Adding a new SSD on G74SX as a primary HDD

Hi all

I want to add a new 128G SSD on my G74SX as a primary HDD and use the original 640G HDD as a secondary HDD.
And I am thinking to clone the image from my original HDD to the new SSD (including the re-install partition )

Did anyone done this before and can give me some suggestions if I am doing this?
Which HDD clone software should I use ?

 

Just make sure the partition will fit, and leave at least 1/4 of the drive free. When I moved to a SSD, I moved my Steam dir over to the 2nd drive to make the space.

 

not a good idea as windows installs its files on different parts of the hdd and doesnt treat data the same way. i did that with my vertex and ended up reformating because of many errors and weird stuff happening

 

Maybe you should have used a good partition copier that handles different hardware properly. (zing @ Clonezilla)

 

I did this the other day with my G74, and had tons of problems. My computer decided that the SSD was the D drive, even after I removed the old drive, and windows ran in a strange "temporary account" safe-mode-like state. I couldn't get any of the drive letter registry mods to work from within the temp acount. Ended up just using recovery disks on the SSD. I think this happened because I imaged the drive with windows running after it assigned the drive letter. I recommend using a boot utility to image the HDD to the SSD, and make your recovery disks.

 

If this image is the factory image, I would recommend a clean install of windows. Also get rid of the Asus recovery program and the recovery partition and create an image to an external hard drive with a good imaging program. I use Paragon free version, Acronis is highly recommended also througout the forums.

 

I would recommend a clean install too. For one thing it ensures correct partition alignment on the ssd.

 

I'm in the process of doing this now. I first booted up the new G74, then created the recovery disks from AI Recovery. Powered down, removed the original drive and installed the new OCZ Vertex Plus SSD in the primary slot. It's in the process of restoring after creating the recovery partition and transferring all of the files. As soon as I get it all restored from the recovery disks I'll power down and install the new 500GB HDD and set it up as the data and program drive.

Going smooth so far.

 

A clean install doesn't take a whole lot of time, except for downloading the Windows 7 Home Premium ISO (free, legal, Google it) and downloading some important drivers in advance. The installation of Windows 7 from a USB stick onto the SSD actually only takes a few minutes.

There is a thorough guide available, with pictures, on this forum: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...-thanksgiving-day-ssd-installation-guide.html

If I were you, I would also keep the OS install/partition intact in the default drive, so that if the SSD fails, I can just make the laptop boot off of that as a backup option while the SSD goes in for RMA (at least for Intel drives, which carry 5 years warranty).

 

I tried cloning the partition with my G73. After sometime, I ended up doing a clean install. Save yourself the hassle of doing twice the work and go do a clean install.

 

My SSD came with a USB 3.0 adapter that I plugged in and it copied everything over from my old HDD then I replaced them back internally and was done. The whole process took like 30 minutes and was very easy...

 

Just a FYI:

Acronis' True Image + Power Pack allows for copying an OS partition, and will wipe the OS drivers from the registry, so that everything is re-detected new. I did this for a JH > SW transfer and worked pefectly, and just had to reinstall some of the drivers.