Migrating System Drive to Larger SSD
Stupid Windows. There, I said it. Don't get me wrong: I work in Windows everyday. I program Windows applications. I play games on Windows. Windows, Windows, Windows. But, now we are at odds...
I purchased the 64 GB version of this drive:
...some time back. At the time I was like, "It's 64 GB, and I have a 2nd drive to install all of my programs on. It won't possibly fill up." *Shazaaam* Enter Windows Update and the notorious WINSXS folder. Suffice it say, I've only got--at the time of this writing--92.2 MB of free space available. I've read that it's generally inadvisable to remove anything from the WINSXS folder (which is currently eating up about 14.2 GB of space ATM), so I'm left with expanding the drive. My question: If I purchase that same hard drive, but in the 128 GB version, can I safely disk-copy my system drive over to that drive? It's the same model, right, so theoretically the drivers would all be the same? What say ye?
I purchased the 64 GB version of this drive:
...some time back. At the time I was like, "It's 64 GB, and I have a 2nd drive to install all of my programs on. It won't possibly fill up." *Shazaaam* Enter Windows Update and the notorious WINSXS folder. Suffice it say, I've only got--at the time of this writing--92.2 MB of free space available. I've read that it's generally inadvisable to remove anything from the WINSXS folder (which is currently eating up about 14.2 GB of space ATM), so I'm left with expanding the drive. My question: If I purchase that same hard drive, but in the 128 GB version, can I safely disk-copy my system drive over to that drive? It's the same model, right, so theoretically the drivers would all be the same? What say ye?
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ASKER
Honestly, I'm cheap. I'm planning to do this with a live Linux distro. I was thinking I'd do a dd command, but if that doesn't work then I'd go with a gparted copy. I've read previously that you can encounter issues when you move between hard drives, but I figure if they're from the same company and more or less the same model, then it should be OK.
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Thanks and I was happy to help.
My opinion (and that's all it is) is that you'd be better off with Windows cloning software. If you're looking for something that is free, I've heard good things here at EE about these two:
http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/
But I haven't tried either as I do all my cloning now with Casper. Can't hurt to try one (or both) of them. If neither works, then try your Linux approach. Regards, Joe
http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/
But I haven't tried either as I do all my cloning now with Casper. Can't hurt to try one (or both) of them. If neither works, then try your Linux approach. Regards, Joe
ASKER
In the worst case, I'll have to do a re-install of everything. I was just hoping to avoid that = )
Thanks!
Thanks!
Any decent cloning software would avoid the pain of reinstalling everything. Casper certainly does, and I suspect that EaseUS and Paragon would, too. Notwithstanding the "Honestly, I'm cheap." comment, I would think that 50 bucks (Casper's price) is well worth not having to reinstall everything. Your call, of course. Regards, Joe
Right, do not tamper with WINSXS.