The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Reinstall vista

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by squelchy451, Apr 28, 2009.

  1. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi.

    I bought a Lenovo laptop and it came bundled with a SSD. I'm trying to install the Vista Business from the HDD on the laptop to the SSD.

    What is the best way to do it? I need a legit version of Vista because it reduces problems in the future (Netflix)


    Thanks
     
    squelchy451, Apr 28, 2009
    #1
  2. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Any information?
    Drive size maybe?

    If your HDD or partition on your HDD is the same size as your SSD you could possibly just clone the drive....
     
    DetlevCM, Apr 28, 2009
    #2
  3. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    SSD is 80 GB
    HDD is 160 GBa
     
    squelchy451, Apr 28, 2009
    #3
  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    OK... straightforward cloning won't work - but I'm pretty sure there is a way.

    I assume you have used less than 80GB on you HDD - else you'd have to reinstal everything from scratch on the SSD.
     
    DetlevCM, Apr 28, 2009
    #4
  5. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

    Reputations:
    2,674
    Messages:
    6,039
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Sure it will. Just about any imaging software I know of will allow you to restore an image to a smaller drive, as long as the content of the image will fit. I.E. if the original drive used less than 80 gig, he can restore the image on an 80 gig drive. I know, first hand, this works on Ghost and BootIT NG, and have seen it discussed on Acronis.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Apr 28, 2009
    #5
  6. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    OK :)

    Didn't know that yet. :)
     
    DetlevCM, Apr 28, 2009
    #6
  7. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

    Reputations:
    2,674
    Messages:
    6,039
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    You just need to be sure to image the PARTITION not the entire DRIVE when trying this.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Apr 28, 2009
    #7
  8. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Ah - but has the OP got several partitions? Some laptops ship with just one.

    Anyway: let's see what the OP has to say.

    PS: I can't give you rep at the moment :( I need to "spread it out" ... :(
     
    DetlevCM, Apr 28, 2009
    #8
  9. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

    Reputations:
    2,674
    Messages:
    6,039
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Even if there is only one partition, if you are moving to a different size drive (larger OR smaller), you should always image the partition.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Apr 28, 2009
    #9
  10. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    OK.
    ------------------
     
    DetlevCM, Apr 28, 2009
    #10
  11. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    104
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Do I use acronis to clone the partition from the HDD with Vista and copy it onto the SSD?

    Do I need to connect my SSD to the laptop/HDD via eSATA or USB?
     
    squelchy451, Apr 28, 2009
    #11
  12. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

    Reputations:
    2,674
    Messages:
    6,039
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    You might be able to connect the SSD directly to the machine I don't know.

    If not you would use Acronis to clone the HDD to a stack of DVD's (or some external device). Replace the HDD with the SSD and use Acronis to restore from the DVD's (or external device).

    The resulting SSD will probably not be bootable initially, for one the partiton may not be marked as the primary. Second the boot loader will be looking for the OS at a particular fixed location on the drive. And it will most likely NOT be at that spot on the SSD. Both are easily fixed, but you will need a real vista install DVD. You boot up from it and use it to restore the boot info to point to the proper spot on the SSD. It will seek out that "proper spot" automatically.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Apr 28, 2009
    #12