Clone 320GB hdd to 512GB SSD, w7 64bit, correct procedure

[Mike S]

I would like to check in with people here to see if I am approaching
this task in the right way.

I have an HP Pavilion DV7 3164cl 64bit laptop with a 320GB hdd, I just
purchased a 512GB SSD. I want to clone the C:\ and hidden restore/repair
partitions on the hdd to the SSD (by attaching the SSD with a USB
cable), then install Linux on the remaining 192GB so I will have a dual
boot machine. I was thinking of creating partitions on the SSD that are
the same size as the hdd has for C:\ and the hidden reinstall/repair
partition, using the approach described on the web page below to create
correctly aligned partitions, then simply cloning each partition before
installing Linux as the dual boot OS.

Does this procedure sound correct? Am I missing anything?

TIA,
Mike

---------------------------------------
Here's the page I was referring to:
---------------------------------------

The easiest way to align an SSD is to create an aligned partition on the
SSD with the help of Diskpart. Open an elevated command prompt and run
the following sequence of commands – each line followed by Enter.

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your SSD in List
disk)
Clean
Create partition primary align=1024
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active (assuming you want to install an OS)
Exit

Note: If you want to create a 100MB partition with alignment, the create
command is:

Create partition primary size=100 align=1024

The size unit is always MB.

Verification

If you want to verify the alignment (e.g. for a SSD where you are not
certain whether the proper alignment was done), you use the following
commands.

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n
List partition

Now you should see a result like this.

Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 59 GB 1024 KB - but 64KB or any number divisible by
4 is also good

The offset (in KBs) has to be divisible by 4.

Note: Some readers and users of this tutorial got confused because the
alignment numbers in a typical Windows7 installation are shown as:

1024KB for the 100MB partition
101MB for the next partition - which is most likely the C partition

They think that 101MB is not divisible by 4 and that there must be a
problem. But that is not so. If you convert 101MBs into KBs (multiply by
1024), then the number is divisible by 4 and the partition is aligned.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html

 

[Ken1943]

I used EaseUS Partition Master freeware to clone my ssd. It took care of
alignment and Windows 7 took care of it's settings. I have a Samsung ssd
and they have a program that told me one interesting thing. There has to
be a unformatted partition so the ssd can do it's maintance routines. It
was 19 gigs on a 128 gig drive.

Can't help with the usb, but there is only one way to find out. The
cloning may take a very long time.







KenW

 

[Ken1943]

I used EaseUS Partition Master freeware to clone my ssd. It took care of
alignment and Windows 7 took care of it's settings. I have a Samsung ssd
and they have a program that told me one interesting thing. There has to
be a unformatted partition so the ssd can do it's maintance routines. It
was 19 gigs on a 128 gig drive.

Can't help with the usb, but there is only one way to find out. The
cloning may take a very long time.

I don't think the hidden reinstall/repair partition will work on a ssd.
When I tried a restore to a new hdd on a net book, it didn't like that
the replacement hdd was not the exact model of the original.
EaseUS Partition Master can delete those partitions and add it to the
Win7 partition.


KenW

 

[havant1]

I used EaseUS to copy/move my Win7 C drive from a 2 TB two partition
drive to a ssd. The program automatically copied and correctly sized
both the hidden System Reserve partition and the regular C: drive. I
did shrink the original C drive partition to the size of the ssd
before the copy/move operation.

Harry

 

[Mike S]

I used EaseUS Partition Master freeware to clone my ssd. It took care of
alignment and Windows 7 took care of it's settings. I have a Samsung ssd
and they have a program that told me one interesting thing. There has to
be a unformatted partition so the ssd can do it's maintance routines. It
was 19 gigs on a 128 gig drive.
Can't help with the usb, but there is only one way to find out. The
cloning may take a very long time.
KenW

Thanks for your reply KenW,

When you say that Easeus took care of the alignment and Windows 7 took
care of the settings, I would like to make sure I understand the
procedure you used. This Easeus clone procedure page shows that there is
a checkbox, "Optimize for SSD" on one of the windows, is checking this
checkbox all you had to do to align the cloned partition(s) correctly?

http://www.todo-backup.com/products/features/disk-clone-guide.htm

When you say Windows 7 took care of the settings, what settings are you
referring to?

