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    Windows image

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Scottyboy99, Sep 21, 2011.

  1. Scottyboy99

    Scottyboy99 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi Guys,

    Really a hypothetical question here. I do have Alien Respawn and have created a USB with the factory image on. However, I also regulary use Windows 7 own back up to create a system image. I have done so much on my laptop, so many games, patches etc that in the event of the unthinkable I get a much better starting point without having to spend ages re-installing/re-trawling the net.

    Now if I ever swapped out the hard drive, rather than use Alien Respawn, can I safely use the Windows 7 system images I have created to maintain the same working installation?

    Another problem though. The only natural upgrade for my hard drive would be to go SSD from my current 750 gig 7,200 rpm hard drive. As SSD's generally only go upto 256 gig things don't fit very well it seems. I'd probably want the SSD as the main windows drive and to keep the 750 gig in my system too. So an image where everything is installed on the C: drive (about 440 gigs used up) just wouldn't work properly? As everything points to the C: drive. It's kind of hard to explain.

    I guess I'd have wait til there are solid state drives that match or exceed the capacity of my current 750 gig hard drive to achieve what I want to do at some point?

    I really regret not getting an SSD at the time but the cost & small size capacity really put me off. I would of gone for the Seagate Hybrid Momentous XT but at time of ordering my M17 r3 it wasn't included as an option. However I am now sick of the slow boot time into Windows 7. Quite fast to get to the login screen and type the password but the welcome screen with blue spinning circle then takes about 40 seconds to dissappear and display the desktop (and then another 20-30 secs for desktop to feel snappy and fully responsive). Seems poor. Tried soluto and disabling non essential start up items but only shaved a few seconds. Maybe Alien Respawn and McAfee are too blame but there is no service available in MsConfig to stop Respawn and I can't go without a security suite on the laptop. To be honest the slow boot has been there since I got the laptop so it hasn't degraded over time much. Maybe a few seconds.
     
    Scottyboy99, Sep 21, 2011
    #1