To clone or not to clone

I'm a total SSD newb. I've never installed any hard drives actually. So I'm getting an Intel G3 for my new R3 and I'm finding very different opinions on whether you should just clone the drive or do a fresh install. Any opinions here?

 

You should install fresh to make sure you get all of the benefits of the SSD. One reason is that you need Windows 7 to detect that it is an SSD so that it will automatically disable disk fragmentation, turn on TRIM, etc. There are no instructions on how to force Windows 7 to re-detect an SSD after windows installation so the only confirmed way to have it properly detected is to do a clean install directly into the SSD.

The only risk I've seen with doing a clean install on the M17xR3 is that with the 3D/460m version, we (Mandrake and others) could not install the video drivers from Alienware without getting BSODs. I don't know if this has been resolved. But, if you have the 6970, then it wouldn't be an issue.

Also, there are a few pieces of software that are not on the CD. You should go to dell's site to make sure you can download them first. They are Roxio and Webcam software. The USB 3.0 drivers are also available only from Dell's support site.

Here is a link to my SSD install instructions:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...install-ssd-instructions-recommendations.html

BTW, if you google "Intel recommend using RAID instead of AHCI" you will find lots of links such as...

Advanced Host Controller Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

I've done both clones & Fresh Builds. The clones have worked out fine, so the from my experiences, the choice I make is: Do I like what I have know & is it set up just the way I like it. If the answer is yes, then I clone (then ensure I go through the various SSD optimization checks that are on this forum & elsewhere.

If I'm going from Raid to AHCI, then a fresh build is really the only choice. Or if I've accumulated too much crap on my system (sw I've tested, multiple Apps that I no longer use) then a clean build is a good choice.

So answer those questions for yourself & you'll get to the best answer for your circumstances. Good Luck!

 

Either way store your hard drive that came with the system. I have had good luck with cloning Intel SSD but not Kinston SSD's. My self I'd go with a fresh install as the platter and SSD are different and can sometimes not play nice when cloning. It is really just easier and quicker too. Just make sure you have all drivers and software on a USB flash or CD to install when your done. It's safer.

 

I didn't have issues with the non-3D 460M either when I installed the drivers on my OCZ Vertex2 SSD.

I had to call Dell My Tech Team to get the correct Roxio and PowerDVD install CDs. They were not available on the Dell My Downloads site or in the drivers section. This was after the non-My Tech Team support staff sent me the wrong PowerDVD (9.5 instead of 9.6) and claimed that my laptop did not come preinstalled with Roxio and that they couldn't send me one. Unfortunately, My Tech Team is only available if you chose the Premium Support option rather than Basic or Advanced.

 

My concern is that my newbishness will keep me from getting it back to the way it is now especially if I don't have some of the software.

 

Just put the hard drive your unit came with away for safe keeping. Put a fresh install on your SSD.. you will be fine. If all else fails you can reinstall the old hard drive. But lots of people have installed SSD's you'll be ok read jywang's link.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. Looks like once the SSD gets here I'll do the clean install.

Still a little concerned about the PowerDVD and Roxio software though.

Spreading a little rep.

 

Give Dell Support a call right now. Demand that they send you PowerDVD 9.6 disc if they try to send you 9.5. And if they tell you that your R3 doesn't come with Roxio preinstalled, call shenanigans.

One thing I am missing is the Alienware restoration software (whose name slips my mind right now), but that wasn't an issue for me as I do both data backups as well as full disc images on a regular basis.

 

I just cloned it onto a hybrid HDD that I was using on an older computer. Acronis does an absolutely fine job and I have no issues with drivers or bloatware.

 

How much is acronis?

 

If your getting the Intel SSD they have a special program and website to download from for their product. It also has software to run every 7 days to keep your trim right. Just use that since it keeps your warranty intact. clone with it not any other.

 

I've used both Acronis & Casper (Future Systems) for Cloning. Both worked flawlessly. Acronis has more backup/scheduling options. Both companies offer (or at least they did) Free 30 day trials. Both retail for about $50 (although I purchased multiple 3 user licenses for that same $50 from Acronis in times past)

 

I have a copy of Acronis through work so I'm not sure what the cost is, I'd guess $50.

Acronis's latest version doesn't allow you to clone drives in trial version, the most popular thing to do was to download the trial, clone a drive, and never use it again. Unfortunately I'm not sure where you would go to obtain and older version that has the cloning ability in trial mode.

 

I'll have to checkout the website. I just ordered the 300gig g3.

 

I used to be an Acronis customer. For the year or so I have been cloning using Macrium Reflect and it works awesomely. The retail version also has a Windows PE environment that's pretty slick and it works well with RAID. And, it's a little more affordable than Acronis. http://www.macrium.com/features.asp

 

Are there any issues cloning from an Hdd to an ssd?

 

No, except you will have to do all the tweaks your self after cloning so the SSD will work optimal.