Imaging a new msata system

I have my m4600 outlet machine arriving next week.

I've got the 128gb msata ssd + 750gb HD and I'm wondering how I should best go about imaging the system so that I can revert to the "as delivered" state should there be a problem.

I've read that there can be issue with imaging SSD drives so I'd be curious to know what the exact procedure is.

Additionally, can anyone advise about the drive contents. Will the 750gb be totally empty when it arrives? Or will I need to somehow image both drives?

Thanks

 

Subscribing. (No answers, but I will need to know how to do this as well; I plan to convert to a dual boot OpenSuse 12.1 / Windows 7 Ultimate).

 

Can anyone chip in on this?

My machine is due to arrive on Friday, would I be going wrong to image both drives with Acronis and then get on with just using it?

Posted a similar question in the Dell Business forum but not getting much response and figure the same issue has also applied to Lenovo users too.

I've a m4600 coming with the 128gb msata drive plus 750gb regular hd. I'm guessing the 750gb will be empty (confrimed anyone?) I don't have recovery media so I'm looking to image the system before I start using/breaking it. I've read isuses about working with images and ssd drives. Is there anything I should be worried about?

In the past I have used the free version of acronis just to image a drive. Should I use that again and rest safe in the knowledge that if disaster strikes I can restore the machine to factory settings?

I'm not really sure what the words "alignment" and "offset" mean when it comes to SSDs and imaging - but I see them being concerns. Can anyone give me an idiot friendly explanation of useful link?

Many thanks

 

Can't offer too much on the topic but I know there are some hard drive programs like "Acronis" that do keep the SSD alignment intact when restoring the image.

Sure if you check the specs on the software it should tell you if it supports SSD drives - which is what your looking for.

It gets a little trickier when moving an image to a different size drive as well.


You can also use programs like crystaldiskmark to verify alignment, but also the SSD vendor may have utilities on thier website to check the drive alignment as well, among other things for thier drives.

One issue with a bad drive alignment will be the transfer rates will be at a lower than expected speed.


IMO I always go the secure erase - format and install windows via my USB Drive for my SSD devices. less hassel and pretty much problem free.
as SSD speeds drop a secure erase is probably the best means of restoring speeds and ensuring alignment which Windows 7 does during the format process.


If you don't get Windows OS CD's but have the key on the laptop (as it shoudl be) you can download a legit copy of Windows and use your key to activate.


If the SSD is the boot drive, I would expect the 750 GB drive would be empty.

 

Your threads have been merged (with 3 day redirect), please don't post a new topic on the same question in more than one place.

 

Thanks very much for the info and apologies for the dupe.

I'll think about getting a new copy of acronis - seems like the latest version handles SSD ok. Just got to wait for the delivery tomorrow!

Thanks

 

In Note (1) at http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...sd-msata-ssd-64gb-very-bad-performance-2.html I describe how I use Linux' dd and ntfsclone commands to image my SSD.