Thinkpads Forum

I am going back and forth between installing this drive in my T61p or just getting X300. Problem is I am scared I will not like the size of the X300 screen.

I can get the 64gb Samsung SSD for about $900 and stay with my 15" screen.

Are there any step by step instruction on moving the entire OS and all of my current drive contents over to the SSD. Any downsides to this or other adjustments as the $900 SSD drive will not be returnable after I start this process.

I am tired of sitting on the fence, someone give me a shove! Please

i would say don't copy/clone your current OS but just setup it again and install all your apps. Cloning sometimes causes problems down the road.

The SSD would be sweet to have and i'm sure you wont like the 13.3". You went for the big 15.4 i'm guessing so 2" smaller with not the same workspace and all that. Then again you could buy the x300 and see if it works for you and if not then return it but i say just skip that part since you probably would. It's slower and lacks some stuff that i'm sure would annoy P users.

Tell you what, you get the SSD and give it to me and i'll test it and report back


Oh and as for the cloning part tho you can just use Acronis. It'll copy the data exactly how it is now (folders, settings, files... all that) then all you gotta do is swap out the drive in there now and put in the SSD. The problem with that is you gotta use the UltraBay HD thing or a USB 2.5 Drive enclosure and Acronis syncs the drives perfectly.

One tip, clean out all your junk first since i'm sure the new drive is probably a lot smaller than what you have now

So you are saying for me to just go buy a copy of XP or Vista and do a fresh install? Sounds a little scary getting all the drivers set up and working.

Sorry for the questions as I am only a user and have not done alot like this.

If I do start fresh, do I just install the new drive and insert the new Windows OS CD?

Well I have stepped into it now. The 64gb SSD drive will be here on Monday!

yeah, install the new drive into your system and install the OS as needed. If you were thinking about it then now would be a good time to sample Vista. You can get a OEM license cheaper or other ones if you buy them online (newegg or something). You usualyl have some time before you can return it to the store. Some stores don't allow return of software but some do.

While it's not "legal" per say you could borrow your friends disc and then try out Vista that way too.. it's not a "trial period" but you do have 30 days to activate it.

Greg Gebhardt wrote:Sounds a little scary getting all the drivers set up and working.

i posted this reply to a similar question over at forums.lenovo.com...

device drivers can be found on this page:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... PAD-MATRIX

or, you can download thinkvantage system update and let it do the work for you:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... VSU-UPDATE


hint: option #2 is much easier.

What is the disadvantage of just cloning my existing drive to the new SSD? Seems like it would be alot more easy. I have about 40gb on the original drive so that would leave my enough head room on the 64gbSSD.

i'm not sure how/where the MBR (master boot record) is actually recorded on an SSD to know the answer.   you could try it though -- it'll either work or it won't.

Greg,


If you do install Vista, Please post the Vista experience Index scores.


On my T61p, the 120GB/5400 drive I opted for at purchase is my lowest performer (4.6) and I've always planned on upgrading the drive sooner or later.

I've been waiting on a SSD and its promised (but maybe not realized) superior performance for what seems like years now!

slagmi wrote:Greg,


If you do install Vista, Please post the Vista experience Index scores.


On my T61p, the 120GB/5400 drive I opted for at purchase is my lowest performer (4.6) and I've always planned on upgrading the drive sooner or later.

I've been waiting on a SSD and its promised (but maybe not realized) superior performance for what seems like years now!

I am going to try the clone first. I had Bill Morrow install a larger hardrive in one of the new Thinkpads I bought from him and his cloning efforts worked without flaw.

My T61p has Vista on it now and after a little cleaning up over the weekend to get rid of what I do not need, I will clone it to my new SSD on Monday or Tuesday. I will run a Vista Index before and after.

I will end up with about 35gb of apps, data and OS on the original drive after clean up.

I hope all of you are hanging around next week when I am doing this as it will be my first effort. I purchased this clone kit on ebay to help me do this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=007

I was also thinking about installing an SSD in the next few weeks. But I was planning on creating recovery CDs from my current drive, then reloading apps and data.

If I were to try cloning, I would use Acronis True Image. I've used in the past and it worked flawlessly.

Good luck!

G

One consideration is that some applications will complain and need to be re registered when launched on the new drive. Adobe and ACT! come to mind for me. More of a bother or annoyance than anything else.

Brad

GeorgeP wrote:I was also thinking about installing an SSD in the next few weeks. But I was planning on creating recovery CDs from my current drive, then reloading apps and data.

If I were to try cloning, I would use Acronis True Image. I've used in the past and it worked flawlessly.

Good luck!

G

I will be making recovery disks, too. I would like to get rid of the partition that hold this info afterwards. I will, also, have my original drive of which I will keep. No better back up for the laptop that this!

Now to figure out how to only get C drive cloned without the hidden restore info. I thought that if you use the make restore disk utility it gave you the option to remove the files from the hard drive afterwards?

Breaking new ground here and the only warm and fuzzy feeling is that I will still have the old drive if all fails.

Greg Gebhardt wrote:....Breaking new ground here and the only warm and fuzzy feeling is that I will still have the old drive if all fails.

... and a $900 Hockey Puck.

Harryc wrote:

Greg Gebhardt wrote:....Breaking new ground here and the only warm and fuzzy feeling is that I will still have the old drive if all fails.

... and a $900 Hockey Puck.

Not a concern. I do not fear hurting the SSD drive. I will use it, in one way or another, for years to come. I know it will loose value as the SSD drives come in boxes of Kraker Jacks later this year!

Brad wrote:One consideration is that some applications will complain and need to be re registered when launched on the new drive. Adobe and ACT! come to mind for me. More of a bother or annoyance than anything else.

Brad

Not to worried about Adobe (Reader?) or ACT. I will deactivate my CS3 and reactivate after the move.

After reading the other thread in this section on hard drive replacement, I am wondering if I need to get the acronis software and use the reverse cloning method?

Iknow others have done this and wish they would help out here as next week will be getting here soon! <vbg>

slagmi wrote:Greg,


If you do install Vista, Please post the Vista experience Index scores.


On my T61p, the 120GB/5400 drive I opted for at purchase is my lowest performer (4.6) and I've always planned on upgrading the drive sooner or later.

I've been waiting on a SSD and its promised (but maybe not realized) superior performance for what seems like years now!

FYI - my IDE SSD gave a 5.3 on Vista WEI scores. The SATA SSD ones i heard are even a bit better topping out at 5.9

here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 736#399736

My SATA Samsung 64gb SSD drive will be here before 10am on Monday. I have everything ready. Hoping the same drive caddy will fit the SSD drive and all goes smoothly!

I will try the clone process 1st. If that does not work, I will use my recovery disks and reinstall my software afterwards.

The existing drive caddy will fit the SSD, will it not?