Installing SDD - advice please

[Scott]

I decided to replace my primary hard drive with a solid state drive. I
don't have a Windows installation disc, so instead I used Norton Ghost
to clone the existing drive to the new drive (which I called X). The
clone was successful. So far, so good.

I then installed the SSD into the slot previously occupied by the C
drive. When I turn on the computer, I get a message saying, 'Reboot
and select proper boot device'. I have gone into the set-up menu and
checked that the new drive appears there. I have made it the second
boot option (after the DVD which has always been in position 1) but
still the computer gives the same message.

Any ideas where I am going wrong?

 

[ps56k]

I decided to replace my primary hard drive with a solid state drive. I
don't have a Windows installation disc, so instead I used Norton Ghost
to clone the existing drive to the new drive (which I called X). The
clone was successful. So far, so good.

I then installed the SSD into the slot previously occupied by the C
drive. When I turn on the computer, I get a message saying, 'Reboot
and select proper boot device'. I have gone into the set-up menu and
checked that the new drive appears there. I have made it the second
boot option (after the DVD which has always been in position 1) but
still the computer gives the same message.

Any ideas where I am going wrong?

Just curious, how exactly did you Ghost the new drive ?
Where was it physically connected,
and how did Ghost perform the clone operation.
Was the entire drive copied - including all the MBR boot sectors ?

Is this a SATA or an older IDE type drive ?

 

[Scott]

Just curious, how exactly did you Ghost the new drive ?
Where was it physically connected,

I just temporarily connected the new drive to the cables for the E
drive.

and how did Ghost perform the clone operation.

How do you mean? I don't know the technicalities of how Ghost works.
I used the 'Copy My Hard Drive' tool to copy all existing files,
programs and settings from one hard disk to another.

Was the entire drive copied - including all the MBR boot sectors ?

I hope so, I ticked the box for MBR.

Is this a SATA or an older IDE type drive ?

Both SATA. I doubt if solid state drives come as IDE.Thanks for your assistance.

 

[Jan Alter]

I just temporarily connected the new drive to the cables for the E
drive.


How do you mean? I don't know the technicalities of how Ghost works.
I used the 'Copy My Hard Drive' tool to copy all existing files,
programs and settings from one hard disk to another.

I hope so, I ticked the box for MBR.


Both SATA. I doubt if solid state drives come as IDE.
Thanks for your assistance.

In the bios have you changed the SATA controller to AHCI mode? That is
suggested for a SSD drive.

I'm not sure how the Ghost cloning works but you may have to enable the new
drive to be 'active' with disk partitioning software

 

[Wolf K]

I just temporarily connected the new drive to the cables for the E
drive.

How do you mean? I don't know the technicalities of how Ghost works.
I used the 'Copy My Hard Drive' tool to copy all existing files,
programs and settings from one hard disk to another.

Ah, I see. IIRC, that will not create a boot disk, which is what you
wanted. You have to create a "disk image", which is not the same as
copying all the files etc. I surmise that what's missing from your SDD
drive is the Master Boot Record. This is located on a track that the
Copy tool does not access.

I trust you still have the primary HDD. Reinstall it if necessary, and
use a disk imaging utility. Macrium has been recommended here, here's
information about it:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-drive-imaging-program.htm

HTH

 

[Scott]

In the bios have you changed the SATA controller to AHCI mode? That is
suggested for a SSD drive.

No, I have not done that. I'm not sure what it means or where it is!

I'm not sure how the Ghost cloning works but you may have to enable the new
drive to be 'active' with disk partitioning software

I'm sure that is what I had to do first before Windows would recognise
the disk at all. I'm sure the disk was active as I was able to view
the contents after cloning.

 

[Scott]

Ah, I see. IIRC, that will not create a boot disk, which is what you
wanted. You have to create a "disk image", which is not the same as
copying all the files etc. I surmise that what's missing from your SDD
drive is the Master Boot Record. This is located on a track that the
Copy tool does not access.

I thought it was a disk image. This is what is says:

'You can use the Copy Drive feature to copy your operating system,
applications, and data from one hard drive to another hard drive.

'You can even copy a larger hard drive to a smaller hard drive if the
data on the drive being copied is at least 1/16th smaller in size than
the total size of the new drive.

