MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Hello to all Computer boffins, tell me if this is possible:
I want to swap the HDD in my netbook for a SSD.
The HDD is 256GB, and partitioned to run Win7 or Ubuntu. I want to put in a 128GB SSD, as they are much cheaper (and I'm all for cheapness).
Each of the partitions is less than 128GB, and each one is filled with much less data, well below 128GB in total, across all the partitions.
Will I run into trouble when copying across the data? Will it be much easier and more sensible to buy the more expensive 256GB SSD?
Would suggest a clean install. You can copy over your ubuntu home folder once it's done. You can do a direct copy of the drives under a Linux boot CD but take the opportunity for a clean up.
clean install not necessary.
Last week I swapped out my old 32Gb SSD for a new 60Gb one using Minitool drive copy.
Works a charm.
Gives you a perfect replica for swapping over. Obviously you need a method of connecting the second drive for copying.
http://www.minitool-drivecopy.com/
From a smaller to a larger yes - but the issue will crop up as the new drive is smaller.
Look for the kits - SSD with USB cable and software on one.
Simply plug and play.
You should clean install onto the SSD as windows optimises itself when it installs. SSD to SSD is obviously fine.
I recently did this on my mac and clean install is probably going to be the best way to go.
You can re-set your partition sizes then as well.
Do you want to dual boot? If the netbook is powerful enough I'd consider a clean install of either Windows or Linux, then use VirtualBox (free) to run Linux or Windows as a guest OS. Means you can run both OS's at the same time so no more dual booting.
Edit to add: I also recently did this on a Mac, I expect you can do something similar with Windows recovery but I:
1) Put new SSD into an external USB caddy
2) Attached SSD to Mac with USB and make sure OS could see it
3) Boot OSX into recovery
4) Use the disk utility to clone the HDD to SSD
5) Reboot and select SSD as boot disk
6) Confirm system boots from SSD
7) Power off, replace HDD with SSD
8) Boot
It's pretty quick and painless.
I have just done this.
HDD (+256gb) => SSD (120gb)
Came with s/w to do it.
It failed, came up with a stupid error.
Thought about it for a short time.
Then just bought an upgrade to win8 (£25) and put that straight on there.
Don't suppose any of you are currently running Windows 8 on a netbook. Only reason is i was looking to upgrade the memory in mine and Curcial were offering SSD as well as memory and wondered if i should just go the whole hog and upgrade the HDD and OS at the same time?
No mention of alignment yet?
I suggest a backup of /home, and fresh install.
I'm running Win8 on 3 systems at home - big home PC (core2quad), big laptop (core2duo) and netbook (Acer Aspire ONE, 1.6Ghz Atom)
Question of whether or not to clean install revolves mostly around how old/good the current install is, for me. If I'm changing hardware I'll usually do a clean one though
Sorry OP to take this off topic a little further.
xiphon, any issues with it on the netbook i have a Samsung NC10? I looked at the upgrade scanner thing and it was saying stuff about the screen resolution not being enough.
Double post sorry.