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Question for the computer nerds.
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 3:01 pm
by lxstuart
I need to put a larger hard drive in my computer.
Current C drive is a 120GB SSD, and I only have 1-2 gig free on it.
All of my documents, music etc is on another drive, and there's nothing that I can uninstall that will make any noticeable difference.
From the limited reading I've done on the subject, I believe I need to create an image of my current C drive, and copy this onto the new SSD. How do I do this? Do I need some special software, or can I do this in BIOS?
Also, any recommendations on drive?
Current one is an OCZ, not had any problems with it, and will likely go with them again uless someone persuades me otherwise.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:54 am
by Confused
OCZ do not make SSDs any more. Go with Samsung, Crucial, or HyperX.
If the SSD you buy doesn't come with anything (some Samsung SSDs come with their own Magician software, depending on the bundle you buy), then you can use the excellent (and free)
Macrium Reflect to perform a clone from your current SSD to your newer, bigger one.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:57 am
by lxstuart
Excellent, can this be done as an internal drive, or do I need to have it as an external whilst cloning?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:23 am
by Merlin
Its not the way I would do it as you are just moving all your crap to a different drive. I would get an SSD and install your OS on that, plug in your old HDD, move the bits you want over, nuke the old HDD and then use it for storage.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:16 pm
by Donald
Merlin wrote:Its not the way I would do it as you are just moving all your crap to a different drive. I would get an SSD and install your OS on that, plug in your old HDD, move the bits you want over, nuke the old HDD and then use it for storage.
This 1000x.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:57 pm
by Confused
If you're happy with what you've currently got, it's not full of crap, and you just need more space, then there's no reason why you shouldn't just clone it.
You can plug both old and new internally, and clone - that'll be by far the quickest way

Re: Question for the computer nerds.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:06 pm
by Doggo
But they're always full of crap!
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:49 pm
by lxstuart
I think I'd prefer to go the clone route.
However, when I first install the new drive, computer will assign a drive letter, once I've cloned will it change to C?
I assume once it has finished cloning, I can shut down, remove the original SSD, and just reboot.
Am I likely to have to rejig boot priority via BIOS, or will the computer suss it out (I doubt it will, but I'm asking the question anyway).
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:51 pm
by RattyMcClelland
Blatently full of porn.

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:40 pm
by Confused
Until you've initialised the drive (which you don't need to do) it won't assign a drive letter - you can just plug it in, clone, unplug old one, job done.