Samsung 500gb 850 EVO with T500 Win XP Pro SP3?

[Slick_tu]

I'm sure this must have been asked, but I can't seem to find anything.

While first trying to clone SimpleTech 128gb SATA SSD (that I installed and have been using for years) to Samsung 500gb 850 EVO SATA SSD, EZ Gig IV says it failed because of sector errors on the source drive. Next, I tried the Samsung migration software and it said it failed because of 400110[061aee]. Samsung tech says it's because this SSD won't work with Win XP; I have to upgrade to Win 7 or 8.

After the EZ Gig clone completed (failed), the drive's properties in Windows showed it was the same size as the 128gb and seemed to have all the folders/files there. I can't try it in the machine until I receive the new caddy/rails I ordered. Don't know what I did with the old one after installing the 128gb SSD a few years ago.

Is the Samsung tech correct, that I can't use this with Win XP, or is that the standard line now that XP is no longer supported my Microsoft?

Can I use this 500gb SSD if I do a clean Win XP SP3 install using the Lenovo DVDs that came with my T500 and then can I restore the rest of my programs and data that I backed up on a USB HDD using R&R?

I'm running out of room on the 128, so if worse-comes-to-worse I guess I could put the 320gb (7200 rpm) HDD back in and clone to that.

Is that my only option?

[RealBlackStuff]

You cannot fresh install Windows, and then restore backed-up programs, that will never work in a million years.
Take an image using the official Acronis TrueImage, or use a program like Clonezilla to clone the 'old' small drive.
OTOH, now is the time to say good-bye to XP...

Most people clone with the 'old' drive in e.g. a USB case or Ultrabay, and the 'new' drive in the official drive-bay.
BTW, you can take the caddy off your old drive and put that on the new one (only 4 screws).

[Slick_tu]

You cannot fresh install Windows, and then restore backed-up programs, that will never work in a million years.
Take an image using the official Acronis TrueImage, or use a program like Clonezilla to clone the 'old' small drive.
OTOH, now is the time to say good-bye to XP...

Most people clone with the 'old' drive in e.g. a USB case or Ultrabay, and the 'new' drive in the official drive-bay.
BTW, you can take the caddy off your old drive and put that on the new one (only 4 screws).

Thanks Real. I tried using EZ Gig again, and this time it completed successfully. The only change I made was in "Options" I checked "Copy Between Free Space" (not sure of the exact working, but that's the jist of it). The caddy from my original HDD is what's missing; new one comes tomorrow. The 128gb SSD is the size of a PCMCIA card and has a small caddy that won't work on today's drives. The Samsung is the size of my original 320 gb HDD. Thanks, also, for the tip on the backup. I hate to give up XP because it's working so well; maybe I won't have to.

[ajkula66]

I hate to give up XP because it's working so well; maybe I won't have to.

Make sure that the drive is aligned properly to optimize performance and minimize wear on the drive. You might have to use third party software such a GParted or Parted Magic to accomplish this.

[Slick_tu]

I hate to give up XP because it's working so well; maybe I won't have to.

Make sure that the drive is aligned properly to optimize performance and minimize wear on the drive. You might have to use third party software such a GParted or Parted Magic to accomplish this.

Thanks, aj. Is that something that has to be done on a solid state drive like mine?

[ajkula66]

Thanks, aj. Is that something that has to be done on a solid state drive like mine?

The fact that you're on SSD with XP makes this an absolute must...and the search engine of your choice will help a ton...

[Slick_tu]

Thanks, aj. Is that something that has to be done on a solid state drive like mine?

The fact that you're on SSD with XP makes this an absolute must...and the search engine of your choice will help a ton...

Thanks, I will look into that right away.

IIRC EZ Gig had an option for 4k allignment, but I left it unchecked as I didn't know what it was. I'll redo it with that option.

[Slick_tu]

Ran EZ Gig again successfully with the 4k Alignment option. After searching on-line found info about AS SSD Benchmark free which told me alignment was OK. Next step: install and cross fingers...


Caddy and rails arrived (tomorrow I'll probably find the one I misplaced), installed everything and it really does work like nothing was ever changed; except, now I have ~350 gb of free space instead of 7 gb. Thanks Real and aj for your help.