How to install a Samsung EVO 550GB SSD in Dell Studio 1737

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
R

rszanti

Reputable
Oct 7, 2014
11
0
4,510
I just purchased a Samsung EVO 850 500GB SSD (with Magician software) I plan on installing in a Dell Studio 1737 laptop. I want to replace the 250GB HDD presently in the Dell. From what I've read it appears the Samsung Magician will create an image of the HDD on the SSD and after completing the transfer I can physically swap the drives out. My question is - is this true ? Will all of my files, programs etc. be transferred and function afterwards ?

I also believe I need a 2.5-3.5" adapter for mounting the SSD and a USB to SATA cable for transfer - is this true ?

Any suggestions, help or confirmation would be appreciated. I've never tried anything like this before.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
I should have mentioned I'm running Vista. I don't like the ides of a re-install of the operating system because I have so many other programs that would then also require a re-install, my reason for preferring an image, if it works as I asked.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote


The Samsung software is pretty good.
It will/should directly migrate from the old drive to the new drive.

Question...how 'old' is this current Vista install? An old install almost certainly has a LOT of extra cruft that is not needed. Failed uninstalls, etc.
Why junk up a new SSD with all that crap?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
1. You can, of course, fresh-install the Windows OS onto your new larger Samsung SSD. It is true that many users prefer that approach rather than cloning the contents of their existing drive to a new drive. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that approach you understand, of course, that should you do so you will need to install all or virtually all of your programs/applications and other data to the new drive from the old one. This is not always as simple as it might sound and you've obviously indicated such. It can be an onerous process for a variety of reasons, not the least because you may not have the installation media to install various programs.

2. The crucial question for you to answer is are you satisfied with the operation of your system in that your current boot drive in that the system currently boots & functions without any problems whatsoever? And assuming that we could magically transfer your entire current system over to your new Samsung SSD would that be satisfactory to you?

Based on the information you have provided it appears that you would be quite satisfied in cloning the contents of your laptop's HDD to your new Samsung SSD. You've inferred that your present Vista system is without any problems so it seems to me that you should undertake a disk-cloning operation. I see no negative implications in performing such and doing so will make your (computer) life much easier.

3. So if you want to try the disk-cloning route do the following...

(Before you begin ensure that the only drives that are connected in the system are the source & destination drives, i.e., your laptop's HDD of course and the Samsung SSD. Uninstall any other storage devices such as a flash drive, USB external HDD, etc.).

Yes, you can use one of those SATA-to-USB ("so-called") adapters to effect the disk-cloning operation. I wish you wouldn't but you can give it a try if you want. Our experience with those SATA-to-USB connectors has been quite negative in that we've found them to be initially defective or shortly will become defective or are erratic in operation at best. We never use them any more. I assume you would plan to use the HDD in the future as an external storage/backup device. My advice would be to purchase a USB enclosure to house your HDD. As far as I'm concerned that's the safe & sane way to go.

1. Boot to the laptop's boot drive and install the Samsung Data Migration program.

2. The SDM program is a nice piece of work for cloning the contents of a disk to a Samsung SSD. As you will see the program is simple-to-use and straightforward in design. We've used it more than a dozen times with different systems and it has worked flawlessly. You should have little trouble in using that program as long as your source disk (the laptop's boot drive) is completely functional without any problems of its own. Which, of course, is what you've indicated.

3. Access the program and click Start.

4. The Source Disk and the Target Disk will be identified.

5. Click Start.

6. Click Yes when the confirmation message appears.

7. The disk-cloning process will begin. It can be a lengthy process depending upon the amount of data that's being cloned although in your case since only a relatively small amount of data will be cloned the process shouldn't take very long.

8. When the cloning process has successfully completed a message will appear to that effect.

9. Click Quit, then Shut Down.

10. After the system has been shut down disconnect the old HDD from the system. Connect the Samsung to the same SATA connector formerly used by the HDD and boot the system. ENSURE ALL IS WELL BEFORE MODIFYING ANY DATA ON YOUR HDD.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ArtPog -

The external use of the HDD as external storage is a good idea, I hadn't thought that far ahead. I assume a HDD enclosure would connect via a USB cord ?

Two items maybe relative to the operation - one, my 250Gb HDD is 70% full so it might take a while for the transfer. Two, I do have a second drive bay in my laptop. I don't know if either is important but thought I should note them.

What's the alternative to the USB/SATA cable connection for the cloning operation ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The second bay in your laptop can be a Godsend and hopefully can be a viable option for performing the disk-cloning operation as well as for future operations.

You could install your Samsung SSD in that second bay and that drive will serve as the "destination" disk during the disk-cloning operation.

Following the successful disk-cloning operation it probably would be the best course of action to trade places between the two drives - install the SSD in the first bay & the HDD in the second bay. This would be reasonable assurance that the system will boot to the new boot drive. Of course you would want to check the system's boot priority order to ensure this.

In theory you should also be able to boot (via setting the boot priority order) to the drive in the Dell's second bay. However, we have found theory doesn't always translate to actual practice. We've come across some laptops that simply won't permit a boot from a disk installed in the second bay even when the disk in the first bay has been uninstalled. Apparently (at least in certain cases) the manufacturer's proprietary modification of the BIOS/UEFI invokes a balking action for the boot.

I've had no experience that I can recall with your Dell 1737 so I can't give you any insight as to whether a boot from a drive in the machine's second bay will be possible. In any event, if you go this route, i.e., after your now-bootable SSD is installed in the first bay and the HDD installed in the second bay, it would be simple enough to determine if that HDD will boot while it still contains the OS and before you format the HDD should that be your future intention. I certainly would be interested in learning of your experience if you decide on the 2-bay approach.

However, even without a bootable drive in the second bay the disk installed in that bay would still be desirable feature in that it could serve as a destination disk for future disk-cloning operations that are designed as comprehensive backups for your installed system or for other storage purposes. It's really a no-lose situation.

But if you would rather go the route of using the HDD as an external USB drive to first serve as the source disk during the initial disk-cloning operation you can do that as well. Purchase a a USB enclosure (3.0 capability of course) and install your HDD in that device. Installation of such is a snap. Don't know if you've familiar with those devices but if you're not, here's a sample of one of them that we are currently using...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3YB25C2245&cm_re=orico_6518us3-bk-_-0VN-0003-000F6-_-Product
It was on sale at Newegg @ $19.99 when we bought three of these units some months ago. Have performed quite well. Note they accommodate both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2" disks. There are scores of these type of USB external devices available on the market. Many users prefer the so-called "docking stations". Take a look at the various offerings.

And following the disk-cloning operation the USB external HDD can serve as a storage and/or backup device. Many users prefer an external device as another layer of security.

Let us know how you make out.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom