upgrade a laptop ssd hard drive
I have a laptop which is fully configured for our business consulting/accounting firm...Windows 7 Ultimate, Bitlocker encrypted with PIN, Office 2010, Drop/Box.net, Skype, etc.
My user has ordered a larger SSD hard drive. It is easy enough, given the tools/disks/etc to completely reinstall the operating system and apps and then configure programs and sign-ins etc. In theory, we should be able to image/copy the current drive contents to the new drive and proceed without going the "bare metal" route. But I haven't always had the best luck with imaging one drive to another. And my user is remote...smart and somewhat tech savvy, but this isn't necessarily in their wheelhouse.
Any advice, on apps or checklist or procedures to help get this user onto a new hard drive?
My user has ordered a larger SSD hard drive. It is easy enough, given the tools/disks/etc to completely reinstall the operating system and apps and then configure programs and sign-ins etc. In theory, we should be able to image/copy the current drive contents to the new drive and proceed without going the "bare metal" route. But I haven't always had the best luck with imaging one drive to another. And my user is remote...smart and somewhat tech savvy, but this isn't necessarily in their wheelhouse.
Any advice, on apps or checklist or procedures to help get this user onto a new hard drive?
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Norton Ghost is the best I know of, always test the image b4 moving on
for moving a rotating disk system to an SSD - the best is the paragon software migrate OS to SSD :
http://www.paragon-software.com/nl/home/migrate-OS-to-SSD/
it's not free, but for less than 15$ can't be beaten
http://www.paragon-software.com/nl/home/migrate-OS-to-SSD/
it's not free, but for less than 15$ can't be beaten
Free - Rawcopy by Roadkil.net. I've used this numerous times to copy disks, flawless every one.
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Rawcopy makes an exact copy of the disk - if bitlockered, it includes that (it does it bit by bit, not file by file), if you use Rawcopy you shouldn't need to worry about disabling bitlocker. (You will have to expand the partition after you are done though).
i personally use either CloneZilla or HDClone 5. both are freeware utilities that do excellent job. cloned more than 100 drives using the professional edition of HDClone and works perfect everytime. i even use it to clone USB Flash drives.
HDClone = http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html#free
CloneZilla = http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-live.php
[deleted reference to prohibited reference]
HDClone = http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html#free
CloneZilla = http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-live.php
[deleted reference to prohibited reference]
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Thanks for the help. I eventually went with Crucial's disk upgrade kit...program and cable...$20. they use Acronis. My guess is that like antivirus, all of these reputable imaging programs work. The techs at Crucial said the image should transfer without a problem, BUT still RECOMMENDED to Unencrypt and then re-encrypt after the image transfer.
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Quick additional follow-up. I am dealing with a Samsung drive. They come with cloning software, but depending on which model you order it may or may not come with a usb-to-SATA cable.
Instructs say you need 20% free space on original drive and to unencrypt prior to clone. Odd note from Samsung techs...their clone tool will often not overcome OEM locks on the OS meant to protect their OEM Windows version? whatever..try it and see he said. If not, then go to a third-party cloning tool like Acronis.
Instructs say you need 20% free space on original drive and to unencrypt prior to clone. Odd note from Samsung techs...their clone tool will often not overcome OEM locks on the OS meant to protect their OEM Windows version? whatever..try it and see he said. If not, then go to a third-party cloning tool like Acronis.
> their clone tool will often not overcome OEM locks on the OS meant to protect their OEM Windows version? whatever..try it and see he said. If not, then go to a third-party cloning tool like Acronis.
Very interesting! I've used Casper to clone OEM Windows with no problems. It is certainly legal to move an OEM version of Windows from one disk to another on the same computer — indeed, it's a necessity when a disk crashes or when upgrading to a bigger disk or a different type of disk, such as an SSD or SSHD. Acronis can do it, too. As I mentioned in my earlier post <http:#a40300076>, I've used both Acronis and Casper. I prefer Casper now, but they're both fine products and I've never had a problem with either one when cloning an OEM Windows. Regards, Joe
Very interesting! I've used Casper to clone OEM Windows with no problems. It is certainly legal to move an OEM version of Windows from one disk to another on the same computer — indeed, it's a necessity when a disk crashes or when upgrading to a bigger disk or a different type of disk, such as an SSD or SSHD. Acronis can do it, too. As I mentioned in my earlier post <http:#a40300076>, I've used both Acronis and Casper. I prefer Casper now, but they're both fine products and I've never had a problem with either one when cloning an OEM Windows. Regards, Joe
http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/
It's not free, but it is reasonably priced and is excellent software, definitely worth the cost (and it works on W7, W8, and W8.1, all in both 32-bit and 64-bit editions).
Another well-regarded (also non-free) product is Acronis:
http://www.acronis.com/
I used it previously, but now prefer Casper.
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 of my cloning now with Casper. Here's a 5-minute EE video Micro Tutorial, Cloning a Hard Drive with Casper, showing how to do it. As a disclaimer, I want to emphasize that I have no affiliation with this company and no financial interest in it whatsoever. I am simply a happy user/customer. Regards, Joe