SSDs on Windows 8.1

markta · 1 Dec 2013

Hi there,

I have taken advantage of the Black Monday deals on Amazon, which included a Crucial 120GB 6GB/S SSD at £55.99.

My laptop is a Medion and has an Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM with 1TB HDD but it has a spare slot for either another HDD or SSD.

I was wondering if Windows 7 and the 8.1 upgrade could be booted from the 120GB SSD rather than the HHD. I do not have the original OS disk so assume I would need to back everything up. Would I need any copying software and would the 120GB SSD be adequate to boot up the OS? I understand that the SSD would boot programmes up a lot faster than a HDD?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

mid_gen · 2 Dec 2013

You should definitely use the SSD as a system drive. Did the SSD come with any cloning software? This will be the easiest way to get up and running with that setup.

chphotos · 2 Dec 2013

If it came with no migration software, Paragon do hard disk migration software which is cheap and works. Had to use this for my Samsung.

arad85 · 2 Dec 2013

Is what is on your current hard drive less than 100G? If so, the easiest thing to do is make a system backup onto an external USB drive with windows system backup and then restore it onto the new drive. If you have more than 100G, it gets more difficult (i.e. you need to move stuff to external drives to get it to under 100G before cloning). The key thing with moving drives is not wanting to clone something that is bigger than the drive you are targeting (and yes, I know it's 120G, but formatted it will be closer to 100G).

john-oh · 2 Dec 2013

chphotos said:
If it came with no migration software, Paragon do hard disk migration software which is cheap and works. Had to use this for my Samsung.

I used this when I migrated to my Samsung - http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/

markta · 2 Dec 2013

Thanks for the help guys really useful info!

Arad - I will need to check but there's a good chance I have less than 100gb on there.

I haven't had the laptop long and the main stuff on there is LR5 and Photoshop CC and photos.

Looking at the bigger picture will applications load up quicker on the Windows 8 touch pane. I know the OS will boot a lot quicker if I set up the BIOS to prioritise booting from the SSD.

Cheers all!
Mark

trencheel303 · 6 Dec 2013

for what its worth GParted is free and great for moving stuff onto another drive. you can copy entire partitions over which means no need to reinstall.

markta · 11 Dec 2013

Is there generally an additional partition for another HDD or SSD on modern laptops or does the optical DVD drive have to be sacrificed?

I have now received the SSD but no caddy or cloning software. Apart from these two items is anything else needed?

Thanks

sep9001 · 11 Dec 2013

markta said:
Is there generally an additional partition for another HDD or SSD on modern laptops or does the optical DVD drive have to be sacrificed?

I have now received the SSD but no caddy or cloning software. Apart from these two items is anything else needed?

Thanks

Some laptops which are 17" have space for an additional drive otherwise you have to buy a caddy for the optical drive.

markta · 11 Dec 2013

sep9001 said:
Some laptops which are 17" have space for an additional drive otherwise you have to buy a caddy for the optical drive.

Cheers. Mine is a 17" Medion laptop.

If there is a space for additional SSD, will it go straight in or do you need an adaptor?

sep9001 · 11 Dec 2013

markta said:
Cheers. Mine is a 17" Medion laptop.

If there is a space for additional SSD, will it go straight in or do you need an adaptor?

You need to clone the hd in the laptop to the SSD unless you want to reinstall everything. I don't have win 8 but on win 7 you can create a clone using the start up dvd. Post the model of your pc and I will try and see if it has additional space.

markta · 11 Dec 2013

Model number is P7815 MD98112. I cannot see anywhere that gives this information.

I may buy the Paragon cloning software

landwomble · 11 Dec 2013

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-free-and-reliable-cloning-tools/

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Talk Photography Forums mobile app

markta · 11 Dec 2013

http://www.medion.com/gb/prod/MEDION+AKOYA+P7815+(MD98306)/30015365A1

Slightly different model but it seems from the long description that there is a spare bay for a 2.5" drive.

So should an SSD fit in without an adaptor?

Thanks

landwomble · 11 Dec 2013

Yep, ssd drives are same form factor as laptop derives and a direct scree in replacement

markta · 11 Dec 2013

Cheers, so I guess I need either a number of screws to secure the SSD into the laptop or a cage that the SSD fits into that is compatible with the screw patterns on a Medion laptop?

neil_g · 11 Dec 2013

Some of the samsungs come with symantec ghost is that helps.

sep9001 · 12 Dec 2013

markta said:
Model number is P7815 MD98112. I cannot see anywhere that gives this information.

I may buy the Paragon cloning software

Sorry cannot see the complete spec for the laptop. The manual I found on line shows only 1 hd slot.

landwomble · 12 Dec 2013

The current drive is screwed in. Remove it and use them to attach the new one. You're over thinking it! ;-)

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sep9001 · 12 Dec 2013

landwomble said:
The current drive is screwed in. Remove it and use them to attach the new one. You're over thinking it! ;-)

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Talk Photography Forums mobile app

I believe the issue may be cloning the drive first.

landwomble · 12 Dec 2013

Well yes. I was responding to the post about screws. I've already posted links to free cloning software.

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markta · 22 Dec 2013

I've removed the cover off my Medion laptop and there is indeed a spare slot for an additional SSD or HDD. There doesn't look like there is a caddy for the SSD that will fit the screw layouts inside the laptop.

Will the SSD be OK plugged inside without being secured? Also I have bought Paragon Drive Copy 14. Will the HDD clone the SSD with both connected inside the laptop or is a SATA to USB cable required to do the SSD cloning externally?

Thanks
Mark

markta · 23 Dec 2013

An update - I contacted a chap called Oliver at Medion today and was informed that the SSD should be connected to the spare SATA pins and sit in the laptop without being screwed in or in a bracket.

Would appreciate any advice as to whether you can fit the SSD in the spare slot and clone the SSD from the HDD in situ using the Paragon software.

Thanks

mrgubby · 23 Dec 2013

markta said:
Would appreciate any advice as to whether you can fit the SSD in the spare slot and clone the SSD from the HDD in situ using the Paragon software.

Thanks

Don't see any reason why not.

Give it a try & see if it works

markta · 23 Dec 2013

OK, I have installed the SSD and cloned the whole contents of the HDD and boot drive priority has been changed on the BIOS menu. Crikey, I cannot believe how quick Photoshop CC loads up

Would I now be safe to delete stuff off the normal HDD?

Thanks

sep9001 · 23 Dec 2013

markta said:
OK, I have installed the SSD and cloned the whole contents of the HDD and boot drive priority has been changed on the BIOS menu. Crikey, I cannot believe how quick Photoshop CC loads up

Would I now be safe to delete stuff off the normal HDD?

Thanks

Should be okay, but give it a few days just in case. Also do you have a full back on another drive?

markta · 23 Dec 2013

sep9001 said:
Should be okay, but give it a few days just in case. Also do you have a full back on another drive?

Thanks.

I haven't as yet but will create a back up with a spare external hard drive, before deleting stuff off what was the 'C' Drive.

Cheers Kev