How hard is it to upgrade SSD hard drive

I need your help. I have 2 computers (PCs) and both of the SSDs, C drive, are running low on space, so I need to go with a larger SSD. I have a few questions. To be safe I will back up all my files. I'm doing some research, but wanted to get some ideas here, too.

Computer 1: My photo editing/gaming computer with lots of crap on it - 120gb SSD drive.

Computer 2: Family computer with just your basic computing crap - 60gb SSD drive.

I want to move the 120gb SSD from Computer 1 to Computer 2 and install the 256gb SSD in Computer 1.

1. Computer 1: What's the best way to install the new SSD (256gb) so that it loads the existing software, including W7, from the old SSD, so that I don't have to reinstall all of existing crap (i.e. clone)?

2. Can I just move the 120gb SSD from Computer 1 to Computer 2 and delete all the software that I don't need? It basically contains all that's on Computer 1's SSD - the basic stuff of course. I would delete the extraneous stuff.

3. Or is it best to just start all over with the install?

4. How can I determine the number of licenses remaining on my Windows 7 OS? If they are all used, do I need to contact Microsoft to free them up before I change SSD drives?

Any suggestions or tips? I am open to all suggestions.

Thanks...Al

What I did.

1. Downloaded Macrium Reflect Free edition
2. Created the bootable restoration CD
3. Created the image of my drive.
4. Disconnected existing drive to insure I did not wipe it on accident and had something to revert to if necessary.
5. connected the new drive, booted the restoration CD, restored the image I had just made. Use the defaults if you do not understand the options given, if afforded the opportunity to change the amount of disk space for the target drive you should do so.


It is best to remove all drives that you do not want to accidently delete or be very careful in selecting your target drive for the restoration. After restoring you may have to use disk management to expand the drive size to account for the unused space (Reflect mirrors the drive, including the size which may leave unused disk space).

You might run into license issues due to hardware change. This varies depends on software.

1) If you can image your 120gb drive onto your 256gb drive, you can then take out the old and boot up from the new. Again, some software (or even Win 7) may complain about license, or maybe not.

2) Yes if your two computers are identical in hardware configurations. Maybe if they have minor differences; chance of success decreases as the hardware differences increases. Again license issues may pop up.

3) Try 1 and 2 first, start from scratch if they don't work. But clean installs are always good if you have the time.

4) I was always able to call Microsoft and explain my hardware change in order to preserve/free up my Office license. I would imagine it can be done for Windows too. This could take some time and patience -- going thru the automated system first, then trying to understand the out-sourced customer service reps.

-alex

Windows, office, adobe products all seem to handle the small change of the hard drive without losing the licenses.

Usually it takes more than a single hardware item to trigger the software protection.

WhidbeyHiker wrote in post #17285674
What I did.

1. Downloaded Macrium Reflect Free edition
2. Created the bootable restoration CD
3. Created the image of my drive.
4. Disconnected existing drive to insure I did not wipe it on accident and had something to revert to if necessary.
5. connected the new drive, booted the restoration CD, restored the image I had just made. Use the defaults if you do not understand the options given, if afforded the opportunity to change the amount of disk space for the target drive you should do so.


It is best to remove all drives that you do not want to accidently delete or be very careful in selecting your target drive for the restoration. After restoring you may have to use disk management to expand the drive size to account for the unused space (Reflect mirrors the drive, including the size which may leave unused disk space).

I found the clone instructions for the SSD and it states that it need at least 20% of free disk space to work, which I don't have. Does the Macrium Reflect Free edition have any similar limitation? I will definitely be sure to unplug my other drives.

rent wrote in post #17285684
You might run into license issues due to hardware change. This varies depends on software.

1) If you can image your 120gb drive onto your 256gb drive, you can then take out the old and boot up from the new. Again, some software (or even Win 7) may complain about license, or maybe not.

2) Yes if your two computers are identical in hardware configurations. Maybe if they have minor differences; chance of success decreases as the hardware differences increases. Again license issues may pop up.

3) Try 1 and 2 first, start from scratch if they don't work. But clean installs are always good if you have the time.

4) I was always able to call Microsoft and explain my hardware change in order to preserve/free up my Office license. I would imagine it can be done for Windows too. This could take some time and patience -- going thru the automated system first, then trying to understand the out-sourced customer service reps.