'If the hard drive that you want to copy contains more than one
partition, you must copy the partitions one at a time to the new hard
drive.

'You can use the Copy Drive feature when you upgrade to a larger hard
drive or when you add a second hard drive. You should not use the Copy
Drive feature to set up a hard drive that will be used in another
computer. The drivers that are used to run the hardware on one
computer will likely not match the drivers on a second computer.'

Am I misunderstanding? I ticket the copy MBR option. Do you have
access to Ghost to will see what I am referring to?

I trust you still have the primary HDD. Reinstall it if necessary, and
use a disk imaging utility. Macrium has been recommended here, here's
information about it:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-drive-imaging-program.htm

Yes I do but as stated above I believe I may already have created a
disk image.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Ah, I see. IIRC, that will not create a boot disk, which is what you
wanted. You have to create a "disk image", which is not the same as
copying all the files etc. I surmise that what's missing from your SDD
drive is the Master Boot Record. This is located on a track that the
Copy tool does not access.

I trust you still have the primary HDD. Reinstall it if necessary, and
use a disk imaging utility. Macrium has been recommended here, here's
information about it:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-drive-imaging-program.htm

Actually, a disk image in Macrium, Acronis, and EaseUS Todo is a
compressed file which can be used to reconstruct the original disk, but
it is *not* a literal copy of the disk.

To get a true copy of everything in the old disk in bootable form, you
need to choose the Clone option in Macrium and EaseUS Todo. I think that
Acronis also has that capability.

It's not especially easy to find that option in those programs. OK, it's
more accurate to say that *I* have trouble finding it

 

[ps56k]

try this -
First disconnect all drives except the new SSD one with Windows installed.
Then boot to DISKPART to see if the Windows partition is marked as
"ACTIVE"...

Even if you have a new disk partition,
and Ghost created everything on the disk, including the MBR,
it might not be marked as "active" - which means "avail" for booting...

 

[Robin Bignall]

Somewhere in your BIOS will be a section for your disk controller(s).
One of the settings will probably be set to IDE. If you open it up by
selecting it and pressing 'enter' you should see the choices IDE, AHCI
and possibly RAID if your BIOS supports hardware RAID. Choose AHCI for
the SSD controller.

 

[Scott]

Actually, a disk image in Macrium, Acronis, and EaseUS Todo is a
compressed file which can be used to reconstruct the original disk, but
it is *not* a literal copy of the disk.

To get a true copy of everything in the old disk in bootable form, you
need to choose the Clone option in Macrium and EaseUS Todo. I think that
Acronis also has that capability.

It's not especially easy to find that option in those programs. OK, it's
more accurate to say that *I* have trouble finding it

Thanks very much. Is there anything wrong with using the facility in
Norton Ghost, wich seems to be designed for this purpose?

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

Thanks very much. Is there anything wrong with using the facility in
Norton Ghost, wich seems to be designed for this purpose?

Yes, it's Norton.

Ghost was fine software before it was borged and turned into Norton
bloatware.

 

[Scott]

Yes, it's Norton.

Ghost was fine software before it was borged and turned into Norton
bloatware.

I realise there is prejudice against Norton, but I have made the copy
now and I don't want to start again just because it's Norton but I wil
start again if the copy is unfit for purpose.

What I don't understand with whether I have an image that is not
bootable or don't have an image at all.

I am beginning to regret this path. My first instinct was to
reinstall Windows on the new disc followed by the application
software. My problem is that I don't have a Windows disc as it was
preinstalled by the manufacturer.

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

I know Norton has a poor reputation with some professionals, but could
you clarify why I have created a disc image. Are you using the words
'image' and 'clone' interchangeably?

No. What you have done is created an image of your hard drive as a
file. What you actually need is a clone - a sector-by-sector copy of
the hard drive onto the SSD.

Does Easeus copy the entire disc or does it need to be done
partition by partition?

It copies the whole disc sector by sector. One drawback is that the SSD
needs to be the same size as, or larger than, the source hard drive.

Some cloning utilities will resize on the fly, but this is tricky. If
you want to do this, try Clonezilla (also free) but it's very
intimidating for the inexperienced. Easeus is point'n'drool.

I did that.

