+longgonebn Subscriber² Posted March 2, 2014 Subscriber² Share Posted March 2, 2014 I have my server computer running on an SSD (the OS) and it turns out, it's a bit small (60GB) and so I want to purchase a larger SSD but need to know if I can transfer everything without issue. I basically want to unplug old drive, plug in new drive, turn on like nothing happened? Possible, how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted March 2, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 2, 2014 Clonezilla riahc3 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 2, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 2, 2014 Why are you booting a server on an SSD? Or are they being used for an intense VM or DB load? You need to image the drive to move it without a wipe. Depending on the kit you buy it may come included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc2k Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I used Macrium Reflect Free last time without issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+longgonebn Subscriber² Posted March 2, 2014 Author Subscriber² Share Posted March 2, 2014 I say server, because it's storing a bunch of files on many drives for Plex, but it's a bunch of pooled drives, running Windows 8.1. So not a server in a traditional sense. So clone it within one of those, and that clone is put onto the new drive (I assume the softwares run outside of windows...) and its good to go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odom Member Posted March 2, 2014 Member Share Posted March 2, 2014 You can use a tool like Acronis to copy your partition or entire hard drive. Basically clone it to the new one. Then you can simply swap out the drives. I don't know any free tools that do the same as Acronis. The SSD from Kingston that I purchased was an upgrade bundle. It only cost 5? more than the version without it, but it came with a small external USB enclosure and an Acronis CD you could boot from. In 20mins I had everything cloned to the new SSD. I swapped out the drives and that was it. Nerd Rage 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted March 2, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 2, 2014 Why would that need a SSD? It serves up files, so I would assume is on pretty much most of the day if not all of the day. It is not running interactive applications I wouldn't think? Seems like odd use of SSD to me, my not just run the OS off one of your pooled drives? Or just put in a traditional drive and get plenty of space for less money. Are you also using it as a desktop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmeunit Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I know I wish I would have gotten an SSD for my HTPC. It also runs Sickbeard, Subsonic, Headphones, AirServer, and several other programs on startup. I takes a good 5-10 minutes to get everything loaded and up and running. As mentioned, Clonezilla or Macrium Reflect should do the trick. Both are free. Should be realitively painless since you're not changing chipsets or going from HDD to SSD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted March 2, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 2, 2014 "I takes a good 5-10 minutes to get everything loaded and up and running." So? Your using it as a server are you not - why would you turn it off other than patches.. And I doubt it your HDD that is taking 10 minutes for the box to boot? Unless there is something wrong with it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+longgonebn Subscriber² Posted March 2, 2014 Author Subscriber² Share Posted March 2, 2014 For me it's not for turning on, it's that it is partly used as a desktop, at least how it's being used for a server. I need Plex, Sabnzbd, drive maintenance software and a few others to run as fast as possible. Now I know SSDs improves startup performance mostly, but it makes me feel better. And no one really answered my question, you use the software on the current OS? Where does the clone go to? Then you switch drives, and run the software from a USB stick? Then it goes onto the new drive? I'd assume that would be the case, just want to make sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radium Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 If the SSD is formatted with GPT then you can format the new SSD the same way, making sure it's GPT. Create the hidden partitions manually and just have the new C drive larger. Once that's done, mount all hidden partitions and start copying the files. It can all be done with a Windows machine with tools already present inside Windows. Use DISKPART for partitioning and XCOPY for copying the files. If it's not GPT but MBR, just format the new drive as GPT anyway and just recreate the boot environment for UEFI, if the motherboard supports UEFI. Create a EFI boot partition at the beginning of the drive, at around 100-500 MB. 100 MB is default in Windows. If the current drive is MBR then it will be a lot more trickier to get it to boot. Do all this on a separate machine, not the server. Also, make sure to read through XCOPY parameters before you use it. You would want to use certain parameters, such as O, X, B, K, H, E etc It's important that you copy all ACL and attribute information, as well as empty directories. Read through all of it and make