Want to clone my Samsung SSD for new firmware update

Dell has released a new firmware update for the Samsung SSD that I got with my M11x R1. But the firmware update will erase the SSD. I plan on getting the new version of Acronis True Image, and a WD external USB drive for backing up the SSD.

Is this all I need, or am I missing something important? And is there anything I need to know about, or will the Acronis software take care of everything?

 

As far as I know, no.

Be sure to let us know how it works out, I've decided until someone comes out and says it was worth the work, I'm not updating the firmwire. I am betting it won't be much improvement if any.

 

Acronis is notorious for ruining your partition alignment, so make sure you check it after you restore the image back.

 

Well, I was thinking the Samsung SSD firmware update couldn't make things any worse, but I'd really like to hear back from someone who's already done it as well.

I don't really care about losing the Dell restore partition from the drive, as I'd really prefer to have all the space available to me. I just don't know the procedure on how to get the cloned data back on the SSD once it's wiped from the firmware update. Does Acronis take care of this? And I assume you'd need to boot from the external HD first, and that the M11x allows this?

 

I am restoring from an Acronis image later today and will let you know how it goes. I did the firmware update, but I am not sure it was worth it.

 

Look forward to hearing your results!

 

I performed it last week, just reloaded 7 with my external DVD drive and after a near week of use, between the new firmware and custom 7 install, I see little differences, but no complaints either.

I feel mentally I updated it, good enough for me! I hate knowing I'm using old drivers.

Maybe I could say login and some read and write speeds seem better, but don't take that opinion too seriously.

 

using imaging software to backup a SSD is tricky like mentioned acronis will ruin the SSD by laying down the image incorrectly and hindering performance. Only way to use an imaging software is to format and have the drive ready ahead of time and use norton ghost and have it lay down the image without modifying partition or reformating. Acronis will tinker and modify the existing partition and the drive will be out of alignment. It is always best to do a clean isntall and windows 7 installer automatically aligns and setups the drive correctly.


also here is a guide i did on how to shrink the windows install down to 5gb disk space a great way to get back precious SSD space.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/516410-windows-7-optimized-ssd-install-5-5gb.html

 

Thanks - much appreciated. So Norton Ghost is the prefered software over Acronis True Image?

 

sorry just saw this...yes use norton ghost since 2010 acronis is not optimized for SSD they claim 2011 version will be but stick with norton for now but only get a backup of it not a true image which will backup the partitions and possibly the mbr. All you want is the data it self and then you will prep the drive for a clean install and then just have norton lay an image down without touching any of the partition structure or without formatting the drive.

Anytime you want to restore SSD performance you can use secure erase but it is much easier using that on a desktop since a laptop you would have to do a hotswap on the drive once you boot-up...slightly risky