Imperfect HDD to SSD Clone

[MissMarvy]

I cloned my larger HDD onto my SSD and everything seems to be working OK. It was my first time so I made some mistakes. Anyway, the cloning software only copied the data from my C: drive partition. All the other system reserved partitions (Recovery, etc, not partitions I created) are empty. Can I safely delete these partitions, or will that cause problems if I need to use the recovery disks, for example? (i.e will the recovery disks be looking for the partitions.) I did not have OS installation disks, the laptop came with Win 8 preinstalled, hence the clone.

 

[Y0GI]

If you look in Disk Management, the very first partition on the left will be a 100MB to 350MB SRP (System Reserved Partition). Windows uses the info in this part. to Boot the Windows OS. DO NOT MESS WITH THIS PART.! The other unused parts. can be safely deleted, but I would've cloned these to the new drive also (for future use, if needed).

Yogi

 

[dodger46]

I cloned my larger HDD onto my SSD and everything seems to be working OK. It was my first time so I made some mistakes. Anyway, the cloning software only copied the data from my C: drive partition. All the other system reserved partitions (Recovery, etc, not partitions I created) are empty. Can I safely delete these partitions, or will that cause problems if I need to use the recovery disks, for example? (i.e will the recovery disks be looking for the partitions.) I did not have OS installation disks, the laptop came with Win 8 preinstalled, hence the clone.

Do you have the SSD and an HDD installed? i.e. a laptop with 2 drive bays?
Only pitfall I see is your not copying the 350Mb System Reserved Partition to the SSD, it contains the Boot data. Also the Recovery partition may be viable even though you can't see any data therein using File explorer. Check to see if there's any used space using Disk Manager...

 

[MissMarvy]

I cloned my larger HDD onto my SSD and everything seems to be working OK. It was my first time so I made some mistakes. Anyway, the cloning software only copied the data from my C: drive partition. All the other system reserved partitions (Recovery, etc, not partitions I created) are empty. Can I safely delete these partitions, or will that cause problems if I need to use the recovery disks, for example? (i.e will the recovery disks be looking for the partitions.) I did not have OS installation disks, the laptop came with Win 8 preinstalled, hence the clone.

Do you have the SSD and an HDD installed? i.e. a laptop with 2 drive bays?
Only pitfall I see is your not copying the 350Mb System Reserved Partition to the SSD, it contains the Boot data. Also the Recovery partition may be viable even though you can't see any data therein using File explorer. Check to see if there's any used space using Disk Manager...

Yes, there are two drive bays in the laptop and I'm using the SSD as the boot drive and the wiped HDD as the second data drive, so I can't redo the clone (newbie mistake). In Disk Management all the partitions except the OS say 100% free. I know the recovery is empty because I had tried to reset while troubleshooting the SSD install and it said I had no recovery installed, but I was able to boot up with the recovery disks. I don't know if the refresh/restore works with the disks, however, I didn't have to go that far.

But I am looking at my other computer, a desktop, in Disk Management and it also has four partitions that say 100% free. Maybe those partitions are empty until Windows needs to use them during a recovery? Perhaps I should leave as is.

Also, updating 8.1 through the App store wipes out the Win8 Recovery Partition? That would explain why the Recovery partitions are empty on both my computers...I created the Recovery disks after updating to 8.1 in both cases.
http://www.technologytell.com/gadgets/133905/windows-8-1-update-leaves-oem-owners-with-broken-restore-function/

 

[dodger46]

Thanks for the 'Heads up' on the Recovery Partitions, didn't appreciate that they were wiped by the Upgrade using Store.
That gives major headaches for anyone who has any problems with the upgrade, or indeed any OS problems at all, as the only recourse is to obtain Recovery Disks from the PC manufacturer.
Rather than clone I normally advocate use of a Recovery Disk in the case of pre-loaded machines, utilising the Recovery Partition, but that will be useless on upgraded machines. However, it is still possible to create a System Image for backup in 8.1 if you're interested.
Meanwhile leave your System Reserved Partition intact as suggested, even though it's on the HDD it may well be providing your Boot data... As for the Recovery partition, it might as well be merged with another on your HDD as it appears it's pretty useless...

