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    Hard drive cloning from 2tb to 256GB drive?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Geronemo, Oct 17, 2014.

  1. Geronemo

    Geronemo Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,
    Although I am trying to do this in a desktop, I know the procedure should be the same.
    The new computer will have a 2tb 7200rpm drive 3.5" HDD.

    I want to clone the OS (win 8.1 pro) to a Crucial 256GB MX100 2.5" SSD and use the 2tb as storage.

    What software would you guys recommend and is it possible to clone from a bigger drive to a smaller one?
    Or should I just install the OS from scratch?

    Please let me know :)

    Thanks
     
    Geronemo, Oct 17, 2014
    #1
  2. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

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    Try Macrium Reflect?
     
    alexhawker, Oct 17, 2014
    #2
    tijo likes this.
  3. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    If the OS is installed on a partition then you could shrink the partition to fit the drive. But if the OS is installed as one big partition on the 2TB drive. But I honestly would do a clean install because then the OS will set up the SSD appropriately and use it as an SSD instead of an HDD.
     
    HTWingNut, Oct 18, 2014
    #3
  4. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    I would use Acronis software and boot from the Acronis DVD bootable disk and use that to do cloning from your HDD to SSD. Otherwise I would recommend you do a complete fresh Restore image onto your SSD that way you will avoid any pitfalls. I myself have a Destkop and change from HDD to SSD because the HDD was failing but going to SSD do a clean fresh install of Windows 8 on it. I know that is alot of work but will insure your O/S is good and stable to go. As for the Acronis I installed it and created a bootable CD that can boot and make images and or clone drives this helped me alot in crunch times.
     
    StormJumper, Oct 18, 2014
    #4
  5. Althernai

    Althernai Notebook Virtuoso

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    Interesting. What is the difference? I suppose SSDs should not be defragmented, but that's easy enough to turn off by hand. Is there something else?

    Also, what qualifies as a "clean install"? I was thinking of using the "minimum restore image" DVDs which have the operating system and all of the drivers, but I suspect that comes with the assumption of an HDD since that's what the laptop originally came with. I guess I could also just install Windows from a downloaded image, but then I'd have to hunt down all of the laptop-specific drivers later.
     
    Althernai, Oct 18, 2014
    #5
  6. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    Here something you might want to read up on SSD and TRIM and Defrag....

    Fragging wonderful: The truth about defragging your SSD | PCWorld

     
    StormJumper, Oct 19, 2014
    #6