Replacing an SSD?

CarolineP

Honorable
Jul 20, 2012
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10,510
Hi!

So here's the story: recently, my old SSD (128gb OCZ Vertex 4) totally died on me. I was able to do a clean install of Windows on my hard drive (had to erase everything first but yeah, finally got Windows on). The thing is, I want to put in a new SSD and put windows there instead of on my hard drive. I bought myself a Samsung 850 EVO (MZ-75E500B/AM) with 500gb of storage.

So I have two questions:

First, how do I take out my old SSD and install my new one? Do I need a new mounting bracket thingy and new cables?

Secondly, how do I transfer Windows over to my new SSD, rather than having it on my HDD? Do I need to erase everything on my HDD (there isn't much) and do a clean install? Or is there a different clean and easy way of doing it?

Thanks so much!!

-Caroline
 
Solution
It should fit right where your old SSD is, and it has the same SATA connector so the current cables are fine.

The 850 EVO comes with some software to clone the HDD into the SSD. After you get the SSD booted, format the HDD or do whatever you want with it.
 
Not sure about the EVO software, but Acronis is pretty decent cloning software as well if the EVO does not work as expected.

Also if you only have Windows and a couple of apps installed I would go with a clean install on the system on the SSD instead of cloning. This way you will make sure Windows installs properly (aligned on the drive) and TRIM works as it should as well. It shouldn't take too long on the SSD and you will make sure you start with maximum performance.
 
I used the Samsung software on my laptop with its 840 SSD from a 5400 RPM 1TB 2.5" drive. Seemed to work okay.

I think they have taken care of the common issue of fixing the alignment and trim functions. I know Acronis did it some years back.

You can also do it manually, which I did once after using Clonezilla, but I have no idea what all the steps were now.
 


Steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
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 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.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------
 
Solution


1. First of all we're going to assume that the total data contents on your present HDD are less than your 500 GB
Samsung SSD so there's no problem that those data contents (including the OS) will "fit" on the SSD.

2. Next, we're going to assume that your present HDD boot drive functions without any problems - it boots
without incident and you haven't run into any problems using your programs and othe data. If that's NOT the
case, read no further. Capiche?

3. You haven't indicated what kind of a PC system you're working with. Is it a Desktop machine or a laptop.
(I'm going to assume it's a Desktop and you've obviously had some experience working inside the machine,
e.g., changing drives. Is this right?

4. So assuming you can answer "yes" to all the above, here's what I would recommend...

5. Use the Samsung Data Migration program to clone the contents of your HDD to your Samsung SSD. (I can't
tell how you've connected the SSD at this point. If you can install the SSD internally in your Desktop, well &
good. If you want to connect it as a USB external drive for the disk-cloning operation, that's OK too.

6. Either way...the SDM program will be bundled with your Samsung SSD. With both your HDD & SSD
installed the SDM program will open just after you install it to your PC.

7. Click on the Start button of the opening window.

8. The next screen will display your "Source Disk" (the HDD) & the Target Disk (the Samsung SSD).

9. Click on Start and the disk-cloning operation will proceed. Hopefully, all will go well and the "successfully
cloned" message will appear when the operation completes.

10. NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT...
After the disk-cloning operation has completed and BEFORE you boot to the new SSD, uninstall (or disconnect) the HDD from the system. (Of course if you're working with a laptop with only a single drive bay obviously you would uninstall the HDD before installing the SSD to the laptop.

Also, if you're working with a Desktop PC it's a good idea (if practical) to connect the SSD to the motherboard's first SATA data port (connector) usually designated SATA 0 or SATA 1.

In any event, boot to the SSD as the SOLE drive connected in the system. Ensure that it boots and functions without any problems. Work with it a few days to ensure all is well before you manipulate any of the data on the HDD.
 
ArtPog:

First, thanks so much for your detailed reply!

So here's the progress so far:

1) Yes, total data on my HDD right now is 80 gigs, so nowhere near the capacity of my new SSD
2) Yup, HDD is booting fine, no issues
3) Desktop PC. I have *some* experience working inside it, but not with replacing drives. Just replacing my graphics card a while ago.

5) So this is where we're at now. I disconnected & unmounted the old, non-functional SSD and mounted the new one and put it in one of the hard drive bays (I used the screws & bracket thing used to secure the other one). So it's securely in place, in the right spot, etc. I plug in the SATA cable & power cable, booted my computer back up, and it didn't recognize the SSD at all. Didn't crash or anything, just no recognition at all that there was a new drive plugged in, even with the data migration disc in. This makes me think the problem was with either the SATA cable or the power cable (probably the SATA, the power cable is also plugged into my HDD and that still works) from the beginning. Planning to get a new SATA cable tomorrow, but not sure how to take out and replace the old one. It's held in place with those little zip tie things and it's with a bunch of other cables in my computer.
 
1. Indicate the make & model of your motherboard.

2. So when the HDD boot drive and the SSD is connected, as things stand now the system boots without any problem but you indicate the SSD is not "recognized", right?

3. And it appears you've properly/securely connected the SSD to one of the motherboard's SATA ports, yes? The connection appears similar to the connection of the HDD to the motherboard?

4. When you access the "Disk drives" section of Device Manager, the Samsung SSD is not listed as one of the drives?

5. A "boot menu" can usually display upon bootup of the system by pressing the appropriate "F" key (or possibly another type key). The motherboard determines the appropriate key to press, so consult your motherboard's manual to determine that key. If you can get the boot menu to display, does the SSD appear in its listing?

6. If the "virgin" SSD is not recognized in the system it's possible the problem is a defective SATA cable although that's an infrequent cause in my experience. More often it's due to an incorrect or insecure connection or even a defective SSD.

7. Did you try connecting the SSD to one of the other SATA ports (assuming one is available).

8. Can I assume you do not have another PC available? And I assume you do not have a USB external enclosure in which you could install the SSD, right?