SSD migration help

[bearcatrp]

Need some expert advice from the pro's here at XS. Got a sweet deal on a 256 ssd from the egg. Am looking at the following software to migrate instead of clean install. Here is what I am considering:
http://www.paragon-software.com/tech...ate-OS-to-SSD/
Clean install will take me all day with what I have on my system. Its one of my crunchers too. Currently have boinc setup on my C drive but the data is on another hard drive. Is this a bad or good idea to migrate instead of clean install? Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

[bluestang]

I've used that software before. It migrates to and also aligns the SSD which is important as well all in one shot. Easiest by far than reinstall if your only changing out a drive.

Make sure after the migration is done you go and re-run WEI and then reboot. That should take care of setting Win7 (if your on it) to not defrag the SSD.

[0ne.shot]

I used Norton Ghost to backup OS from old drive and the restored the OS image to the new SSD. There is a free trial on it so you can uninstall it when you're done. You might be able to create a backup image with windows and backup the image to the desired drive that way too. There are several ways to do this.

Do the backup, then just restore the image to the drive. It's pretty simple. I haven't had a single issue with the OS copied to the new drive.

[bearcatrp]

Thanks folks. My C drive is currently a 1TB and the SSD is 256GB. Have read about some software to shrink it and image. The paragon does the shrink and move in one shot, instead of multiple steps. At least that what it claims. Have never used it so figured to get some feedback from folks who have used it. $19.99 for the software doesn't seem to bad. If this computer was just boinc on it, would do the reinstall but have way to many programs linked to other drives to start over. Thanks again.

[sRHunt3r]

I am not familiar with Paragon but we use Norton Ghost at work to image multiple computers with the os and the basic programs they will need to run day to day. It just makes an image of the data on the drive, so as long as the data on your drive is less than the drive you are transferring it to your fine. I am unsure about SSD's as we have not made that move as a company yet.

[my87csx481]

However you do it, at least make sure the drive is aligned when you're done.

I just did a fresh install on a previously used SSD using this as a guideline (thanks Old Chap). I don't know what I did wrong but, the drive was not aligned correctly the first time through. So I did it again. All good now. I deleted the partition, and then created a new one for the second time through.

[bearcatrp]

Been using this as a guide....
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ng-system.html
Will probably buy the software and do it the easy way.

[bearcatrp]

Just tried the software. Crashes. Spent the last 6 hrs trying different ways. Even unplugged all my drives and put the C drive and the SSD in slot 0 and 1. Must not like server motherboards. Already emailed them for a refund.

[my87csx481]

This is the paragon software that crashes?

[bearcatrp]

This is the paragon software that crashes?

Yes. Seems to do the alignment fine, starts copying to the SSD, about 15 minutes into it, the program crashes. I even formatted it just to make sure it was working fine. Verified it had the latest firmware too. Must have tried 15 times to get this to work. Crashes in about the same area on the progress meter. Guess I will start from scratch and do a clean install. Going to suck.

[bluestang]

Can you install the program on spare machine and attach your drives as secondaries on that spare and the run the migration?

[bearcatrp]

Can you install the program on spare machine and attach your drives as secondaries on that spare and the run the migration?

Both of my rigs are server motherboards, same type, X8DTI-F. Have tried switching the sata connectors to the board in different positions with no luck. Didn't try hooking the ssd to a usb connection but doubt that would work. Think it has to be attached to the motherboard. Might give it a shot before I do a clean install. Might get lucky.

[D_A]

Another option is to use a Linux live cd and the dd command. The catch is that the destination drive has to be the same size as the source (or larger) so you'd have to resize the partition first if it's not and you'll have to do the partition alignment yourself. (gparted is very handy for this)
dd can duplicate entire drives, burn iso files to disk or even copy single files depending on the arguments you give it.

[werdwerdus]

I recently used either Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost to migrate an SSD RAID0 to a single SSD... I have 2 different backup files so I can't remember which one exactly!

[retro77]

If you go from a spindle to an SSD will Windows pick up that its an SSD and give you trim support or does it only do that on installation?

[bluestang]

^^^After initial boot to new SSD, reboot and then run WEI and reboot again.

[bearcatrp]

Tried the usb option but still same app crash. Going to try installing the software on the other computer and hook up both OS and ssd drive to see what happens. Am hoping the software will see 2 OS's and let me choose. Last try before total reinstall.

[bluestang]

Yes, that is what I was getting at in my post yesterday. Hope it works for ya.

[bearcatrp]

Just tried it. NOPE. App crash. The program did recognize 2 OS's and the SSD. Got a little further into the process but then crash. Its the software. Will just do a clean install instead of wasting more time. Thanks for all the suggestions. Can't recommend this software. Not sure if its due to the board or what but surely disappointed.

[jeanguy2]

I have paragon 12 Suite which includes the migration application you are using. I do not have an SSD so I have never used the migration application. While updating to a new suite version yesterday I noted that there was a restriction to using the migration application: "Due to technical reasons this tool will not not work with OS installed on Dynamic volumes." Are all of the drives or partitions you are dealing with for migrating primaries? If there are dynamic ones you apparently have to switch them to primary before the paragon application will work.

The version of the paragon suite software I now have is: 10.1.19.16240-000

FYC,
Jean-Guy

[bearcatrp]

They are primaries. I read the notes before buying the software which stated that. Think it has something to do with this server board.

[retro77]

A fresh install will run better anyways. Wish ya luck

[bearcatrp]

Thanks. If it was just a cruncher, wouldn't be so bad but video editing software, VM software and my iTunes suckes reinstalling. Like you said, better to clean out crap and do it right.

[OldChap]

Just a thought from me:

When I bought my intel 520 it came with a mini disk. I am guessing it had this on it

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...&DwnldID=19324.

I did not use it and I have no idea if this may help your situation but it is the fact it is an intel thing that gives me hope.

EDIT: how to: http://download.intel.com/support/ss...ide_g17251.pdf

[AMDforME]

I have used Acronis True Image Home with a USB to SATA cable ($10) and it was flawless.

Acronis will resize the partitions accordingly for different size drives and they have a Free 30 day trial on their website, so this may actually do what you desire?