Guide to reinstall onto SSD?

Reposting here instead of the Owner's forum for more replies.

I have a new G53SW-XN1. I love it so far but haven't had enough time with it yet - I spent the entire night reading the bloatware thread/uninstalling and customizing.

I shouldn't spend too much time with it because I'm not happy about the bootup / application load times. I have a Lenovo T400 with Core 2 Duo T9400 running Windows 7 and the Asus doesn't appear to be any zippier in terms of daily usage of browsing and loading applications.

I need a SSD

So I need guidance on procedures from everyone who has swapped the main HDD for a SSD. What is the best method?

Physically swapping it I am okay with but the process of reinstalling Windows 7 I have questions.

1) Can I backup with Asus backup to make DVDs then recover onto SSD?
2) If not, do I go download the Windows 7 DVD and then install a fresh install of windows 7? I heard that my CD key won't work - is that true?
Then I'll lose my recover partition, so will I still be able to make backup DVDs with the new SSD based OS?

If this information is already in another thread, please direct me as I couldn't find it.
Thank you.

 

Yes.. if you make recover disks... you can use them when you install the ssd..

 

You can install windows 7 fresh with the cd key on the bottom of your laptop, as long as it's the same edition (w7 hp): http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

That's probably the 'safest' way to go about installing on an SSD.

Some manufacturers have SSD cloning tools, opinions on these are varied. I don't use them myself, so I don't have any advice about them but they are worth checking out.

In any event, you should burn your recovery DVDs so that if you somehow wipe out the recovery partition, you will have them to fall back on.

The possible issue with the recovery DVDs is that they are a raw image (as far as I remember), so they may not end up being 4k-aligned for an SSD.

 

You can also instead of using your key on bottom of your laptop use the program called ABR (Activation Backup and Restore)
Site here... ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us
Download here... http://directedge.us/files/abr/ABRbeta.exe
I used it and worked perfect...
Then you installs windows 7 and you need to activate you just dont type anything and uncheck "Automatically activate Windows when I'm online"

Then you installed drivers and stuff you just run ABR_restore...
Check about you activated "Rightclick on computer>Proterties>Scroll donw to bottom>Look" =D

 

I find the best way to make a clone of a drive is to use a program called clonezilla live.

You can use either the debian or ubuntu based. However, it gives you the ability to boot straight off of the cd and have a usb mass storage device to backup an entire 1:1 replica of your used partition. Afterwards you can clone that directly on your ssd more than likely. Not 100% sure, but hey it's worth a shot.

 

Or you can download SP1 separately and install it from your secondary hard drive (if you have one) or a flash drive/CD after installing 7. That's what i did when i updated my N50 to windows 7 and it worked like a charm.

 

ReaperWolf, Did you successfully use the Recovery DVDs to restore Win7 onto your new SSD? What about the partitioning of the C:, D:, and the Recovery Partition that previously existed?

 

To answer your questions, you can still use your windows 7 code to register a new install. Also I prefer fresh installs to recovery DVDs or cloning. Those might work fine, but a fresh install works every time.


1) I would do what SealHunter said, use ABR to save your windows 7 registration. Then save those files to a USB stick for reactivating your new install. (this isn't absolutely necessary because you can use the code on the bottom of the laptop to register windows but ABR makes it a little safer iMHO).

2) Then use the link Groceries provided to burn an windows 7 disk and reinstall using that. You can also use the Windows 7 disk that came with your laptop if you have one.

3) Then you will need to download and install the appropriate drivers or use a driver disk if you have one.

4) After you've redone with all that I'd optimize your SSD using this link...

http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-2/