Just want to make sure I have this straight in my head...

[GeorgeInNWFLA]

Hey all I've posted about this before and have read a few more posts on here and want to make sure I have the process straight in my head before I begin.

First off, my setup:

CPU: AMD FX8320
MoBo: Asus M5A99X Evo R2.0
RAM: 32G G.SKILL TridentX Series 16GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133
SSD: Samsung 850 Pro 128G
Graphics: Nvidia Quadro K620
O.S.: Win 7 Pro SP1

Here's what I want to do. I want to make my new Samsung 850 Pro 512G SSD my primary and use the old 128G for file management. So, I start by installing The Samsung Migration software onto my old SSD. Then install the new SSD into another SATA-6 port on my mobo. Run the migration software and clone the old to the new. Shut down, then swap SATA ports of the two SSD's. This should make the PC read the new SSD as the C: and the old one as the next one in line. (my DVD drive is currently D:, so that would make my old SSD the new E:, right? or would it bump my DVD drive to E:, making my old SSD the new D: ?) After I'm satisfied that everything is ok, I can then wipe my old SSD and use it as storage.

I realize that doing a clean install of Win 7 pro would be better, I can't afford to have my pc down so long due to massive amounts of schoolwork. ( learning MasterCam, Solidworks, and AutoCad).

But being as I'm transferring Samsung Pro 850 to Samsung Pro 850, using Samsung software, it should be fairly painless, right? Is there going to be any performance lag in doing this at all?

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there, George.

Basically you have everything right, except that you should not need to switch SATA ports. You could simply change the boot order of the drives from your BIOS/UEFI and its boot priority menu, so that you boot to Windows via your new SSD.
Anyway, I'd recommend that you boot to Windows without the old SSD connected to the motherboard, just to see if everything is running fine with the clone. If everything is OK, go ahead and connect the old SSD and reformat it. Remember to use Quick Format (never use Full Format with an SSD).

There shouldn't be any issues with the performance if the cloning process is successful.

Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD

 

[GeorgeInNWFLA]

Thanks Boogieman That's right where I am now. The cloned SSD works fine, now I need to format the old one. I have it plugged into my mobo, and disk management sees it, but it won't let me do anything with it. It says "This disk is offline because it has a signature collision with another disk that is online" What's my next step?

 

[GeorgeInNWFLA]

I found my answer here. This vid tells you to go into the cmd and list the ID's for all the drives and change as necessary. However, my ID's were already unique, so all I had to do was turn the offline drive online, and BAM!, there it was. I should now be able to do a quick format to NTFS file system, correct?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1mQIJJp-bE

 

[GeorgeInNWFLA]

All is well! The quick format literally took no time at all.

 

[USAFRet]

For a successful clone operation:
---------------------------------------
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just as like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
-----------------------------

I recommend changing around the SATA ports, because in a very few cases, it does actually make a difference. And takes all of 10 seconds.

 

[GeorgeInNWFLA]

Thanks for the reply, USAFRet That's exactly what I did, swapping sata ports and all

 

[Boogieman_WD]

I'm sorry I wasn't available to respond sooner, but it seem like you've did a pretty good job figuring out everything by yourself.
Once again - awesome job!

Cheers!