Migration to 256GB SSD

After 11 months of use, my Crucial M4 64GB SSD which I used as my main drive was choking as it only had 3GB free space remaining. So I migrated to the 256GB version.

My OS is Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium. For the migration, I used Acronis True Image Home 2012 (Update 2 Build 7119).

Using Acronis' Clone Disk feature, the migration was so painless that I find it so... "disturbing".

Anyway, the migration task itself only took around 10 minutes max. Here are the steps for your reading pleasure:

1. In Windows 7, create a Rescue Media (aka Boot CD) inside Acronis True Image; this is inside "Tools and Utilities".
2. Shutdown PC then disconnect all drives except optical drive (where you put the Rescue Media disc) and source SSD. This source SSD is the drive that you want to be replaced.
3. Connect your target SSD. This is your new SSD and normally has a larger capacity. In some cases, migration is used if old SSD is not working 100% and has to be replaced.
4. Go to BIOS and set it to boot from your optical drive.
5. Reboot PC with Rescue Media disc in optical drive.
6. Then you should see this -





7. Click on Acronis True Image Home, then go to "Tools and Utilities" -







Click on Clone Disk then select "Manual" -






Select source SSD (the drive to be cloned) -






Select target SSD -






Then select Proportional as move method - 






A summary will be presented. If you're happy, click on Proceed -






You can have a tea break now. This takes around 7 minutes (in my case, anyway).




My new SSD during this stage -



Yeah, hanging temporarily outside PC case.




Once cloning is done, turn OFF computer (unless you selected "Shut down the computer when operation is completed).
To confirm successful cloning, disconnect old SSD and use that SATA port (previously used by old SSD) to the new SSD.
Change BIOS to boot up from the new SSD.
PC should boot to Windows 7 like nothing has happened.
If you're planning to sell or give away your old SSD, the go to the next step. Otherwise, reconnect disconnected drives, close PC case, and you're done. Good job!
Disconnect the new SSD.
Go to BIOS and change boot to optical drive. Yeah, make sure Rescue Media disc is in the optical drive.
Reboot PC and when you get to Acronis True Image Home window, select "Acronis DriveCleanser" in Tools and Utilities -





8. Select the old SSD (the drive which will be cleansed of your dirty, evil, vile files)






Accept default data destruction method then click on Next -






A summary will be presented. Are you sure? Are you really, really, 100% sure? If yes, click on Proceed -






Say farewell...






Once done, disconnect and remove old SSD which is now empty and its old data 100% unrecoverable. Your scandalous personal videos are safe......... for now.
Move new SSD to its secure mounting location. Connect data and power cables to it. Reconnect other disconnected drives and then close PC case.
You're almost there - go to BIOS and change boot to your new SSD drive.
Enjoy your new SSD drive!
End.