If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive
to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On Mar 23, 10:20 pm, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan PCMAG- A third-party utility, CrystalDiskInfo, confirmed that this disk did not offer support for the TRIM command, which is one of the key requirements for proper SSD operation. (Using the TRIM command allows the system to properly erase blocks of data in the background; for an explanation, see this excellent article by Anand.) Windows 7 supports the TRIM command natively; earlier Windows versions don’t. what's the firmware. . .is it great? disc cntrl (BIOS) - AHCI Mode (b4 W7 install) use manufacturer's - do NOT use W7 for full format, out-of-box condition DO use W7 for create partition (unless U like misaligned disks) INTEL SATA controller drivers. . .are they great? W7: Windows Experience Index. Score should be greater than 7. 2nd level confidence: Get and run CrystalDiskInfo. Verify NCQ & TRIM. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:20:48 -0400, Yousuf Khan
wrote: Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan You can simply clone your system drive as I did at first when I upgraded all my systems but that is not always the best option. You need to know about SSD partition alignment http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...alignment.html http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ndows-7-a.html Al. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On 3/23/2012 10:20 PM, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan Besides all of the above, there is another, perhaps quite important consideration. SSDs are a good host for "static" files, and not so good for dynamic ones. It would seem that windows should be reorganized on that basis, with static directories and files on the SSD. The registry will likely need manual editing to accommodate the changes. (I have two SSDs (120G each) in systems that I'm going to "reorganize", as soon as I figure out a reasonable way to accomplish the task. There seem to be significant differences in setup between various mfrs ssd drives. I'm still researching this one! I've run across two different recommended cluster sizes, 1K and 4K. (rounded size, not actual) A comment I ran across was that AMDs controller does not pass the Trim command. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On 24/03/2012 1:20 PM, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan On a new SSD, first I had to create a partition and format the drive. I then used Acronis trueimage Home 2012 to clone my laptop's HD to the SSD. Then swapped the drives and the SSD booted up just fine. Then Windows recognised a new drive in the system and loaded the drivers for the SSD quite happily. then rebooted and just enjoyed the incredible speed. It was as simple as that. Windows 7 has TRIM support built in. My SSD is a Corsair Performance3 256 GB device, on a Toshiba Portege R830 Laptop using Intel Core i5, and Win 7 Professional 64 Bit. Also have 8GB RAM. Also, once I had it working, I installed SSD tweaker from http://elpamsoft.com/Downloads.aspx?Name=SSD%20Tweaker and ran that. Oh, you might want to also run ATTO Disk Benchmark before and after too, to see the speed increas for yourself. It's free. My laptop used to take 10 min and more to boot up from cold to useable. Now it does a full reboot in under a minute. hth |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
You will see a LOT of opinions, some good, some not so. For my
installation, I decided on the drive, and then followed the manufacturers recommendations for installation, setup and configuration. For me that meant a clean install and load. So before creating your own install procedure, read up. On 3/23/2012 9:20 PM, Yousuf Khan wrote: Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On 3/23/2012 7:20 PM, Yousuf Khan wrote:
Okay, got myself an SSD now. So I want to migrate my Windows boot drive to it. I have access to a couple of cloning utils that can properly copy system disks and make them bootable, so that's not a problem. However, I'm wondering if it's really that simple? I understand that there are some tuning that needs to be done to SSD's, such as setting its cluster sizes, etc. Also there is something called TRIM support that Windows 7 needs to implement. Is this something that's built into Windows 7 right away, or is it something that needs to be installed? Anything else? Yousuf Khan Recently did the same with a drive that had become too small to hold my windows7.I installed a new Intel 120 gig ssd into my "box' and then using the included Intel migration software it took approx 15 minutes or less to migrate my boot drive to the new ssd. I then rebooted and changed the boot order.At that point it changed my new drive to c: and changed the old drive to L:. Worked perfectly and after 1 month I formatted the old drive and it is now storage. Intel Migration Software is just a free somewhat limited version of Acronis I believe and it is updated frequently.I was leery about doing it but I found it was amazingly easy and required very little on my part to perform this. What brand of ssd did you purchase Yousuf? |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On 24/03/2012 3:16 AM, Allen Drake wrote:
You can simply clone your system drive as I did at first when I upgraded all my systems but that is not always the best option. You need to know about SSD partition alignment http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...alignment.html http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ndows-7-a.html Good info, I'll read through these. Yousuf Khan |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On 24/03/2012 3:27 AM, charlie wrote:
Besides all of the above, there is another, perhaps quite important consideration. SSDs are a good host for "static" files, and not so good for dynamic ones. It would seem that windows should be reorganized on that basis, with static directories and files on the SSD. The registry will likely need manual editing to accommodate the changes. That's actually something I was thinking about. Should I move things like the swapfile, Thunderbird data, and just "User" folder in general, off to regular storage? Yousuf Khan |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Migrating to an SSD
On Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:27:30 -0400, charlie wrote:
Besides all of the above, there is another, perhaps quite important consideration. SSDs are a good host for "static" files, and not so good for dynamic ones. It would seem that windows should be reorganized on that basis, with static directories and files on the SSD. The registry will likely need manual editing to accommodate the changes. (I have two SSDs (120G each) in systems that I'm going to "reorganize", as soon as I figure out a reasonable way to accomplish the task. That's the theory at least but even though I didn't do anything to keep the dynamic stuff off the SSDs I'm happy with how they are performing. I have a 256gb that hosts my Win7 system and a 128gb that hosts two virtual machines. They've been in use for a year now and I've managed to write so much to the 128gb one that it's life is down to 99%. The 256gb is still at 100%. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
SSD or no SSD (Solid State Drive)? x64 or x32? | RayLopez99 | Homebuilt PC's | 1 | June 18th 10 12:46 PM |
Migrating files to a new PC | Ralph | Dell Computers | 18 | September 2nd 05 08:28 PM |
migrating from old to new computer | Robert Hale | Gateway Computers | 4 | February 1st 05 01:29 AM |
[OT] Migrating OS (w2k) | Ola A Johansson | Asus Motherboards | 4 | November 16th 03 09:20 PM |