sure that it works before you clear the "old" drive. No need to actually install third party applications or having to pay for anything. The trickiest thing is if you're using MBR at the moment. In that case, read up on how to create/copy the EFI boot files to the EFI partition. There are files in C:\Windows\Boot, look around while you figure out what files you need to make it boot through UEFI+GPT. If your machine doesn't support GPT, just use MBR. Recreate the partitions the way you want them and once you're done and have copied all the files using XCOPY, use BOOTSECT.EXE. Always read parameters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmeunit Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 "I takes a good 5-10 minutes to get everything loaded and up and running." So? Your using it as a server are you not - why would you turn it off other than patches.. And I doubt it your HDD that is taking 10 minutes for the box to boot? Unless there is something wrong with it.. There are instances where we lose power, or the computer locks up. For a while, CouchPotato would stop running, and the only way I could get it to start was reboot. Not necessarily 10 minutes to just boot, but to get all programs up and running with any noticeable lag running XBMC. It's my HTPC, torrent box, media server, etc.. Running a Core i3 with 8GB or RAM and 2x7200RPM hard drive here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I have my server computer running on an SSD (the OS) and it turns out, it's a bit small (60GB) and so I want to purchase a larger SSD but need to know if I can transfer everything without issue. I basically want to unplug old drive, plug in new drive, turn on like nothing happened? Possible, how? The process is identical to HDD-to-HDD or efen HDD-to-SSD transfers - as long as the target is larger than the source, it won't be an issue. In most cases, you can even use the same software to do the transfer (both Acronis TrueImage and Raxco PerfectTransfer (a subset of PerfectDisk) can do the job rather painlessly, and are often included with SSDs or available at zero cost from the drive OEM.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc2k Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 And no one really answered my question, you use the software on the current OS? Where does the clone go to? Then you switch drives, and run the software from a USB stick? Then it goes onto the new drive? Macrium runs from within Windows and can clone a partition or whole drive onto another. All you have to do after it's done is restart and change the boot drive. Everything else is identical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNWDweller Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 For me it's not for turning on, it's that it is partly used as a desktop, at least how it's being used for a server. I need Plex, Sabnzbd, drive maintenance software and a few others to run as fast as possible. Now I know SSDs improves startup performance mostly, but it makes me feel better. And no one really answered my question, you use the software on the current OS? Where does the clone go to? Then you switch drives, and run the software from a USB stick? Then it goes onto the new drive? I'd assume that would be the case, just want to make sure. I use CloneZilla myself. I have Windows 8.1 Pro running on my Laptop. Here is what I did: Secured external USB drive, or you can use one of your internal ones if you have enough space to do so). Went into my UEFI settings and disabled the secure boot and put it into legacy mode so it would boot off of the CD-ROM with CloneZilla. I loaded CloneZilla and told it to clone my drive to my external drive with verify. After it was done, I shut everything down and reverted back to normal. In your case, you would want to then swap your old drive with the new one, reboot into CloneZilla and do the restore. I have done this several times with my system and it has worked quite well. Windows has never complained or hiccuped and has run like nothing happened. OR... If you buy a Samsung SSD, they give you drive cloning software from within Windows which is supposed to do basically the same thing but with a prettier GUI. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riahc3 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Hello, ClonezillaQFT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odom Member Posted March 3, 2014 Member Share Posted March 3, 2014 And no one really answered my question, you use the software on the current OS? Where does the clone go to? Then you switch drives, and run the software from a USB stick? Then it goes onto the new drive? See post #6. Connect the new drive to your PC internally or externally Use a cloning software to clone the internal drive to the new one (usually you boot off of it, you don't do this from within Windows) Swap out the drives Turn on PC I know this works with Windows 7, as I have done this before. Not sure if Windows 8.1 and BIOS need anything special to play along, or whether this works just the same way. Anyway, you can still try it. If it doesn't work, you can swap them back and you have your old system back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T3X4S Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 just use acronis - this simple question and simple