SSD to HDD back to SSD

[s0crates]

Built my first system several weeks ago and now I've had my first major issue. My Mushkin Callisto 120GB SSD failed a few days ago. Since this computer is new I haven't had a chance to add my second drive so I was forced to replace it immediately due to having work to do on my PC. I installed the tried and true Seagate 500GB HDD.

Well Mushkin has been very reasonable and is replacing the SSD (its still under warranty) but now I don't know what to do with the SSD. I want to use it to its full potential but I'm not willing to reinstall everything again.

What is the best way for me to utilize the SSD along with my HDD without doing a clean install on the SSD?

Thanks

 

[pete123edgar]

Well if you don't mind booting in the HDD, just plug in the ssd and use the program you most used on it like say something you need to work fast with huge data transfer.

 

[ubercake]

My guess is you want your SSD to be your system drive?

If so and you haven't put too much beyond the OS on your Seagate, you can get a data transfer kit from Apricorn for about $20 that has everthing you need to transfer the contents of your HDD to the SSD:

http://www.amazon.com/Apricorn-Notebook-Upgrade-Connection-ASW-USB-25/dp/B002EUCU3O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1361215228&sr=8-3&keywords=acronis+kit

You can use it on laptops and desktops. Just take the image from the Seagate using the included software and copy it over USB to your SSD.

Then you can re-format the Seagate HDD and your good to go.

 

[s0crates]

Will I keep the SSD speed with the programs I put on it?

 

[ubercake]

Yes.

Make sure your disk mode is set to AHCI (or RAID if you'll be doing a RAID config) on the motherboard's disk controller to which you'll be connecting the SSD after the imaging process is complete. If you aren't planning on setting up a RAID configuration of any sort, I would set all the disk controllers on the motherboard to use a disk mode of AHCI anyhow. If you haven't already done this, there's another step you'll have to follow to get this set correctly. Let us know.

There is a choice when you use the wizard in acronis (on the apricorn CD) where you'll check a box to honor the '4K sector alignment'. As long as you do that, it will copy the contents from the HDD to the SSD and you're good to go. You'll be running at full-on SSD speed.

 

[s0crates]

Thanks!

I'll give it a shot and let you know. I just don't want to have to do another install of everything!

 

[ubercake]

I've done it a few times myself. It works great and takes far less time than doing a complete reinstallation of the OS.