New motherboard with UEFI and installing/imaging Win 7.

Thanks, I just wanted to confirm there were no partitions hidden from Disk Management. Some time ago MudCrab told me your EFI partition was empty but let's leave it there at present.

You have 331 GB of data and that's too much for a 240 GB SSD. This is what I'd do.

Backup the 3 logical volumes. Data backup. Copy/Paste.

Boot BIBM and delete the three logical volumes and the extended partition. Then slide the EFI partition so there is zero free space before.

Using IFW create an entire drive backup image to a USB external HD.

Swap the HD for the SSD.

Using TBWinRE or IFL restore the entire drive image to the SSD.

Boot Win7 to make sure it works.

Using BIBM slide the EFI partition so there is zero free space after. Create an extended partition in the free space and create logical volumes.

Boot Win7 and copy relevant data into the logical volumes.

Questions?

 

Hi Brian,

Thanks for such a quick reply. I am still trying to digest, and then I will ask my questions.

1. In the meantime, the OS is now Windows 8.1 x64 and not Windows 7 x64. Does that make any difference?

2. I also have made backup of the "Recovery partition" which is Windows 7, is it OK to delete it first and move the OS, to the beginning of the present hard drive?

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

OK. I meant Win8.1. Let's play safe and leave the Recovery partition alone.

 

Hi Brian,

I have already made a backup of the the following drives, and I don't need them anymore:

1. Spare 320GB, which has 2GB and I don't need it.
2. Slave 382GB, which has 191GB and I don't need it.
3. Hidden Recovery of Windows 7 x64, which I have already made backup and I don't need it anymore.

This leaves me:

1. The OS with about 100GB, which had Windows 8.1 x64
2. Working data of 20GB, which I have made backup and later on after changing to SSD, I will put this on SSD.
3. And, the small EFI Partition.

What I will be left:

1. The OS, which is about 100GB, but it is the size of 140GB.
2. Small EFI Partition.

Questions:
1. So, I will slide the small EFI Parition to the 140GB mark, is this correct?
2. Therefore, I will be only backing up two partitions, the OS and the small EFI Partition, is this correct?

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

I see what you mean about the Recovery Partition and I will leave it alone. Therefore, I will be backing up three partitions.

1. The Recovery Partition.
2. The OS Partition.
3. And, the small EFI Partition.

So, I will slide the small EFI Partition to the 155GB mark (15GB Recovery Partition + 100GB OS Partition), is this correct?

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Correct. Now the image will be able to restore to the SSD without LBA issues.

 

Total formatted capacity of 1TB is 930GB

Therefore, there will be lot of unallocated space of 775GB (930GB - 155GB) after the small EFI Partition, which I will not allocate, is this correct?

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

That's correct. Nothing beyond 155 GB.

When you make the Entire Drive backup (put a tick in HD 0 - MBR) you will see a tick next to each partition and the backup will be a single .TBI file.

Edit... I assume you have a BIBM UFD for the slide procedure/ partition delete.

 

When you eventually do the Entire Drive restore (Restore (Normal)) to the empty SSD, on the "Select the drive or partition to restore" window, put a tick in HD. This will select all 3 partitions.

On the "Select the drive you want to restore to" window, select HD 0 - MBR. Click Yes for the Warning.

On the Restore Options window, only have a tick in these two...

Validate Byte-for-Byte
Log Results to File

 

Hi Brain,

I will be getting my SSD either today or tomorrow. I have couple of concerns, and I will make a separate post for each one.

The biggest problem is that I cannot open this machine. If I could then it would be great. I have already taken this machine once to ASUS repair man and now I will be taking to him the second time.

What he needs, is a machine and a working, booting SSD, so that he can open the machine and swap the 1TB hard drive for the SSD. Close the machine and give me back the machine with the 1TB hard drive.

1. I cannot swap the SSD with 1TB hard drive at home.
2. Once the system is on the SSD, I cannot test it for booting.
3. I only get one chance with him.

Therefore, I have to use the SSD as an external USB and put the OS system. Would it better to clone the system directly on it, with the three partitions (Recovery, OS and EFI) as USB external SSD or use your method, use IFW, image to USB external HD and then restore it USB external SSD?

