upgrading hard drive to Solid state hard drive
I am upgrading my hard dive to a solid state drive for my Dell precision. (see existing specs below). My question is what would be the best way to go about this? Should I migrate the old drive to the new one, or should I apply a fresh install of Window 7 and re install all my apps. I am leaning towards the later, just so I have a "clean" install of windows. The new drive is a Samsung 840 EVO 750Gb and it comes with a migration tool, but doesn't have instructions for a "clean" install.
Dell Inc. Precision WorkStation T5500
Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5530 @ 2.40GHz
Number of processor cores 4
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
12.0 GB RAM
Total size of hard disk(s) 466 GB
Display adapter type NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800
Total available graphics memory 4095 MB
Dell Inc. Precision WorkStation T5500
Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5530 @ 2.40GHz
Number of processor cores 4
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
12.0 GB RAM
Total size of hard disk(s) 466 GB
Display adapter type NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800
Total available graphics memory 4095 MB
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
I do have a W7 64bit cd and I have all the dell drivers I will need on a separate machine, so then I guess it a matter figuring out how to plug into the machine and move forward. I would like to keep the old drive on the machine so its easier to copy my user files to the new one...
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Is there anything I need to do to make the ssd a master and the original a slave?...Back in the day i recall issues with this....or is this a non-issue now a days?
Disconnect the existing drive first...like gary mentions...otherwise you'll have issues
Once Windows is installed on the SSD then reconnect the existing drive, in the BIOS make sure the hard drive boot list shows the SSD as the first drive to boot, once you do this you will be ok
Once Windows is installed on the SSD then reconnect the existing drive, in the BIOS make sure the hard drive boot list shows the SSD as the first drive to boot, once you do this you will be ok
ASKER
Ok...I think i got it now...here is what Im going to do.
Shut down computer
disconnect the old drive
plug in the new drive
turn computer on boot to windows cd
install windows on new drive
shut computer down
install old drive along side new drive
turn computer on
copy user files from old drive to new drive
disconnect the old drive
plug in the new drive
turn computer on boot to windows cd
install windows on new drive
shut computer down
install old drive along side new drive
turn computer on
copy user files from old drive to new drive
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
yes.. i do remember seeing that option in the bios...thanks
The process you've outlined is fine with a couple caveats ...
(1) Sometimes Dell disables unused ports in the BIOS. When you connect the 2nd drive (the old drive), if Windows doesn't "see" it, just check the BIOS to be sure the SATA port it's connected to isn't disabled.
(2) As noted above, be sure the SSD is set as the boot drive in the BIOS.
(1) Sometimes Dell disables unused ports in the BIOS. When you connect the 2nd drive (the old drive), if Windows doesn't "see" it, just check the BIOS to be sure the SATA port it's connected to isn't disabled.
(2) As noted above, be sure the SSD is set as the boot drive in the BIOS.
Instead of plugging the old drive back in to copy the user files over, consider using windows easy transfer to backup the user files on the old disk first. Just click start and type "easy transfer"
ASKER
Were up and running on this new SSD...Thanks for the help.
and what a speed difference...my apps open faster and the boot ups are faster...good investement
and what a speed difference...my apps open faster and the boot ups are faster...good investement
But it's certainly true that a clean install is a good way to ensure there's no residual "junk" in the registry or still occupying space on your hard drive.
There's nothing special about doing a clean install with an SSD => it's just a hard drive from Windows' perspective ... you just boot to the install DVD and do the install exactly as you would with any other new hard drive. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can do this with an SSD :-)