Converting to SSD

I am considering getting an SSD for my T400. The SSD will be the same size/GB as my current HDD. In a perfect world, the new SSD would be an exact clone of my current HDD. I am running W7 on my HDD. I see there is at least one product on the market which helps with this procedure: http://www.apricorn.com/product_detail.php?type=reg&id=1023

Or is a product like this a gimmick?

Is it bad to do such a cloning or image of the HDD? When I say bad, I am wondering if it is substantially better to install W7 from scratch?

I would like to remove my HDD install the SSD and be off and running. (I suspect I might have to install an SSD driver or something, but it would be nice to not have to do much more.)

TIA

 

There is no such thing as a SSD driver. Once W7 detects that you're using an SSD, it will adjust itself accordingly. Because of that, you will be fine with doing a clone of your old disk. If you don't have the extra SATA connection to do a direct clone, you can use softwares like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image to make a backup of your current drive then restore it on the SSD. Do a Google search on these software if you need help.

 

No need for Ghost or True Image to clone your present HDD and place it on new SSD - the Win7 imaging facility works great. Just use Win7 to image your system out to an external HDD, then create a recovery CD. Replace your HDD with the new SSD; boot system with recovery CD, with external HDD connected. Follow prompts to find image to restore from external HDD. Restore (it will even restore multiple partitions). Once restore has finished and system rebooted to Win7 on the SSD, the system will need a further reboot in response to the new hardware.

 

Tried it once before, didn't work that well for me so I stick to Acronis True Image. But you're right, W7 does have the capabilities of cloning disk, so there's no need for a paying alternative.

 

What problems did you have? I used the Windows 7 imaging and restore system three times the past couple of days, to create and restore Win 7 32bit and 64 bit systems (with data partition) on a HDD as well as the SSD, without any problems at all. Rather, I was impressed. I also have Acronis, but use it only for my Vista image - I find it slower and more cumbersome - and it look like the 2009 version is not compatible with Win7...
I use Synctoy to do incremental backups to external media, and also image everything every now and then. Just in case, I image and synctoy to more than one external HDD.

 

How do you connect the removed HDD to the laptop, once it is removed from the laptop? What type of cable is needed? Power supply?

Thanks

 

Just put the HDD in a (SATA or PATA version, depending on your HDD) 2.5" enclosure - they are only a few dollars - they come with a usb-connecting cable. Any reasonable computer corner-store will have a few choices. Very simple things. Otherwise you can buy an off-the-shelf external 2.5/3.5 drive within an enclosure for backups and/or images- they are now also very cheap. again, they come with connecting usb and cable. More sophisticated ones can connect through LAN and other methods. But having your own enclosure is nice- you can put in and take out your own choice of HDD's/SSD's as you desire. work just as well...

 

Simply transferring an image to a new SSD will work, but may result in partition misalignment on the SSD (even though the original image had proper alignment) and possible performance degradation of the SSD.

The topic of SSD partition alignment is discussed on the OCZ forum and there is a convenient tool available there to use to check for proper alignment.

The OCZ forum also has some methods for maintaining proper alignment on all partitions while restoring an image to a SSD. In summary, one method is to:

1. Use the Windows 7 DVD to do a clean install on the SSD but do not activate, then
2. Use the Windows 7 DVD to format the non-System Reserved partition(s) on the SSD, then
3. Use a rescue CD to boot to the SSD and restore the desired backup image to the newly formated partition(s) on the SSD.

The key to this method is using the Windows 7 DVD to install and then format the partitions because then they will automatically be properly aligned.

 

What if a person does NOT have multiple partitions on the original drive/image? My current HDD is 160gb - all on the C Drive. My understanding is that W7 typically creates a hidden 200mb partition, when I open drive management I don't see that 200mb partition either (unless there is something I need to do to actually see it). I can't recall now, but I think I did something during install to prevent the 200mb partition.

So if everything is contained on one partition, is there still a risk of partition misalignment?

 

If Windows 7 was allowed to create the "System Reserved" partition it should be visible at Computer (right click) - Manage - Disk Management.

Whether or not a System Reserved partition was created, partition alignment is still a consideration. Perhaps you could try a simple cloning to the new SSD and check alignment of the partititon(s) with the tool at OCZ forum and then, if misaligned, use a different restore method.

If there is more than one partition, it is possible for one to be aligned and another to be misaligned. Each partition has its own starting offset for calculating alignment, viewable at System Information. (Control Panel - Performance Information and Tools - Advanced Tools - View Advanced System Details in System Information - Components - Storage - Disks.)

 

I searched there for the tool you mention, but could not find it. Can you possibly give a link or a name for this tool? Thank you!

 

Here is a lengthy OCZ forum thread discussing SSD partition alignment with links in the thread to the tools:

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57599