-alex

Thanks. Man, I hope I don't have any license issues.

WhidbeyHiker wrote in post #17285708
Windows, office, adobe products all seem to handle the small change of the hard drive without losing the licenses.

Usually it takes more than a single hardware item to trigger the software protection.

I sure hop you are right. I am hoping I can clone the hard drives, but based on the SSD manual, I may be SOL.

My gut feeling is you would be able to clone it to a separate drive using reflect but there are no guarantees.

I also recommend Macrium Reflect Free, this is one of it's intended uses. I don't think there's a free space requirement. Ideally you'll create a boot CD/USB drive and clone the drive either directly or to a third disk as a temporary location.

However you may be able to work around it. Keep the existing SSD but put another in. Move the swap file, caches, and any data off to the other drive, especially media like iTunes libraries.

Ok fellas thanks. I am going through and cleaning up my LR files (deleting excess crap) and will be backing things. I have a playoff game to shoot today, so hopefully I can get started Sunday.

Thanks...Al

Methodical wrote in post #17285655
I need your help. I have 2 computers (PCs) and both of the SSDs, C drive, are running low on space, so I need to go with a larger SSD. I have a few questions. To be safe I will back up all my files. I'm doing some research, but wanted to get some ideas here, too.

Computer 1: My photo editing/gaming computer with lots of crap on it - 120gb SSD drive.

Computer 2: Family computer with just your basic computing crap - 60gb SSD drive.

I want to move the 120gb SSD from Computer 1 to Computer 2 and install the 256gb SSD in Computer 1.

1. Computer 1: What's the best way to install the new SSD (256gb) so that it loads the existing software, including W7, from the old SSD, so that I don't have to reinstall all of existing crap (i.e. clone)?

2. Can I just move the 120gb SSD from Computer 1 to Computer 2 and delete all the software that I don't need? It basically contains all that's on Computer 1's SSD - the basic stuff of course. I would delete the extraneous stuff.

3. Or is it best to just start all over with the install?

4. How can I determine the number of licenses remaining on my Windows 7 OS? If they are all used, do I need to contact Microsoft to free them up before I change SSD drives?

Any suggestions or tips? I am open to all suggestions.

Thanks...Al

Most manufacturers have cloning software, failing that you should try the software recommended by some of the users on here

RichSoansPhotos wrote in post #17287251
Most manufacturers have cloning software, failing that you should try the software recommended by some of the users on here

Their software requires that I have 20% space on the existing SSD for the clone to work. I don't have 20% space available. So, I have to explore my options.

Thanks

You shouldn't need any spare space, so long as you're going drive to drive or via a third drive. That's not to say the software doesn't demand it, it just shouldn't need it.

tim wrote in post #17289776
You shouldn't need any spare space, so long as you're going drive to drive or via a third drive. That's not to say the software doesn't demand it, it just shouldn't need it.

I'm just going by the manufacturer's instruction. I don't know as I've never performed a clone before and don't want to take any chances of jacking things up.

I have several comments on posts in this thread.

1) Licensing of Microsoft Windows and other software may not be a problem. As long as you haven't installed the software within the last few months, you should be able to re-activate it without a problem. I suggest, however, waiting as long as possible, just in case you need to re-install something.

Other licensed software may present different problems.

2) I suspect that you will need 20% free space on the SSD you are cloning to. This would mean that the disk-used space on the clone-from drive should be no more than 80% of the new SSD. I have also read that, ideally, you should use no more than 80% of the SSD, even after cloning or otherwise setting up the drive. This makes the SSD more efficient and reliable.

3) If your Windows installation is more than a year or two old, it might be better to re-install rather than clone. This gets rid of the junk that accumulates in a Windows installation over time, not to mention any viruses and other malware that may be present.

I am about to install a 240gb SSD in my computer. After rigorous housecleaning, my current C-drive has about 165gb. So I should have plenty of room.

I have not decided whether to clone or re-install Windows and other software. For the reasons in 3) above, I will probably re-install.

Rodney, my C drive with Win 7, Photoshop/Bridge, Office, development tools, but no swap/scratch is taking 50GB.

I just upgraded to a Hybrid drive from Seagate and have released noticeable improvements from fractions of the price...