I'm surprised to hear that the SSD requires almost 15% of the disk to
remain unformatted in order to function optimally. I've never heard this
before so I will definitely look into it.

Best Regards,
Mike

 

[Mike S]

I used EaseUS to copy/move my Win7 C drive from a 2 TB two partition
drive to a ssd. The program automatically copied and correctly sized
both the hidden System Reserve partition and the regular C: drive. I
did shrink the original C drive partition to the size of the ssd
before the copy/move operation.
Harry

Thanks Harry,

I've had several good experiences with EaseUS in the past, based on the
posts here I'll use it for this task with confidence.

Best Regards,
Mike

 

[Ken1943]

Thanks for your reply KenW,

When you say that Easeus took care of the alignment and Windows 7 took
care of the settings, I would like to make sure I understand the
procedure you used. This Easeus clone procedure page shows that there is
a checkbox, "Optimize for SSD" on one of the windows, is checking this
checkbox all you had to do to align the cloned partition(s) correctly?

http://www.todo-backup.com/products/features/disk-clone-guide.htm

When you say Windows 7 took care of the settings, what settings are you
referring to?

I'm surprised to hear that the SSD requires almost 15% of the disk to
remain unformatted in order to function optimally. I've never heard this
before so I will definitely look into it.

Best Regards,
Mike

Don't remember, but it sounds right.
I didn't know about the extra partition either. The Samsung program
advised it.
Win 7 took care of TRIM, turned off prefetch and indexing.
I am sure what ever ssd you purchased also has their own program
to monitor and set options.

KenW

 

[Ken1943]

That partition could be a Samsung thing and may not be used by other
manufacturers. A new machine I am having built will use an Intel ssd so I
will have to look when I get it. First computer I didn't build in at
least 15 years. Going to feel very strange !!


KenW

 

[Daniel47]

That partition could be a Samsung thing and may not be used by other
manufacturers. A new machine I am having built will use an Intel ssd so I
will have to look when I get it. First computer I didn't build in at
least 15 years. Going to feel very strange !!


KenW

How many computers in that 15 years, Ken??

I've had this laptop since Dec 2009, and I've had my Desktop since 1993,
I think!! A few upgrades in OS's, HD and amount of RAM, but still same
MoBo, CD, DVD, and PS, I think!!

Daniel

 

[Ken1943]

How many computers in that 15 years, Ken??

I've had this laptop since Dec 2009, and I've had my Desktop since 1993,
I think!! A few upgrades in OS's, HD and amount of RAM, but still same
MoBo, CD, DVD, and PS, I think!!

Daniel

While not my build, Radio Shack Color Computer, Apple then because of
voice mail systems at work switched to pc's. That was a dx66 cpu.Then
also because of work built two Shuttles so I could play with networking.
I liked small form factors because I also had my ham radio station on the
same desk. The Shuttles were replaced with two Thermaltake Lan Boxes. I
am at the second upgrade to them. One is dying so rather than spending
$500 to find out ( power supply or motherboard) decided to have one
built. I think my building days are about to end. Ham Radio (1956) and
computers have been my hobby's and now in retirement even more fun.


KenW

 

[Mike S]

Don't remember, but it sounds right.
I didn't know about the extra partition either. The Samsung program
advised it.
Win 7 took care of TRIM, turned off prefetch and indexing.
I am sure what ever ssd you purchased also has their own program
to monitor and set options.

It's a Crucial M4 512 GB CT512M4SSD2

 

[Daniel47]

While not my build, Radio Shack Color Computer, Apple then because of
voice mail systems at work switched to pc's. That was a dx66 cpu.Then
also because of work built two Shuttles so I could play with networking.
I liked small form factors because I also had my ham radio station on the
same desk. The Shuttles were replaced with two Thermaltake Lan Boxes. I
am at the second upgrade to them. One is dying so rather than spending
$500 to find out ( power supply or motherboard) decided to have one
built. I think my building days are about to end. Ham Radio (1956) and
computers have been my hobby's and now in retirement even more fun.


KenW

Not retired myself, just un-employed for approx 18 months.

I used to tinker myself, a bit (hence the upgraded Desktop!), but about
the only thing I've done recently is stick a bigger HD in this laptop
(was 250GB, now 500GB) and that will do me for a good while!

Daniel