key as far as I know.

Exactly, I prefer clean installs as well; it doesn't take very long nowadays.

[Surf & Turf]

A related question please.

Is this the same process for a desktop? I would also like to keep the old hdd for data backup...

[meno377]

A related question please.

Is this the same process for a desktop? I would also like to keep the old hdd for data backup...

Yes.