Transfer Files

Hi,

I am getting a system exchange soon. I have an Alienware M17x laptop. And I was wondering what would be the easiest way to transfer all of my files onto the new computer. Once I get the new computer, I have a second hard drive slot (I mean it is standard for the computer to have 2 slots, but I could only afford one ssd, therefore there is another slot open) so then I would be able to put this ssd into the newer computer. But the problem I think that will occur is that both ssd's have an operating system on it. I would just like to transfer everything from this ssd to the new one in the easiest way possible because I don't want to lose all of my saved games, from steam ad stuff like that. Does anyone know if there is a way to flash to ssd or something because I also have an external hard drive. But I don't have any cables or anything. I was wondering if there was a program or a way to just simply transfer my files into the new computer.

But also since I have had problems with the computer, alienware has granted me keeping the extra ssd in this computer. So therefore after I get all my files off of the ssd from my old computer, I would like to wipe that older ssd and use it as a slave drive with the new computer. Since I will have both then. But like I said I think the only problem with that will be that there is an operating system on both of the ssd's.

Also if it is a possibility after I wipe the second hard drive I will like to put both of the ssd's into RAID 0. Idk if there has to be a BIOS flash as well because I am not quite sure how the RAID 0 configuration works... if that is normally installed by the manufacturer or something like that.

Thanks for any information.

 

What I would do:

1) Load Windows and backup your personal data to your external drive. Open Steam and use its backup feature to backup your games to the external drive.
2) Install the 2nd SSD and configure it for RAID 0. You will probably need to enable RAID for your hard drive controller in the system BIOS (A BIOS flash should not be necessary). After enabling RAID you should get an option during POST to configure the RAID array. Keep in mind that when you setup RAID, your data on both drives gets wiped.
4) Reinstall the OS/drivers/apps and restore your personal data from the external drive.

 

why on earth would you be doing RAID 0 on an SSD drive? A single SSD is fast enough on its own

 

Did you read the OP? That's what the guy wants to do. And FYI RAID 0 with SSD drives has serious improvements over single SSD drives.

Intel SSDs RAID 0, A Case Study In Speed, Take 2 - HotHardware

OCZ Vertex SSD RAID-0 Performance | OCZ Vertex RAID-0,OCZ Vertex SSD RAID-0 Performance,OCZ Vertex SSD RAID-0 Performance Speed Benchmark Test

 

Thank you soo much kosti. I just have a couple more questions. Can I flash a whole copy of my hard drive that will come with my computer to my external hard drive? The only reason I say that, and I don't want to reinstall the whole OS and drivers and stuff like that, is because alienware has specific ways in which drivers need to be installed, and most programs don't even work with the factory programs that come with alienware. I don't want to name them for you, but I am just saying that it is a pain in the bottom^2 to have to reinstall all of those drivers for every single component in the computer. Not to mention the last time(s) I have even done that with alienware representatives it resulted in information loss on my end and I was very upset about that.

I understand steam and how to back that up, I would just like to know if there is a way that you know to back up the whole copy of windows and everything on the hard drive, so that if I put the RAID 0 on and all my information is deleted that I can simply flash it back. Do you think that you could give me specific steps on how to do this.

Finally do I have to simply change the BIOS into RAID 0? Will that automatically pop up a window to change the hard drives into that format?

The reason I did want this RAID 0 setup is exactly, point and case, the performance boost that you mentioned and I read that one of those specfic reviews actually. Esp since alienware is giving me that hard drive for free, I might as well make use of it. Also I have my terabyte hard drive so I can store and backup all my information.

Thanks for all your help and future information.

 

Hey kosti did you receive my private message that I sent you which should be the same as my last post? I was really hoping for an answer because you seemed to know what you were talking about. Any kind of information would be really helpful.

Thanks

 

also has sevre reductions with reliablity.. OP , if ur getting an SSD , even 2 single SSD's would be fast enough.. of course u can do RAID 0 but if u loose ur data , ur in big trouble.. not to mention u loose half the space in RAID 0 which is not good.

 

Hey Sean, thanks for replying.

Like I said the only problem I have when doing this is the transferring files business. But I will like you said only have 2 drives then, and NOT put them in RAID 0. Can you simply install the other hard drive and it will register as a slave drive to the main one? Or is there something special that you have to do? Because the hard drive that I have right now I can copy all my files to an external hard drive and wipe that one, but then one question arises... How do I wipe that slave drive clean? Can you do that in cmd, because so far as I can see if you have both drives installed into the computer then both will have an operating system in it. So idk how to change one into a slave drive... wipe the other.... and then make that newly wiped one into my slave drive.

If you could help me with those simple three things...that would be great.