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

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.

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.

On Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:27:30 -0400, charlie <>
posted:

>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.


That post is pretty much proof that comments one runs across should be
taken with a grain of salt.

The OP didn't say which SSD he has, so for example...
with an Intel SSD one would transfer the OS to the SSD with Intel's
utility to do that (an older version of Acronis True Image, or use a
newer version if on hand) - which will take care of partition
alignment. The Intel SSD Toolbox will take care of ensuring that
everything (Windows) is configured correctly for optimal operation.

I have two SSD and a HDD - on the HDD I put Temp, Temporary Internet
Files, backup files and some other odds and ends. (before someone has
a stroke, backups are also kept off-computer)

But even without moving some stuff to a HDD, I would fully expect the
SSD's to last longer than the life of the computer.

"nothing but net" <> wrote in message news:...


> The OP didn't say which SSD he has, so for example...
> with an Intel SSD one would transfer the OS to the SSD with Intel's
> utility to do that (an older version of Acronis True Image, or use a
> newer version if on hand) - which will take care of partition
> alignment. The Intel SSD Toolbox will take care of ensuring that
> everything (Windows) is configured correctly for optimal operation.
>

I've found that the Intel toolbox does not modify the Windows 7 defrag schedule.
I've had to manually turn off defragging via the disk properties tools tab.

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

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

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?

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

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