 

[MissMarvy]

Thanks for the 'Heads up' on the Recovery Partitions, didn't appreciate that they were wiped by the Upgrade using Store.
That gives major headaches for anyone who has any problems with the upgrade, or indeed any OS problems at all, as the only recourse is to obtain Recovery Disks from the PC manufacturer.
Rather than clone I normally advocate use of a Recovery Disk in the case of pre-loaded machines, utilising the Recovery Partition, but that will be useless on upgraded machines. However, it is still possible to create a System Image for backup in 8.1 if you're interested.
Meanwhile leave your System Reserved Partition intact as suggested, even though it's on the HDD it may well be providing your Boot data... As for the Recovery partition, it might as well be merged with another on your HDD as it appears it's pretty useless...

dodger, could you explain how to create the system image in 8.1, and how one would use Recovery Partition instead of cloning? I looked online on how to create backup installation disks from preinstalled Win8 and I did not see anything straightforward. My product key was not eligible to download an 8.1 .iso from Microsoft. Yet, the licensing terms say we are allowed to make a backup of the OS, but they don't explain how to do it (unless they are referring to Recovery disks?)

 

[dodger46]

That's the problem, the pre-installed OEM version can't be downloaded from a legal source forcing folk to buy Recovery Disks from Manufacturers. I prepared a step-by-step System Image Recovery (8.1)yesterday for someone else. should be OK. It includes the recovery procedure.
Require
USB Pendrive/Ext Drive/Separate Internal Drive greater than ‘C’ Drive or several blank DVDs
Small USB Pendrive (1 Gb) if you have no Installation Media


At Start Screen -
Search for ‘File History’
Select ‘File History’
System Image Backup (Bottom Left)
Select backup media

Create Image, include System Reserved Partition,then, if no Installation Media, create Recovery Drive

At Start Screen –
Create Recovery Drive by typing ‘Recovery’ select ‘Create a Recovery Drive’ (Require 1Gb USB Drive)

To Restore System

Boot from Recovery Drive/Installation Media
(Choose ‘Repair’ if Installation Media)
Choose Language and progress through Troubleshoot and Advanced Options to Restore from System Image, insert Final Disk of Image or USB drive when prompted and click Retry.

Your Backup Disk details should appear.

Click Next

Leave Format unchecked if it’s a new disk then click Next

Click Finish to proceed with Restore

 

[dodger46]

Backup for 8.1 Laptop with Recovery Partition
Best advice would be to create your Backup on a separate Drive, that way you have a reliable backup should your HDD fail. Check your C drive to see how much space you've used to install Windows, (Rt click 'C' and choose Properties) Ideally use a Flash drive 32 Gb USB3 should suffice, on Ebay around £12/$20
Simply plug in your Drive and type 'Recovery' at your Start Screen and 'Create Recovery Drive' Tick the Option to copy Recovery Partition.
To recover, boot from the Recovery drive and use Troubleshoot/Advanced Options to get to Reset your PC, which will allow you to restore Windows to new HDD,SSD or replace a corrupt OS.

 

[MissMarvy]

dodger, thank you! So I could have created a system image of my HDD and then restored it to the SSD...so the second drive only has to be as big as the original drive's system partition, system image backup does not create a copy of the entire HDD.

And thank you for pointing out that the system image link is not available from Settings->Change PC Settings->Update and Recovery->File History

 

[MissMarvy]

Backup for 8.1 Laptop with Recovery Partition
Best advice would be to create your Backup on a separate Drive, that way you have a reliable backup should your HDD fail. Check your C drive to see how much space you've used to install Windows, (Rt click 'C' and choose Properties) Ideally use a Flash drive 32 Gb USB3 should suffice, on Ebay around £12/$20
Simply plug in your Drive and type 'Recovery' at your Start Screen and 'Create Recovery Drive' Tick the Option to copy Recovery Partition.
To recover, boot from the Recovery drive and use Troubleshoot/Advanced Options to get to Reset your PC, which will allow you to restore Windows to new HDD,SSD or replace a corrupt OS.

Thank you, very useful to know.