Installing Windows 8 on new SSD - UX32VD

Hi Guys,

I am currently running Windows 8 on my stock 500gb HDD that comes with the Zenbook UX32VD.

I have recently purchased a 7mm 256gb SSD to replace this traditional drive.

I have done some research and found out that there is a windows recovery partition on the 500gb HDD.

Can anyone suggest how I can extract that partition out of the HDD and use it reformat my new SSD?

If possible, can I clone my current HDD and paste it onto the new SSD?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks,

Kevin A.

 

You can't "extract" it, unfortunately. The most you can do is clone the drive, but it's generally recommended you do a fresh install, as problems are more likely to arise with cloning.

Here's a guide for cloning: How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows

To do a fresh/clean install of Windows, you will need install media copied to a disc or a usb thumb drive; then you'll boot off that (disable Secure Boot first) and run the Windows installer.

 

Thanks for the reply! I came across a function within Windows 8 yesterday called - 'Create a recovery drive'. In there it had an option to check and use the recovery drive. I ticked it and it seemed to back up the hidden recovery drive asus put in there. Guessing that might be it? Then it just boot into my new SSD from the USB recovery and install once more.

 

I didn't so this with Window 8 but i did it twice on Windows using a SSD Kit. The kit contained the drive, a usb disk enclosure and Acronis true image Cloning software. I got a new system with a 750 GB HD that I installed all my apps (it was about 60 gb). I cloned to HD to the SSD. The HD had partitians C and D. D was the volume that contained the system restore. I cloned the drive and opoed the SSD in bay 1 and moved the HD to bay 2 and it worked with no issues. Then I was down to about 90% of capacity on the SSD so I purchased a 240 GB SSD. I cloned the 120 gb SSD to the 240 SSD and swapped the drives and it worked fine right away. Later i was running out od space on the 750 GB drive so I purchased a 1 TB drive and did the same with that. The only issue i had was the partitian on the new 1GB drive only had the 750 GB partitian. I tried to extend the size using the disk mgmt in Windows 7 and I couldn't extend the partitian. I then went to a download site and downloaded a free partitian manager and i just expanded the 750 GB to 1 TB and i had the extra 250 GB of free space.

One thing about the cloning software it, I booted from the Acronis DVD before Windows was loaded and Acronis took over the operation of the machine and created the partitians that windows could use. I'm not sure if a newer bersion of Acronis is needed to work with windows. I'm guessing not.

 

Hey Guys,

I got my SSD today. I got a copy of Windows 8 and put it on a USB.

I loaded it up on the laptop and I get a 'product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available' message.

What does this mean? Do I need to find a specific version of Windows and put that on my USB? :S P.s. the laptop was purchased in Australia

If so, what version did the laptop come with? Guessing pro?

 

Asus has a backup software backtrack which u can download from their web site. It allows U to backup (to your USBs ) the contents of the stock HDD ( Win 8 + drivers files ). Once U hv removed the stock HDD & installed the SSD , u need to change the UEFI settings to boot from USB(ie. CSM on + Secured boot off) .
After that , just follow the on screen instructions & the W8 recovery files will be installed onto the SSD .
The licence key should be pulled (automatically) from the Bios . After that, remove the USB, change the UEFI settings back to the original state (CSM off + Secured boot on.)Your SSD should boot into W8.

Caveat - I hv a N56 , but I assume the process should be the same . Hv fun !

 

Yes! Many struggled with this on the ultrabooks, assuming that the recovery partition could be launched simply by booting F9. Unfortunately, it doesn't boot to the recovery unless you make that drive, so well done :thumbsup:

It would be great if you could post how you created the recovery drive here, for others sake!

The key is embedded in the BIOS and has to match the edition of Windows 8 you're installing. Make sure you have the right edition (8 or 8 Pro; 32-bit or 64-bit) for whatever came with the laptop.