Whatever, I do it has to be working and booting before I take it to him, but I cannot test it.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Hi Brian,

I own BIBM, but have never used it. Therefore, first thing I need to make a bootable BIBM USB. I am more used to regular Partition Manager Programs, such as EaseUS Partition Manager or AOMEI Partition Assistant. Now, in these two programs, when I slide the EFI Partition to 155GB mark, it will stretch the EFI Partition to 775GB (930GB Total Formatted Space less 155GB Used Space). Then I have to slide it back from the end and try to make it 40MB, which will be almost impossible and might mess up things, and might make the 1TB hard drive un-bootable.

1. How to avoid making the EFI Partition stretching to 755GB?
2. Would BIBM avoid this, without sliding back from the end and making it 40MB?

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Hi Brian,

Please note that I am very good at working with both hardware and software. If it was a regular desktop machine or laptop, I wouldn't be so stressed. I could swap the SSD with the 1TB and ensure it is working until it is bootable.

The problem lies with the above machine, that I cannot open it up. I have to take it to the ASUS repair man, with a bootable SSD, so that he can swap it with the regular 1TB inside it. One chance only!

There is no way I can test the SSD if it is bootable or not by mounting it as external USB, while the regular internal 1TB hard drive is still connected. I am afraid, the BIOS might take the EFI instructions from the internal connected 1TB hard drive.

Or, am I wrong? Meaning that I can test it by mounting it as external USB SSD and try to boot from it?

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Hi Mohamed,

I would suggest you first make a recovery DVD set (so that you have a backup of the default factory settings), then swap in the new SSD when it arrives. Do a clean installation of Windows on your SSD is the best option in your case. It won't take long to do so on a SSD. Many of the OEM partitions in your old HDD is not really necessary.

 

Mohamed,

What I'm suggesting is he swap the drives and give you the machine with an empty SSD so you can do the restore at home. It is best to restore to an internal rather than an external drive. But if he won't give you the machine with an empty SSD you could restore the Entire Drive image to the SSD (connected by USB) before visiting Asus. Use much the same instructions as I posted except the SSD won't be HD0 but I'm sure you will work it out. One extra setting if you do it this way. In IFW or IFL Settings, Geometry, select "Assume Same Target System". This allows for the SSD not being internal.

Edit... I meant "Assume Same Target System" for the restore. Not for creating the backup.

 

Do you still have the instructions I sent/posted for creating a BIBM UFD?

Easy. Yes.

 

You could test it if you had an eSATA connection to that computer. But not USB.

I don't think the EFI partition is doing anything.

I can understand your stress but remember the old HD will still work if the SSD fails to boot. I'm 99.9% confident it will work. I'd be 100% confident if I was doing it but you know what I mean.

 

Hi Brian and oliverjia,

Thank you both for your suggestions and help. Here is the latest.

I agree with both of you that I should put the SSD in the computer and do away with the hard drive. Hopefully, it will work as Brian is almost 100% sure, and I know there are no guarantees.

I received my SSD today, after it being lost in the shipment for almost a week. Tomorrow morning I will be driving to Dubai, and will be back day after tomorrow at night. So will be gone about 48 hours.

I own Casper, so I have already cloned the SSD. See screen shot. I am hoping that when I insert the SSD, it will hopefully boot and it will be the end of it.

I have already deleted the two big partitions on the hard drive, which has left me with the Recovery Partition, OS Partition and the EFI Partition. I have also successfully slid the EFI Partition at the 155GB mark. See screen shot.

When I came back from Dubai, I will make single .tbi image with IFW based on Brian's recommendation, and then I will take the computer to the ASUS repair man. It is the hardest part as he is on the other side of the town. It is easier to drive to Dubai, then to the other side of the town due to the traffic.

Most probably, I will take the computer to him on this Thursday.

Will keep you posted.

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

The ASUS service center is closed for the long holiday from Wednesday to Saturday. Therefore, I will only be able to take him the computer at the earliest is on Sunday.

Will keep posted!

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Dearest Brian,

I was not able to take the computer to ASUS repair man today, I will take it to him either tomorrow or day after.

One final question, before I take the plunge.

I have lots of cloning software. I have made the one single .tbi image with IFW as you suggested. However, I want to clone the SSD before I take it to him and have it installed in the machine to see if it work.