answer really doesnt need all of this bickering. who cares if it has an SSD - its not like they are expensive anymore (until you get above 500GB) - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted March 3, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 3, 2014 Who is bickering?? You ask a simple question to start a discussion and people think its bickering?? WTF is wrong with people these days? As to expensive - he doesn't say what size is he moving to did he? "I want to purchase a larger SSD" So for all we know maybe he is going with a +500GB size? Has the price gotten to the point that lower budgets can afford them, sure - but I would not call them inexpensive by any means, when you work out cost per GB.. If you're looking for space it is clearly more cost effective to go with a standard SSD vs HDD.. And since performance in this sort of setup a normal disk would be fine - it's not cost effective to go SSD for something that should be running 24/7 and is not interactive for the user. Its a server is my point, so I guess just F Me if I might want to bring up a option to save the OP or anyone else thinking they want a SSD for a server OS that serves up files. But guess trying to have a discussion is just something people no longer want to engage in on a public forum - this seems to have become, I am too lazy to look up how to do something --- please feed me the info I want on a silver spoon, and F U if you want to discuss why or anything related to the project.. Mind Boggling to be sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted March 3, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 3, 2014 Mind Boggling to be sure! :rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
episode Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Why are you booting a server on an SSD? Or are they being used for an intense VM or DB load? Why WOULDNT you boot a server to a SSD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 3, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 3, 2014 Why WOULDNT you boot a server to a SSD? Because it makes no real sense... You don't need a fast boot on a server since it is restarted very very rarely... You would be better off using an SSD to optimize workloads if they can benefit from them. Throwing an SSD into a server as a boot drive is a waste of money. It probably takes longer for the server to POST than even HDD booting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
episode Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Because it makes no real sense... You don't need a fast boot on a server since it is restarted very very rarely... You would be better off using an SSD to optimize workloads if they can benefit from them. Throwing an SSD into a server as a boot drive is a waste of money. It probably takes longer for the server to POST than even HDD booting... SSDs aren't only for boot speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 3, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 3, 2014 SSDs aren't only for boot speed. The areas that SSDs enhance aren't really useful on the majority of servers... Unless you have a specific workload that can make good use of the low access times... It would be far more productive if you explained what good an SSD would do in a server? As a general recommendation... I can only think of a few places where they make sense. I hope you aren't one of those people I see advocating putting SSDs in NAS devices :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted March 3, 2014 MVC Share Posted March 3, 2014 ^ exactly.. if your talking a database and the database is on the SSD ok. But a server that has no console interaction and just serves up files, be it smb/cifs, or some form of transcode it is unlikely there is any point to a SSD for the OS.. This is why I asked the question - if the box is used as a desktop, and runs any sort of applications where read write speed to a file might be of concern - then sure ssd would be performance boost. But a box sitting there streaming media, which isn't even on the drive he is talking about changing.. He is talking about his OS drive.. Why spend the extra $ per GB for SSD when it will be of little value. What does it matter if the box takes 2 minutes or 20 minutes to boot if you only boot it on power outage or update/patches? I agree with the post time on a server as well - but I don't think we are talking server class hardware, just some older PC box purposed as a media/file server torrent box. Which I would assume he is using either web or remote gui to work with the torrents, etc. Because it makes no sense to RDP to the box and deal with the desktop for something as trivial as adding a torrent, etc. If you want to spend money on SSD OS drive for a "server" sure have fun - but I would think the money would be better spent on either more storage space or faster network, ram maybe? Applications? The trivial question of how to clone a disk be it ssd, hdd, whatever has been asked alike a gazillion times - takes literally about 2 seconds to find on the net. That aspect of this thread has little interest to me - but understanding why the OP is even using a SSD in such a setup now that has tickled my curiosity bone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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