Image for Windows/DOS - Transfer to SSD

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by TheKid7, Feb 28, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    I just purchased a new Crucial 128 GB M4 SSD and would like to transfer my Windows XP Pro 32 bit System Partition to the new SSD using Image for Windows/Image for DOS. For simplicity, I would like to keep the Partition size the same (~70 GB) and later make an extended Partition with the remaining disk space.

    Do these steps sound OK? Comments?

    1. Make a new Image for DOS CD with the Global Align 2kib Option enabled.
    2. Make an Image of my existing hard drive's Windows XP Pro 32 bit System Partition using the "Default" Image for Windows Settings.
    3. Install the New SSD on SATA0.
    4. Boot the Image for DOS CD.
    5. Select "set active" and "restore first track" or "install standard mbr code" and "aligned restore". Do a normal restore, not automatic restore.

    Thanks in Advance.
     
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    TheKid7,

    You don't need a new IFD CD. Use your old one.
    When you install the SSD, remove the WinXP HD from your computer. Leave the SSD as unallocated space. No partitions.

    In IFD use the F6 Geometry option to select the following four..
    Validate MBR Geometry
    Use 2048 Sector Alignment
    Align MBR Ending HS
    Align MBR Ending HS when Truncated

    In Options select...
    Set Active
    Restore First Track (Auto sectors)

    That's it. Easy. The WinXP partition on the SSD will be the same size as the original.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2012
  3. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    Thanks.

    I was looking through the IFD manual (edit: IFW manual). On Page 47 (IFW manual), It appears that I would need to enable "Use MBR Geometry" in order to enable "Validate MBR Geometry". Do I need to enable "Use MBR Geometry"?
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2012
  4. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Interesting as that info is on page 52 in my manual. I was using the non GUI IFD version and the choices appear slightly different from the GUI version. For the GUI version you would remove the tick for Align on End and tick
    Use 2048 Sector Alignment
    Align MBR Ending HS
    Align MBR Ending HS when Truncated

    Validate MBR Geometry is greyed out. See below.

    If you make a custom CD with the Align Partitions at 2KiB choice, the ticks are as I described initially. So to do it manually (without having selected Align Partitions at 2KiB) with the GUI CD you have to select both Use MBR Geometry and Validate MBR geometry and then deselect Use MBR Geometry.
     
  5. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Posts:
    2,986
    Location:
    Oman
    I have done it without do anything. Just automatic or regular restore. The SSD should be bigger in size than the Disk/Partition on which the image was taken.

    If the Disk/Partition is bigger than SSD, reduce the partition lower in size than SSD and re-image.

    Best regards,

    KOR!

    P.S. Have done 3 SSDs. To IFW an SSD is an ordinary HD, no difference.
     
  6. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    KOR,

    Which OS were you using?
     
  7. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    So the Geometry Setting should be like the following before I click on OK and continue(?):

    Geometry Settings (Press F6 to get this menu.):

    Use MBR Geometry - NOT "Ticked"
    Validate MBR Geometry - "Ticked" and "Greyed Out"
    Use Original Geometry - NOT "Ticked"

    Align on End - NOT "Ticked"
    Align End by Resizing - NOT "Ticked"

    Use 2048 Sector Alignment - "Ticked"
    Align MBR Ending HS - "Ticked"
    Align MBR Ending HS when Truncated - "Ticked"

    Use Global Settings - NOT "Ticked"
    Save - "Ticked"

    In Options Select:

    Set Active
    Restore First Track (Auto sectors)
     
  8. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Correct.

    Even if you make a mistake you can correct the alignment with BIBM. But you won't make a mistake.
     
  9. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    Thank You.

    On future Images that I make of the Windows System Partition of the SSD, do I use the "Default" IFW settings just as I did with a regular hard drive? When I restore these Images would I also use the Options given in Post #7 above?
     
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Just treat your SSD as you did with the previous HD. Same options.

    When you restore an image of the SSD partition you probably won't have to choose the geometry options as IFW should get it right. You were going from cylinder aligned to 2048 sector aligned. In the future you will be going from 2048 sector aligned to 2048 sector aligned. Easier for IFD. But check with F6 to make sure. If restoring to the same SSD there is no need to even check geometry as you are just pouring milk into the milk bottle. The milk bottle is the partition. It's already there and doesn't get deleted and recreated. The milk is the sectors in use.
     
  11. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    Thank You.
     
  12. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    If my SSD drive should ever fail and I want to temporarily go back to a normal hard drive. What IFD settings would I use to Restore a SSD Image to a normal hard drive?
     
  13. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Same as restoring to another SSD. You can leave the alignment at 2048 sectors.
     
  14. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    Thank You.
     
  15. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Posts:
    2,986
    Location:
    Oman
    Hi Brian,

    Windows 7 x64 on all three computers.

    Best regards,

    KOR!
     
  16. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    KOR,

    Thanks. The ease of your restores is understandable. Unfortunately, TheKid7 was using WinXP with a legacy cylinder aligned partition. He had to restore that image so the partition would be 2048 sector aligned to enable best SSD performance. Hence the geometry settings.
     
  17. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    Does IFW record this in the SSD Image so that I can do an "Automatic" Restore or do I have to "Tick" the same options in IFD when I moved from a normal hard drive to an SSD?
     
  18. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    A couple of months ago I purchased the Windows 7 Home Premium 3 PC Upgrade. I just haven't yet bothered to upgrade.

    When I eventually upgrade to Windows 7, it looks like I would have no problems moving Images between either normal hard drives or SSD's. Is that correct?

    Thanks in Advance.
     
  19. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Posts:
    2,986
    Location:
    Oman
    I would upgrade to Windows 7 and then move to SSD.

    Best regards,

    KOR!
     
  20. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,508
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    I guess you should make a CD with "Use 2048 Sector Alignment" selected. That is best if you are using 2048 all the time.
     
  21. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    Today, I successfully transferred my Windows System Partition to the new SSD without any issues.

    However, I installed the SSD in my oldest PC (New in Late 2006). The speed improvement is only slight (~25% to 30%) over my previous hard drive (Samsung 2TB 5400 RPM).
     
  22. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    5,111
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    TK, there are a lot of issues with successfully using an SSD at its best. With the older machines, the needed ACHI (Advanced Computer Host Interface) is usually not available with older hardware, and as a result, neither TRIM or parallel queuing will be available. Plus, there's a good chance the SSD is running using the older IDE driver in Windows, even though it's a SATA disk. If it's a nVisia chipset on your mainboard, even if you have a good SATA mode, nVidia does not support TRIM in any of their drivers.

    There are a lot if issues...
     
  23. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    This is the Motherboard:

    http://usa.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2/M2NE/#specifications
     
  24. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
    My newest PC has an Asus M3N78 PRO Motherboard (The PC was built in the second half of '2008'). The Motherboard manual states that SATA Ports 5 & 6 support AHCI. Later, I 'may' move the SSD over to my newest PC.
     
  25. TheKid7

    TheKid7 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Posts:
    3,595
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.