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    Upgrading from 120gb ssd to 256 ssd.. clean install?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by redandblack1287, Jun 18, 2012.

  1. redandblack1287

    redandblack1287 Notebook Consultant

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    If I'm going from one ssd to another, is there any real reason to clean install? I really don't have the time to and everything is working fine, but if its going to cause me problems I would rather just suck it up and do it right the first time. Thanks in advance for the advice
     
    redandblack1287, Jun 18, 2012
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  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    You can always try cloning, but I highly recommend a clean install.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Jun 19, 2012
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  3. Dreamliner330

    Dreamliner330 Notebook Evangelist

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    It depends on the ssd that you purchased and clone tool you use, some have the sector alignment (or whatever it's called).

    I use Intel drives and Acronis and have been happy.
     
    Dreamliner330, Jun 19, 2012
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  4. redandblack1287

    redandblack1287 Notebook Consultant

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    Why exactly? That's the part I want to know =)

    Also, I'm going from an OCZ to a Crucial using Acronis true image. Thoughts?
     
    redandblack1287, Jun 19, 2012
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  5. Dreamliner330

    Dreamliner330 Notebook Evangelist

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    You'll probably be fine. No harm in trying.

    I prefer Intel drives. Reliability + the Intel SSD Toolbox software is a big plus!
     
    Dreamliner330, Jun 19, 2012
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  6. Rishwin

    Rishwin Notebook Deity

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    Because any issues/problems you encounter is going to require a fresh format to rectify anyway, so it's always advised to just do that straight from the get-go.

    At least if absolutely -ANYTHING- goes wrong, you know that you have a fresh Windows install which right there rules out OS or migration issues.

    Also as far as Windows in concerned, you just changed your HDD to a bigger one, it's still the exact same PC with the exact same OS. Any flaws or problems or corruptions in the system (and there will be, Windows itself starts breaking down after several months you actually NEED a fresh format at least every 12-18 months) will be pulled into your new SSD and you'll never actually know if it's performing the way it should be.
     
    Rishwin, Jun 20, 2012
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  7. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    I have seen sometimes cloning messes up the alignment, of course I haven't had this issue with Acronis. When your OS is misaligned, the performance is horrid, and it will kill your SSD faster (excessive writes).
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Jun 21, 2012
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  8. Naieve

    Naieve Newbie

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    +1 for Acronis. I have cloned my Intel SSD raid a couple times without problems. Along with numerous other non-raid OS drives. Never had a problem with a misalignment.
     
    Naieve, Jun 21, 2012
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  9. redandblack1287

    redandblack1287 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the input everyone--I think I'm just going to do a fresh install for a while and boot from my old hard drive as needed until I have time to set everything up. Otherwise I'm just going to clone and fresh install in december when I have some time off. My only hesitation is that the last time I fresh installed on an ssd, there was a guide here with tips on several settings to adjust and I can no longer find it. I have had literally zero problems for a year and a half with my current setup and I'm hesitant to change it after seeing some of the problems people are having with fresh installs recently. If anyone knows the guide I'm talking about or can refer me to a similar one, I would really appreciate it
     
    redandblack1287, Jun 21, 2012
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