It's because if you boot Windows with two hard discs with the same UUID
(unique identifier), which a clone will produce, it can get Windows into
a very confused state.

Though others appear to be recommending this

Fine, go ahead You'll end up with a non-booting system.

Changing the disc controller type post-OS install is not advised. You
should choose whether you want IDE mode or AHCI before doing a fresh
install. For Win7 and above, AHCI is recommended, especially if an SSD
is being used.

 

[Andy Burns]

Some cloning utilities will resize on the fly, but this is tricky. If
you want to do this, try Clonezilla (also free) but it's very
intimidating for the inexperienced. Easeus is point'n'drool.

Kingston SSD came with a copy of Acronis True Image, it gave multiple
warnings during cloning the hard disc to the SSD, then at the end
proclaimed it had been successful ... machine failed to boot, so I
shrunk the partiton and copied it with a live Linux CD and chucked the
True Image CD in the bin.

 

[Sir_George]

I realise there is prejudice against Norton, but I have made the copy
now and I don't want to start again just because it's Norton but I wil
start again if the copy is unfit for purpose.

What I don't understand with whether I have an image that is not
bootable or don't have an image at all.

I am beginning to regret this path. My first instinct was to
reinstall Windows on the new disc followed by the application
software. My problem is that I don't have a Windows disc as it was
preinstalled by the manufacturer.

Visit the following link to download Windows 7;

http://www.pcworld.com/article/248995/how_to_install_windows_7_without_the_disc.html

Be sure to select the appropriate version for your system.

 

[Scott]

No. What you have done is created an image of your hard drive as a
file. What you actually need is a clone - a sector-by-sector copy of
the hard drive onto the SSD.

Well, when you look at the new disc it appears to have the same file
structure as the old disc. It certainly looks like a working disc.

It copies the whole disc sector by sector. One drawback is that the SSD
needs to be the same size as, or larger than, the source hard drive.

That's a problem. The maximum realistic size for a SDD is 256 GB and
most drives are larger than that. I know that people can and do
replace their primary disc with a SSD to speed up the computer.
Indeed, that is their main purpose and selling point. Are you saying
a fresh install of Windows is needed?

Some cloning utilities will resize on the fly, but this is tricky. If
you want to do this, try Clonezilla (also free) but it's very
intimidating for the inexperienced. Easeus is point'n'drool.


It's because if you boot Windows with two hard discs with the same UUID
(unique identifier), which a clone will produce, it can get Windows into
a very confused state.

But that is NOT what I did. As I said in my first post, I installed
the SSD into the slot previously occupied by the C drive.

Fine, go ahead You'll end up with a non-booting system.

Then I won't

Changing the disc controller type post-OS install is not advised. You
should choose whether you want IDE mode or AHCI before doing a fresh
install. For Win7 and above, AHCI is recommended, especially if an SSD
is being used.

So really, you are recommending a fresh install rather than any
attempt to clone? Then I'll have to reinstall all the application
software :-( Not good news :-(

 

[Scott]

Visit the following link to download Windows 7;

http://www.pcworld.com/article/248995/how_to_install_windows_7_without_the_disc.html

Be sure to select the appropriate version for your system.

Thanks. If this cloning adventure does not succeed, I may end up
doing that.

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

Well, when you look at the new disc it appears to have the same file
structure as the old disc. It certainly looks like a working disc.

OK. Boot off a Windows CD, run the Recovery Console, and run FIXBOOT
and FIXMBR. That'll rewrite the boot sector and master boot record,
which *might* be all you need. Oh, you don't have a Windows CD, only a
recovery partition... pretty stuck then.

But that is NOT what I did. As I said in my first post, I installed
the SSD into the slot previously occupied by the C drive.

I *know* that I'm simply warning you, that's all.

So really, you are recommending a fresh install rather than any
attempt to clone?

No, your reading comprehension needs work.

 

[Scott]

Yeah, but had you started doing it when you first posted this, it would
be done now.

Yes.

And I would have needed to reinstall Office.
I would have needed to download and reinstall iTunes etc.
I would have risked having to pay again for other software purchased
onlne.

So, yes smartass I would have reinstalled Windows 7 but I doubt if I
would have reinstated all the other software presently installed on
the computer.