New SSD as main drive

C86G

Hey guys : )

I need to get a bigger SSD. Problem is I reeeeally don´t want to install all my software again. Currently I am running a 120GB SSD with Win7 and all my programs on it and additionally a 2TB normal HDD. My 2TB HDD is still fine and enough, but the main SSD starts to become a problem. I´ve heard I can "clone" all of its content to a new/ bigger SSD and use the new one just like I used the current one. Is that true? Anything I need to be aware of?
Are there better and worse SSDs out there? Do you have any recommendations? PLus, what could I do with my current 120GB SSD? I thought I could use a new SSD for Windows and all the Programs and the current SSD for projects I am working on and the 2TB HDD for all the other data.

I´d be please3d to get some insight here.

Tnaks guys.

Eric Chadwick

120gb should be enough room for your OS and all your programs. I would first look at cleaning up all your temporary files, and moving non-essential data to the HDD. That should free up a ton of space.

You can create a mirror of the SSD onto your HDD, then swap in a larger SSD by booting with a usb stick, copying over the mirror, and rebooting. Look up drive mirroring.

C86G

Thank you.

120gb is kiinda enough. Problem is, temporary files get very large sometimes and then my OS starts to complain. Having all temp files cleared, I have ~15gb left.

If or when I go for a blarger SSD, what would be a good use for the smaller SSD?

Eric Chadwick

If you had another SSD for your OS etc, then you could use the 120gb as the cache for the OS and programs like Photoshop.

C86G

Awesome : )

thomasp

you can clone one disk to another using a linux boot image, e.g. knoppix and by using the 'dd' terminal command. there's lots of reference on how to use it, e.g. here: http://serverfault.com/questions/4906/using-dd-for-disk-cloning

requires being careful though, there's no undo in unix.

McGreed

Also remember if you are also playing games on this computer, that savegames are often located in the document folder, which normally is on the C: drive unless you moved it, and those savegames can become quite big depending on the games.

C86G

Haha yeah, thanks ^^

m4dcow

Personally I use acronis to clone drives, but I have heard good things about macrium reflect.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

AtticusMars

Both my SSDs came with cloning software for whatever its worth (Samsung). I didn't end up using it because I prefer to do fresh installs so I can't comment on the process but if you're looking to buy a new SSD and don't want to use a third party tool you might consider trying to find one that includes cloning software.

commador

xxyclone is another great option to image a drive. I've used it many times to great success. Its easy if you have a usb to sata dongle so you can simply clone to the new drive without taking your current one offline. This is also a nice safeguard in case something happens, you still have your original drive untouched inside your box. After you swap in the new one, and its all good, as you mentioned you wanted to do, just reformat your existing drive and use it for your projects.