Crucial SSD received with no disk or cable: How to clone?

[halfcard1]

so here i am trying to figure out how to copy my t60 onto the crucial m4

i know zero about this stuff - i was really counting on the disk to do everything for me

i started searching and found 'minitool partition' or something - but not clear at all how it works.

it mentions a copy disk wizard, some option for a boot disk and lord knows what else. i just want to copy all of it over, thats all.

ps the SSD is larger than what i am copying, so thats ok.

Moderator edit: Thread title modified to better reflect contents.

[Cigarguy]

SSD typically don't come with any disk. Don't need it as the OS would handle anything you might need.

Unfortunately you can't "copy' the disk over. You need to clone it. Going from a small HDD to larger size SSD is no problem. I like using parted magic for all my disk tools. Some folks swear by Acronis but I have never use it. Parted magic linux based, you need to download it and burn the image to a CD. Once that is done you simply boot to the CD.

[halfcard1]

SSD typically don't come with any disk. Don't need it as the OS would handle anything you might need.

Unfortunately you can't "copy' the disk over. You need to clone it. Going from a small HDD to larger size SSD is no problem. I like using parted magic for all my disk tools. Some folks swear by Acronis but I have never use it. Parted magic linux based, you need to download it and burn the image to a CD. Once that is done you simply boot to the CD.

burn what to a cd?

and then do what?

sorry

[Cigarguy]

If you want to use a program called "Parted Magic" to clone two disk then this is what you need to do:

1) Go to the parted magic website and download the lastest version.
2) Burn this system image disk to CD
3) Install your SSD into an external drive. Leave your current HDD in place.
4) Insert the parted magic CD burned in steps 2 and boot to this CD.
5) Use the cloning software in parted magic to clone over your HDD to the SSD

Personally I wouldn't do this. I'm a firm believer that SSD are best installed from a fresh OS install. Win 7 plays really nice with SSD while Win XP is more difficult to set up.

[halfcard1]

If you want to use a program called "Parted Magic" to clone two disk then this is what you need to do:

1) Go to the parted magic website and download the lastest version.
2) Burn this system image disk to CD
3) Install your SSD into an external drive. Leave your current HDD in place.
4) Insert the parted magic CD burned in steps 2 and boot to this CD.
5) Use the cloning software in parted magic to clone over your HDD to the SSD

Personally I wouldn't do this. I'm a firm believer that SSD are best installed from a fresh OS install. Win 7 plays really nice with SSD while Win XP is more difficult to set up.

ok i'll give it a shot, thanks !

[Johan]

I know zero about this stuff - i was really counting on the disk to do everything for me

I'd really suggest that you for the future to do a little research in advance, before "counting on" anything to happen by itself.

You may use a free trial-copy of Acronis True Image to clone your old drive onto the new drive; see e.g. Acronis Cloning Software pointing to download free trial of Acronis True Image. Then, get the Acronis True Image Userguide, and read about "cloning".

The threads Cloning set-up? and Want to transfer 60GB HDD to larger HDD - h/w needed >pic> ? A step-by-step guide is e.g. in this post may probably also be of interest/use.

My suggestion: Sit down, relax, take your time to read and understand the above, say to yourself (à la Obama): "Yes, I can!", and then do as described... but don't please don't expect anything to happen by itself.

Johan

[hhmcsv]

I used Hdclone free edition with good result.

[halfcard1]

thanks for replies!


here is the 'baby steps'


1. i got 'mini tool partition wizard' software free from cnet - even though i don't need partitions and barely know what those are

http://download.cnet.com/MiniTool-Parti ... 62200.html

2. i installed it on the laptop that i wanted to copy

3. i went to frys and bought a cheap "usb to SATA enclosure", making sure a cable was in there too. this 'enclosure' was much cheaper than their simple cable!

http://www.frys.com/product/6906677?sit ... IN_RSLT_PG

4. i plugged the usb side of the cable into my laptop and the other 'SATA' side into the new solid-state drive

5. i opened up the 'mini tool' program and picked "copy disk"

6. i only changed one option, which was leave the transfer the same size as the original

7. i clicked "apply" at the top, the program went halfway and said it had to restart so i did

8. then i clicked the "copy" at the top and it sent everything to the new drive (maybe 20 minutes)

9. then i took the old drive out and put the new one in (very simple with a small screwdriver to remove outer lid)

10. crossed fingers - it started! i did have to reboot again per a message that showed up

11. later, i read BIOS should be changed to "AHCI" on the solid state drive, so i restarted while pushing F1 to get a 'bios' menu

12. that got me to "boot" and then to "serial SATA"

13. it read "compatible" not "AHCI", so i clicked f5 to move it to "AHCI", entered "ok" and then f10 to save and exit

14. computer started again and everything looks fine


by the way, this was windows 7 32bit so i presume my BIOS is truly set on AHCI mode.


i hope the above will help someone else, thanks and good luck!