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    Upgrade to SSD. Reinstall or Image?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Mikeobwan, Nov 24, 2010.

  1. Mikeobwan

    Mikeobwan Notebook Enthusiast

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    So I have a newer M17xR2 that I bought with 2x 7200rpm 500gb drives. I now have the opportunity to upgrade to a 256gb SSD and 640gb HD.

    So the first question is, Is this worth the time and effort, for the performance gain. From posts I have read, I believe it is.

    Second question is, can I just image (clone) my existing system and then reimage once the 256gb SSD is in the system.

    Currently the system is setup just the way I like, and I would hate to mess that up by having to reinstall windows 7, so Imaging would be ideal. I just don't know if it will work going from a HD to a SSD.

    Thanks
    Mike
     
    Mikeobwan, Nov 24, 2010
    #1
  2. faiz23

    faiz23 Macbook FTW

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    Reinstall everything but before you do that try to make a slim down version of windows 7. My SSD install is 5.5gb and 8.5gb with drivers, antivirus, spyware, office, video player, and browsers. Reinstalling windows 7 means your drive will be aligned which if the drive is not aligned for SSD you are throwing away performance for being lazy. Backup all your documents, pictures, music and movies and do the swap and reinstall windows 7 and use the latest drivers. If you try to clone the drive and reimage you will ruin drive alignment as well especially using Acronis true image Home.


    http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/516410-windows-7-optimized-ssd-install-5-5gb.html
     
    faiz23, Nov 24, 2010
    #2