Transferring from HDD to SSD?

[ringmany]

Hi everybody,

I've recently received the 'Samsung 840 EVO 250GB" SSD card and I'm wondering how I would go about installing it.

I currently have a 1.5TB HDD which currents uses 600GB. I want to use my SSD card for the OS and documents, keeping my HDD for videos and mass storage.

Sources say I unplug my HDD, install the SSD with the windows CD and use a certain setting. I don't own the disk for my Windows OS. Another source claims I make a backup copy on my files then transfer them onto the SSD and delete what I don't need. I can't transfer 600GB onto a 250GB SSD. Lastly I've heard about a program which transfers the OS over but it costs £15 which I don't want to pay.

So I'm wondering, how would I go about installing my new SSD and putting my OS onto it whilst keeping my HDD as a storage device?

Thank you.

 

[Brunostako]

For PC or laptop?

 

[ringmany]

For PC or laptop?

PC. I was also wondering, does fresh install mean a brand new CD and key or just reinstalling my windows on my SSD?

 

[Brunostako]

Well, if you have an OEM PC, usually they have a sticker with the Windows Key. You can use that to reinstall windows in it.

You can download a ISO of your version Windows for the Microsoft page, burn it and install it on your SSD and just apply your Key.

If your PC doesn't have the Key sticker, there are softwares that can help you extract your windows Key.

 

[USAFRet]

What OS is it?
Was it preinstalled?
Do you have the license key?

 

[ringmany]

Well, if you have an OEM PC, usually they have a sticker with the Windows Key. You can use that to reinstall windows in it.

You can download a ISO of your version Windows for the Microsoft page, burn it and install it on your SSD and just apply your Key.

If your PC doesn't have the Key sticker, there are softwares that can help you extract your windows Key.

I do have the windows key. Is burning the CD and installed a "fresh install"? If I install the OS onto my PC, what happens to my HDD as that has windows on it as well?

 

[ringmany]

What OS is it?
Was it preinstalled?
Do you have the license key?

I have Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP 1

It was installed by a friend who originally built my PC.

I do have the license key.

 

[USAFRet]

What OS is it?
Was it preinstalled?
Do you have the license key?

I have Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP 1

It was installed by a friend who originally built my PC.

I do have the license key.

You can obtain the official Windows 7 ISO from here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

Burn to DVD and install on the SSD. Activate with the license key.

 

[ringmany]

What OS is it?
Was it preinstalled?
Do you have the license key?

I have Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP 1

It was installed by a friend who originally built my PC.

I do have the license key.

You can obtain the official Windows 7 ISO from here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

Burn to DVD and install on the SSD. Activate with the license key.

Thanks. So just to make sure, is it:

Download the ISO, put a blank CD into my PC and burn on the CD.
Disconnect the HDD and install/connect the SSD.
Boot up the PC and use a certain setting to run the SSD and install windows.
Once loaded, use my original windows key to activate the CD (Won't it say this key has already been used?)
Connect the HDD and make it the 2nd storage device?

 

[USAFRet]

What OS is it?
Was it preinstalled?
Do you have the license key?

I have Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP 1

It was installed by a friend who originally built my PC.

I do have the license key.

You can obtain the official Windows 7 ISO from here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

Burn to DVD and install on the SSD. Activate with the license key.

Thanks. So just to make sure, is it:

Download the ISO, put a blank CD into my PC and burn on the CD.
Disconnect the HDD and install/connect the SSD.
Boot up the PC and use a certain setting to run the SSD and install windows.
Once loaded, use my original windows key to activate the CD (Won't it say this key has already been used?)
Connect the HDD and make it the 2nd storage device?

Yes, that's pretty much it.

"(Won't it say this key has already been used?)"
Maybe. At worst, it will present you with a local phone number to call and activate via phone. Pretty painless, takes about 5 mins. I've had to do it a few times.

 

[Brunostako]

That's exactly what you have to do.

Very easy.

You could also clone your OS, but a fresh install is a much better option.

 

[ringmany]

What OS is it?
Was it preinstalled?
Do you have the license key?

I have Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP 1

It was installed by a friend who originally built my PC.

I do have the license key.

You can obtain the official Windows 7 ISO from here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

Burn to DVD and install on the SSD. Activate with the license key.

Thanks. So just to make sure, is it:

Download the ISO, put a blank CD into my PC and burn on the CD.
Disconnect the HDD and install/connect the SSD.
Boot up the PC and use a certain setting to run the SSD and install windows.
Once loaded, use my original windows key to activate the CD (Won't it say this key has already been used?)
Connect the HDD and make it the 2nd storage device?

Yes, that's pretty much it.

"(Won't it say this key has already been used?)"
Maybe. At worst, it will present you with a local phone number to call and activate via phone. Pretty painless, takes about 5 mins. I've had to do it a few times.

This whole things a disaster.

