Using SSD with external

[jgj0ker]

Hello,
I just purchased a 128gb Crucial M4 SSD since they were on sale at newegg. I am going to put it in my current laptop but I have a few questions regarding its configuration. First, I want the SSD to have the OS and a few of the key applications I use the most and having the rest of my stuff on an external if that is possible. I would prefer to do a clean install on the SSD but I do not have any of my OS stuff besides what's partitioned on this current HDD. Is there a way to still do a clean install or would cloning be my option? And how would I go about cloning just the OS and applications and being able to use an external for everything else?

I am new to this so any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[th3_ory]

Cloning my cause future problems. You could do some shady shady things to get your OS stuff back. PM me if you want to.....

 

[spawnkiller]

i had tried to clone my data to the SSD and it failed (won't startup, need repair and some random driver crash after that)

Smart response is working really good if you don't want to format (and have a Z77/Z68 board) but the clean install is really the best option...

 

[popatim]

Use the laptops utility to make your reinstallation disks.

To clone to the the SSD you will need to uninstall all the programs you want to run from the ext drive and then clone whats left to the SSD, install and boot the ssd, then reinstall all those programs to the external. As always make multiple backup copies; you dont want to make just one and find out it wasn't a good copy.

 

[jgj0ker]

I have an HP and my laptop has HP Recovery Manager which allows me to make a copy of recovery media. If I made those disc would they work on the SSD to do a clean install? You guys are being helpful, I just don't have any experience with this as I have never done this before. You'd figure someone in the Air Force would be able to do this -_- but I'm a networking guy so I guess it's ok lol

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html
I found this link on the other thread I accidentally made earlier. Would making the recovery media and following that help me reach my goal?

 

[RetiredChief]

NO, do not use the "recovery" method.
While a clean install is best, you can do a migration - NOT a Clone.
Recommended software: EasyUS which is free.
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm
My personal choice is Ez-Gig, But that cost $19 @ Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812161004

These will properly align partition
enable trim

On caution, Check how your HDD is controlled, Need ahci so if your HDD is IDE, need should fix first, but can be done after the fact.
Just check in bios, OR
To check, download ad run as ssd, doNOT nedd to run bench mark, just look to see if it shows your driver is NOT pcide (upper left when opening program).

If your HDD is IDE controller then select either "fix it for me" or "let me fix it myself"
DO this FIRST, then when down reboot and change bios to ahci
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

AS SSD: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Benchmarks/AS-SSD-Benchmark.shtml

 

[RetiredChief]

Added:
For a clean instal, You can Barrow a copy of windows 7 installation, perform a "clean install". DO NOT enter the Key when prompted during the install process. after installation and CHECK out then activate using YOUR laptop ey (should be affixed to the Bottom of the Laptop).

 

[jgj0ker]

Alright so today I finally had time to do everything. I ended up cloning it since I did not have access to an OS installation disc or OS period. Regardless, I noticed the difference immediately. Boot time on my laptop now is around 5 seconds, compared to before which was like 30 seconds. Huge difference. I also went ahead and upgraded my RAM.

I did however accidentally lose around 1000 of my songs when I was transferring my Itunes library to my external drive, but after some time I should have those back since I did have them backed up on a different drive.

Overall, I really wanted to do a clean install and I had doubts about cloning based on things I read about cloning might cause problems down the road. But for now it's all I could do and it was definitely money well spent.

Thank you guys for helping.

 

[RetiredChief]

Down load AS SSD. Install and run program. you do NOT need to run the benchmark. But look at the upper left as it will show:
.. SSD model
.. SSD FW, always advisable to to have latest FW version.
.. Driver: Do NOT want to see pcide = Bad. This means that even if trim is enabled it will not pass the TRIM Cmd.
.. Partition Alignment. Want to see "OK"
AS SSD: http://downloads.guru3d.com/AS-SSD-Benchmark-download-2569.html

Couple of other points:
Verify TRIM is enabled.
Verify/turn OFF defrag for the SSD - SSDs do NOT need defragging, nor do they like to be defragged.
Not sure, remember Google is your friend.