Changing hard disk with ssd, can I migrate contents so that I can switch drives without a hassle?
For instance, keep my Windows configuration and installed programs and documents
Changing hard disk with ssd, can I migrate contents so that I can switch drives without a hassle?
For instance, keep my Windows configuration and installed programs and documents
I use imagex.exe to do this all the time.
Pros:
Cons:
To capture the existing HD image: imagex /capture C:\ D:\tempfile.wim "SomeName" [/compress fast]
Format the new drive however you want it (use Disk Management to make it easy, also don't forget to make the partition where Windows is going as Active).
To write the new HD from the image: imagex /apply D:\tempfile.wim 1 E:\
In this example the source HD is "C:", a temporary drive (USB or whatever) is "D:" and the new drive is
"E:"
Take the old drive out, leaving just the new drive and you're good to go.
Edit:
This was originally written for XP and older OSes where the boot manager didn't care about partition labeling. The new BCD system does care about boot labels, so the BCD will need to be "fixed" in Vista, 7, 8, etc. Lots of details available in my Answer to a similar question on SF. Also, the Windows Setup CD can be booted and used to "repair" the installation automagically.
Alternately, there are 3rd Party tools available that make this process fairly easy (I'm always a bit leery of these tools as I've had problems with some of them in the past, no problems recently however)... Such as CloneZilla.
Symantec GHOST or Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery are two product that would do this easily. System Recovery has a 60 day trial. Not sure about a GHOST trial.