Samsung SSD Data migration

[rubbeduck]

Hello forum
I recently bought a Samsung 840 SSD 120 Gig
Along with the device a software incl. Data migration followed.
Now i wonder if it is safe to migrate my OS with this program and can i still be using my old HDD as an optional storage device?

 

[JohnnyLucky]

A clean install is the preferred method. Data migration software is an option. The software works reasonably well but sometimes there are glitches.

You can use the old hard drive for data storage. That's what most users do.

 

[Dennial-100]

Yes! I also completely agree with JohnnyLucky.

 

[mad-max79]

If you do a clean install please unplug the hdd and switch SATA to AHCI until completed.
Then check BIOS for boot order, which is also needed when doing a migration.

 

[rubbeduck]

Thank you very much for replies

 

[davegl]

I've just tried to use the samsung data migration s/w and failed. I fitted the 840pro in my desktop (sat3 cable to marvell88SE91 port that is set to AHCI) and then used the migration software. Magician 4 shows the SSD is good (AHCI active and performance as expected). However the data migration software has cloned c and created an E and I drive on the SSD. The E drive is 400Mbit and active primary, the I drive (with windows) is the rest. When I look in windows 8 disk manager I can see that neither of these SSD drives are flagged as boot. When I set the BIOS to boot from the SSD it reports 'no BOOTMGR'.
I could try to restore a reflect image to the SSD, or use my crucial cable and the software that came with that (used for my wife's laptop) but would have expected the samsung software to work.

Also, when using migration software (v2) the clone reports 100% successful but the verify phase results in the app 'not responding'. I've tried this twice with the same results.

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

Dave

 

[mad-max79]

Did you connect your HDD to the same port?
If not please try using the port from your hdd, which can fix boot error. Also check boot order in BIOS.

 

[davegl]

Thanks for the fast response. No I didn't try that (the motherboard is an asus Sabertooth X58 and has 4 SATA2 ports which have my old drives connected and 2 specific SATA3 which I have now used for SSD). The SATA2 ports are configured in BIOS as IDE (not AHCI). The two SATA3 ports are configured AHCI and i've discovered already that If I change the HDD SATA2 port to AHCI win8 won't boot (google shows this is because it never installed AHCI drivers). The boot order in BIOS is currently set to use the old HDD, but by pushing F8 on boot I can select the SSD (which then confirms no BOOTMGR). I've now found the European helpdesk number in Samsung for SSDs (00800 80108011) and have just spoken to them and will provide the info they ask and update this with anything they advise. I'll leave my system 'as is' for now until they at least respond.

 

[davegl]

An update from Samsung - interesting (i'll try their recommendation tonight)..........
Thank you for your information!

As I saw you connected your SSD to SATA port, which has a Marvell controller. I must say that Marvell controllers do not function properly with SSDs.

So please connect your drive to one of the Intel ports.



Intel® ICH10R controller :
6 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), black
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Marvell® PCIe 9128 controller : *1
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
JMicron® JMB362 controller :
1 x Power eSATA 3Gb/s port(s), green
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port(s), red

Note


*1-1: These SATA ports are for data hard drives only. ATAPI devices are not supported



That’s the reason why in Device Manager your SSD is recognized as SCSI drive and you cannot boot from it.

So please at first connect your drive to Intel SATA port (even if it’s SATA II), secure erase the drive or format it to make it clean again and try with migrating the data again.

Please let me know if after following these steps, were you able to boot from your SSD finally.


.....
I can't see how to past a screenshot of device manager, but under the disk drives section it shows the SSD listed as a SCSI device

 

[davegl]

I moved the SSD to a SATA2 port and followed the clone process again (I couldnt use secure erase as that is not supported in win8). The migration completed successfully (including verification). I rebooted and set BIOS to boot to the SSD and it did. Disk manager now shows the SSD as the boot drive (I still have the old drive if ever needed). I just opened Adobe Elements 11 organiser and it was almost instantaneous .
I ran the magician performance tests (on SATA2) and compared them with my Samsung HDD. I've also included the values from the SSD when on SATA3 (so may look for a better SATA3 card if real world use justifies it). First number is HDD, second is SDD SATA2, 3rd is SDD SATA3. All are MB/s

Seq Read 45, 224, 401
Seq Wrte 56, 239, 246
Random Rd IOPS 216, 8581, 58757
Random Write IOPS 261, 21028, 44302

 

[ba268]

I moved the SSD to a SATA2 port and followed the clone process again (I couldnt use secure erase as that is not supported in win8). The migration completed successfully (including verification). I rebooted and set BIOS to boot to the SSD and it did. Disk manager now shows the SSD as the boot drive (I still have the old drive if ever needed). I just opened Adobe Elements 11 organiser and it was almost instantaneous .
I ran the magician performance tests (on SATA2) and compared them with my Samsung HDD. I've also included the values from the SSD when on SATA3 (so may look for a better SATA3 card if real world use justifies it). First number is HDD, second is SDD SATA2, 3rd is SDD SATA3. All are MB/s

Seq Read 45, 224, 401
Seq Wrte 56, 239, 246
Random Rd IOPS 216, 8581, 58757
Random Write IOPS 261, 21028, 44302

On the issue of Samsung migration software, I had cause to call Samsung USA because I couldn't get my HP notebook to recognise the 840 series SSD in its USB case, ready for cloning, even after Samsung help advised to initialise (as MBR because that's what my original c drive is) and then format. So the next guy I spoke to at Samsung recommended I try Macrium's freeware tool. It worked fine as far as I know. I still have to install the SSD, once I can get the USB enclosure open--it's shut like a clam. Maybe I'll pour boiling water on it.