Installing win 7 on a new ssd drive and transfering apps and files from previous drive?

[Ihorp]

I have a laptop that is getting very slow and wanted to install fresh Win 7 image onto a new SSD drive. I also have tons of apps and documents, etc. I need to transfer. Is it possible to clone and transfer apps and files without the OS, or do I have to clone the whole drive?

 

[MeneerWitte]

Dear Ihopr,

Kindly I ask your attention.

Well, it's best to clone the drive, a system backup and a restore point.
You can keep it at the drive, just hook it later extern/intern onto your system.

When you have the freshly installed Windows 7, you can place whatever you need where you want it.

Start Google, search with different search engines and different phrases:

How to transfer apps, files registry from a privious Windows 7 installation to a new Windows 7 installation?

https/www.google.nl/search?q=BlockkTHeAdApp&oq=BlockkTHeAdApp&aqs=chrome..69i57j0j69i61.10733j0j8&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=How+to+transfer+apps%2C+files+registry+from+a+privious+Windows+7+installation+to+a+new+Windows+7+installation%3F

How to transfer Windows 7 from a HDD to a SSD?

https/www.google.nl/search?q=How+to+transfer+Windows+7+from+a+HDD+to+a+SSD%3F&oq=How+to+transfer+Windows+7+from+a+HDD+to+a+SSD%3F&aqs=chrome..69i57.2276j0j8&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

Is there a reason 'why' you want to install it freshly?

Different installation than on the regular HDD?

Well, I have to go now. I will get back tomorrow.

Hopefully I let you known enough and that you will find the answers you seek!

Good luck and have fun doing it!

Best Regards,

MeneerWitte

 

[USAFRet]

Cloning from one to the other is not always the best choice. Especially going from an HDD to a presumably smaller SSD.

Couple of reasons for this:
1. If in fact there is more currently used space on the HDD, you'll have to pare it down to meet what the SSD can take.

2. You comment that "I have a laptop that is getting very slow". Why? Because of the software. The hardware in the laptop runs just as fast as it did on day one.
The software in the system is what is making it seem 'slow'. Installs, partial uninstalls, adding things to Startup, etc, etc...Over time, those things can cause a PC to run visibly slower. It has more baggage to haul around.

If you clone that whole drive, you are merely bringing all that old gunk onto the new drive. Negating the whole purpose.
Yes, the SSD will be faster. But why cripple it from day one with a bunch of old cruft?

I fully recommend just a fresh install of the OS and your applications/games.

 

[Ihorp]

Thank you for the responses. In the end I used EaseUS to clone the drive. By first running CCleaner and doing a defragmentation of the drive I was able to reduce the number of files and improve performance significantly. By using EaseUS, I was also able to select the option cloning to a SSD drive. In fact I got a Corsair M500 120 gig SSD for 80 dollars and my original HDD was only 80 gig.

Now for the strange problem. Once I completed the clone, I installed the SSD in my laptop. It booted up quickly and I was able to log in. I tried all the apps I had and looked to make sure that all my working files were there. Everything looked good until, I tried to launch Internet Explorer. Chrome works, Firefox works, but Explorer just will not launch. No error message just nothing. I looked for possible solutions online, try launching with all add ins turned off - no luck, remove and re-install IE - no luck, restore from previous backup, still no luck. All I can think of is that there must be a file missing somewhere, or there is some security feature that prevents it from running because it has been moved.

Has anyone experienced this problem or a similar problem? I am running Windows 7 Ultimate and IE 11.

 

[CoronaRay]

I cannot tell you why your Microsoft IE isn't working for you but I can tell you that cloning wasn't the best way to install your OS onto your SSD. I "migrated" my Windows 8 OS from my HDD to my SSD using "Paragon Migrate OS to SSD 4.0" http/www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/ ...and everything working perfectly.

 

[lantrich]

I would reinstall Internet Explorer and see if that fixes the problem. It should just overwrite the files and probably find the missing files.

 

[MeneerWitte]

I would reinstall Internet Explorer and see if that fixes the problem. It should just overwrite the files and probably find the missing files.

Kindly I ask your attention.

When you deinstalled it, restart, install it and restart. Just to be surten, I don't know if it will be needed with SSD-drives, but sometimes with HDD-drives you have to.

It's good that you have it cloned, so you have all the files and registration codes too. Might come in handy!
I would install the OS and software freshly and copied the things I needed from the clone.

But like CoronaRay, you could choose this option too I guess.
I have no SSD, so I don't know.

Hopefully I let you known enough, that you will fnd the answers you seek!

Good luck and have fun doing it!

Best Regards,

MeneerWitte