Windows 10: Macrium Reflect and SSD drive

I want to add a SSD Drive SAMSUNG 850 PRO 2.5" 256GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7KE256BW to my computer. I have done a system image of my WD drive,will I be able to install the image to the SSD drive? The WD drive has a partition on it that is not part of the image,will this be a problem. Not sure how much faster the SSD will be over my WDC WD5003AZEX-00RLFA0 ATA Device. Right now my WD drive only uses 40 gigs,so thinking the SSD 256 will be ok. I can always store fire on the WD if needed. Just trying to get a little more life out of this build.

:)

 

clone internal ssd C: drive to identical internal D:

I have cloned a hard disk drive to a solid state drive and it works great: Upgrade to an SSD: The best way to make your computer feel like new

I used 3rd party software
Macrium Reflect Free.

 

Windows Boot Sector corrupted

Does your HDD installation still work? If so then this would be the correct procedure to follow:

• Use Macrium Reflect (or a similar tool) to create an image of your installation.
• Disconnect the HDD, connect the SSD.
• Boot the machine with the Macrium Reflect bootable rescue flash disk.
• Restore the image to the SSD.

In general: When restoring images you must make sure at the first reboot to connect the new disk only. If both disks are connected then you risk ruining both installations.

 

Yes you should be able to use your Image of your C-Drive on to your new SSD, BUT....you also said that 1 partition is NOT on your image made by Macrium Reflect? This seems strange to me, because unless you un-checked that missing partition MR ALWAYS copies ALL of your partitions when you do a Complete system image.

 

Thanks OldMike65
Yes I did uncheck that partition. I see you are using a Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB ssd, did you see a lot of performace difference over a hdd?

 

Hell YES!!!!!! at least 50% speed increase on everything loading, boot times are also MUCH faster. I have 2 computers and installed each one with a SSD for the C drive. You will LOVE the difference. Mine is the older 840, so the newer version should even be better.
Not sure why you excluded that partition unless its a recovery partition from your old OS and you don't want or need it.

 

One more step is needed thou when making your new SSD bootable using Macrium Reflect, after restoring your image of your C drive, you have to tell MR to make the SSD bootable.....a feature in MR. Then you should be all set.

 

Here's an easy way to do it, With your SSD connected.

• If not already done. Create a backup image of your current Windows HD. From Macrium, click on "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows"
  NOTE: you could actually clone the disk, but create a backup then restore will allow Macrium to correctly align the cluster size and perform trimming on the new SSD.
• After step 1 is done, click on Restore tab, select the image from step 1 then click on Select different target disk, select the SSD as destination disk then click on Next->Finish. No need to use/boot from Rescue disk. It will be faster and Macrium will also perform trimming on the new SSD.
• Disconnect the HD and reboot. Windows should boot up with the new SSD.

 

Thanks for all the help guys, just ordered and can't wait to see results. Maybe get couple more years out of this old dog, nice to the latest stuff but what I have feels my needs.Just don't want to put a lot of money in this old system,like seeing a pretty girl on the street you just have to have it. LOL

 

Hi there.

Sometimes you might get "Windows failed to boot" after a restore --usually because you either haven't got an active partition or you forgot to restore the "System Reserved" partition.

No problems here usually

just insert your W10 install USB / DVD (if you haven't got one create it from the Ms site - Windows media creation tool) and choose repair computer at the install prompt.

Cheers
jimbo

 

If you are restoring/copying the image using Macrium Reflect, then why not just use the Reflect Free option to fix Windows startup problems if you need to?

 

Hi there

Of course that's the easiest solution - but I added another recovery option if for any reason the restore fails to boot properly -- it can happen from time to time - especially if you have changed HDD/SSD sizes or partition sizes or forgot the "system Reserved" small partition in the restore.

When trying to repair a computer it's (IMO) always a good idea to have a couple of strategies available in case your chosen method fails. !!! -- Believe me stuff might work 999 times out of 1000 but the one time you really need your machine fixed ASAP is the one time something will go wrong - even if it's only "The Ghost in the Machine"). !!

Cheers
jimbo

 

So long as its not Norton Ghost!

 

It is always very good advice to have the install media available for the OS installed on the computer (and on a storage media other than the operating hard drive). It amazes me how many people don't, then something happens and they ask, "What now?"