If you remember, I have three partitions:
1. Recovery
2. OS
3. EFI

I really don't need the Recovery and EFI partition on the SSD. Do you think if I just clone the OS on the SSD, would it work? What are the chances?

Or, I clone all three partition, and then try to delete the Recovery and EFI partitions, once the SSD is fully booted (boot-able) and works?

Please note that it is very hard to delete EFI and it has to done in Diskpart (scary).

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Mohamed,

Am I mistaken? Post #67 suggests you have already cloned the OS to the SSD.

Do you have a functioning BIBM UFD? Did you use it to slide the EFI partition? Some other partitioning apps have dubious alignment issues.

 

Hi Brain,

Yes, I have a functioning BIBM UFD, which I made couple of days ago, as per your instructions you posted a while back. And, I used it to slide the EFI partition. See the image in my post #67 dated 24 November, 2013.

I still have the SSD and have USB dongle which I can connect it directly to the SSD as use it as external drive. Very simple (dongle) device.

So, I can clone it again and again if I want, until I take everything to the ASUS repair man.

So, what do you think about my original question?

Also, I have another question about baby steps.

I just finished making a new single .tbi image of the three partitions with IFW.

How about if I now delete the "Recovery" partition on the original hard drive which is still in the computer and see if it boots?

If it does, then I can slide the OS to the beginning of the disk, and still I will have 155GB, but with two partitions, rather than three partitions.
1. OS
2. EFI

Best regards,

Mohamed

P.S. I have lots of time, till I take the computer to the ASUS repair man.

 

I just upgraded one of my PC's with a new Motherboard, CPU, RAM, existing 128 GB SSD, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit (No System Reserved Partition).

The new Motherboard (ASUS H87 Pro) has an UEFI BIOS. I installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit without UEFI boot. The PC seems to be very fast and solid now.

I successfully flashed the BIOS to the latest BIOS version because the motherboard came with the original BIOS and the later BIOS versions showed fixes for stability and compatibility. I did the BIOS flash before installing Windows 7.

Questions:

1. It appears to me that the ASUS H87 Pro only has 4 of the 6 SATA slots available when in AHCI. If I change the BIOS from AHCI to IDE the SATA 5 & 6 appear in the BIOS. Is it normal for a modern motherboard to only support the first 4 SATA slots when in AHCI?

2. If a hard drive fails, will the PC boot stop at the UEFI page and sort of freeze there? I still need to check the hard drive that may have been causing the PC boot to stop at the UEFI page.

3. If I wanted to switch from AHCI to IDE, what would I need to do without reinstalling Windows 7? Windows 7 won't load if I just switch from AHCI to IDE in the UEFI BIOS.

4. How much of a performance hit would I see if I switched from AHCI to IDE?

Thanks in Advance.

 

AFAIK, all "modern" computers that do not operate in RAID mode, should operate in AHCI mode. And, of course, in this mode, all SATA ports are normally available.

So, I would remain in AHCI and try to find out what happens with the SATAs.

 

This is not normal... as Robin states, they should all work in ACHI mode.

Since the system was built in ACHI mode, the build will not be loading the required PCIDE driver necessary. There's a REGISTRY key (I don't have it handy but will publish later) that informs Windows which drivers to load for these functions. The value of the KEY is 1-3, with the options representing IDE only, ACHI only, and both. I always set it to BOTH so that I have that option all the time. An extra driver loaded at BOOT time doesn't affect anything in the way of speed but gives you the flexibility to switch the BiOS back and forth at will.

It can be significant, especially with an SSD. ACHI mode contains parallel queuing which really increases your I/O performance quite a bit. The effect grows as your HDDs get faster.

 

I made a mistake. I jumped to a conclusion too fast.

The confusion was caused by both me being disorganized and a nearly 5 year old 1 TB backup hard drive failing at the time of the PC Upgrade. I thought that since SATA 5 & 6 were not showing up in the BIOS (when I checked) that SATA 5 & 6 were not working in AHCI mode. I had no hard drives attached to SATA 5 & 6 at that time. I did have all of the SATA ports connected at one time (at the same time that the Failing hard drive was connected).

I just connected a known good hard drive to SATA 5 and Windows detected it. I have not looked in the BIOS after connecting the hard drive to SATA 5.