I've spent the past couple of hours trying to install it. I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

Went online for solutions, apparently I should maybe update my BIOS as I'm using a GA-970A-DS3 motherboard which is years old and runs on version F2. I went onto Gigabytes site and tried getting the updated BIOS but I can't run it because "It isn't compatible with my version of windows" but there isn't a download option for any version of Windows let alone Windows Professional 64bit.

 

[USAFRet]

I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

I find that hard to believe. It is just another SATA drive.

 

[ringmany]

I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

I find that hard to believe. It is just another SATA drive.

I don't know what else to do at this point. My PC won't detect the SSD in the BIOS menu.

 

[USAFRet]

I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

I find that hard to believe. It is just another SATA drive.

I don't know what else to do at this point. My PC won't detect the SSD in the BIOS menu.

How old is this motherboard and BIOS?
Make/model/revision...

 

[ringmany]

I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

I find that hard to believe. It is just another SATA drive.

I don't know what else to do at this point. My PC won't detect the SSD in the BIOS menu.

How old is this motherboard and BIOS?
Make/model/revision...

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3
Link: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4122#ov
BIOS version: F2 2012/03/30

 

[Brunostako]

Have you tested the SSD on an external case to check if it's alive?

SATA devices are generic, no matter if it's a HDD or SSD.

SSDs exist for a long time, there were IDE SSDs. Not a new tech.

 

[ringmany]

Have you tested the SSD on an external case to check if it's alive?

SATA devices are generic, no matter if it's a HDD or SSD.

SSDs exist for a long time, there were IDE SSDs. Not a new tech.

I don't have another case to test it on. It's brand new, got it 2 days ago.

 

[USAFRet]

I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

I find that hard to believe. It is just another SATA drive.

I don't know what else to do at this point. My PC won't detect the SSD in the BIOS menu.

How old is this motherboard and BIOS?
Make/model/revision...

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3
Link: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4122#ov
BIOS version: F2 2012/03/30

That board and BIOS would have zero issue with an SSD.

What specifically is telling you that it is not compatible?
What site or forum said this?

 

[ringmany]

I put the SSD into my PC, connected the Sata cable and power cable, disconnected my HDD. Ran the BIOS, it didn't detect the SSD, tried messing around with cables, no luck. Tried looking online, apparently the Samsung 840 may not be compatible with my BIOS.

I find that hard to believe. It is just another SATA drive.

I don't know what else to do at this point. My PC won't detect the SSD in the BIOS menu.

How old is this motherboard and BIOS?
Make/model/revision...

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3
Link: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4122#ov
BIOS version: F2 2012/03/30

That board and BIOS would have zero issue with an SSD.

What specifically is telling you that it is not compatible?
What site or forum said this?

On the Samsung troubleshooting section on their site:
"What should I do if BIOS does not detect my SSD?
1) BIOS may fail to support the SSD if it is outdated. Please update the BIOS to the latest version.
2) Your system may fail to detect the SSD if the SSD is not properly connected. Disconnect the cable and reconnect.
3) When there is a problem with the SATA Port, BIOS may fail to detect the SSD. Connect the SSD a different SATA Port and try again."

The cables are connected, the SATA cables and ports work on my HDD, I've tried a SATA 2.0 and 3.0 cable with no luck on the SSD but both work on the HDD.

 

[USAFRet]

On the Samsung troubleshooting section on their site:
"What should I do if BIOS does not detect my SSD?
1) BIOS may fail to support the SSD if it is outdated. Please update the BIOS to the latest version.
2) Your system may fail to detect the SSD if the SSD is not properly connected. Disconnect the cable and reconnect.
3) When there is a problem with the SATA Port, BIOS may fail to detect the SSD. Connect the SSD a different SATA Port and try again."

The cables are connected, the SATA cables and ports work on my HDD, I've tried a SATA 2.0 and 3.0 cable with no luck on the SSD but both work on the HDD.

#1 - Your board and BIOS is seemingly new enough.

 

[ringmany]

I guess I could try calling Samsung tomorrow for their opinion.

Thank you for your advice and patience.

 

[Brunostako]

Have you tried connecting the SSD in another SATA port as a secondary drive?

 

[ringmany]

Have you tried connecting the SSD in another SATA port as a secondary drive?

I connected my SSD to the Sata cable and for some reason this time it worked. Maybe the last 5 times the cable was lose. However, the CD I burned windows onto isn't work, so I'l buy a CD instead.

Will this restore my windows 7, then I just input my own activation key? Or do I need to actually purchase a Windows 7 Professional CD instead?
http://goo.gl/LZaEl0 (Link to Ebay)

 

[USAFRet]

Have you tried connecting the SSD in another SATA port as a secondary drive?

I connected my SSD to the Sata cable and for some reason this time it worked. Maybe the last 5 times the cable was lose. However, the CD I burned windows onto isn't work, so I'l buy a recovery CD instead.

Will this restore my windows 7, then I just input my own activation key?
http://goo.gl/LZaEl0 (Link to Ebay)

If you have the license key, and are going to reinstall, there is no need to 'buy' anything.
Download the official Windows 7 ISO here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/