w530 migrating to SSD

ok just got my w530, and i have my crucial 256gb m4 ssd here yet to be installed

i assume all i need to do is create a backup disc image, install the ssd, and then restore the image. this is my first SSD so please tell me if theres some precautions i need to know about

i've created the restore discs. but lenovo also has a Rescue and Recovery application as well. which should i use ?

 

or do you guys recommend just doing a clean fresh win7 install?
i've seen hearst's guide here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...uide-clean-installing-windows-7-thinkpad.html

 

it's an interesting guide, but I thought it was just a matter of taking the recovery disc(s) created by the system and using those as your 'install dvd'. It makes it sound far more complicated with the whole 'clean win7 install'...

Have a read of the thread:

Newbie advise for W530 & Samsung 830 SSD - Lenovo Community

over at the official Lenovo forum.

 

thanks for that link

also i think i bought the wrong drive, apparently the w530 needs 7mm ssd according to djembe. he mentions it twice:

Just got my W530 - Page 8 - Lenovo Community
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/SSD-Advice-W530/td-p/781607

i think my crucial M4 is 9.5mm

is there any official docs about this anywhere before i sell my drive and buy a new one?

 

Oh? I understand the newer Crucial M4 SSDs are 7mm, as sold here.

I have never done a Recovery from CD/DVDs onto a SSD, but I once did a HDD-to-SSD image using the transfer kit that is bundled with Crucial M4.

I usually do a clean Windows 7 installation on the new SSD, using the C:\SWTOOLS folder (for drivers) copied to a USB flash drive.

 

i don't know newer or not, but theres certainly 9.5mm ones:
Newegg.com - Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2BAA 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

i wish i would've known that the w530 needs 7mm beforehand

 

More than likely the W530 takes a 9.5 mm drive. One way to check is by opening up the hdd bay in the W530 and taking a look at the label on the drive. Usually the label on the disk will mention if it is a 7mm or a 9.5 mm. If you don't want to do that then call Lenovo tech support to ask them to clarify. Assuming that you haven't unboxed the crucial, a good retailer will exchange it for a 7mm drive w/out charging restocking fees.

I have edited to add this: according to the lenovo tabook/personal systems reference guide (here: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf) a 9.5 mm drive is one of the upgrade options for the W530. The rest of the upgrade options are 7mm drives, but it mentions in the footnotes that a 9.5 mm drive can be used as the main drive. One can assume that it can fit into the main drive bay. See page 108. Obviously, the language is confusing, so the best option is to look at the current drive or call tech support.

 

As you said. (The Crucial site lists 7mm and 9.5mm drives.)

 

well according to that tabook, the 500gb 7200 is a 7mm, which is what i picked when configuring the system. so its likely thats what i have. but maybe the 9.5mm ssd will fit anyway since the 1tb otpion is 9.5mm. we'll see...

another link pretty much saying the same:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/W530-Hard-drive-rubber-rails/td-p/784817

looks like i just need the rubber pieces tho, gonna order them on ebay

 

Sorry, that was one more error on my part. If you can't find the rails on Ebay, then try newmodeus.com. I have brought the caddies with rails from them, but they might also sell just the rubber rails.

 

If you bought a 9.5mm high drive, you can still install it. You just need a different set of rubber rails or spacers. Also, if you got the Ultrabay hard drive caddy, that should fit 2.5" drives of any height (7mm, 9.5mm, or 12.5mm), as I understand.

 

Yes, that is a workable solution which I have used in one case (unless the OP insists on keeping the optical drive).

 

yeah gonna keep the optical

but def interested in the x1c so who knows if ill be keeping this

 

Your mileage may vary, but my 9.5mm Crucial 512GB drive had a spacer installed between the bottom panel and the actual drive. I removed the four screws (one under the "warranty void" label), removed the spacer, put the plate back in place (using tape, the screws are too long) and secured it in the caddy.

It went right back into my T430 (which had a 7mm 500GB WD drive) and worked like a champ.

I can't say whether this is necessary for the W530 as mine hasn't arrived (still two weeks out.)

Good luck,

Stephen