Fresh install or Cloning HDD to SSD - Ideapad Y500 window 8

Please Help.....

I got the following:

-Win8 in Laptop lenovo ideapad Y500 with 1TB hard drive

-Samsung 840 pro 256GB SSD



Plan:
Clone the HDD to SSD

Problem:
SAMSUNG DATA Migration Software can't recongized the Samsung 840 PRO 256Gb as target disk


What I have done:

Today I initialized the SSD by choosing MBR and assigned unallocated disk space. Then I named the Samsung 840 Pro SSD as K drive.

When I use the Samsung data migration software to clone the HDD to SSD, it doesn't recognize samsung 840 pro SSD. However the Samsung 840 pro as K drive is shown in My Computer

I get stucked....




Can any of you provide step by step tutorial ?

For Cloning HDD to SSD OR Fresh install for SSD in ideapad Y500 laptop with Window8?

 

I suggest you use this free 3rd party cloning and backup software "easeus todo backup free" ( Easeus Todo Backup Free - CNET Download.com)...


Simple and easy to use..

 

None of them helped for me.

Tried thosend of tricks. None helped.
Also other people saying the same thing.

Fresh clean install with cd worked for me.

Btw using an crucial m4 256gb(y500)

Verstuurd van mijn Xperia S met Tapatalk

 

I'd love an update on how the ssd transition went. I just ordered a y580 and samsung 500gb 840 ssd and plan on cloning the y580's hdd and transferring it over to the ssd.

 

I posted this in another Y500 thread yesterday, but I am not sure wether you want to remove the HDD and swap it for an SSD, or if you're going to use the msata slot.

Installing a msata in the place of the caching one is actually really simple.
I was done in about 1 hour time. This is for a clean install! (But you can also make a recovery disk/ copy windows from your HDD to your SSD with the proper programs.)
Before you start make a back up off the Lenovo drivers on your HDD!!

1. Removed the back. I believe there were 9 screws in total. This was the hardest part, I had some trouble removing it since it was still connected with some small hooks. Don't force it too much or you might break or bend it.
2. Remove the Caching SSD. It's just 1 screw, the SSD will jump up after you unscrewed it.
3. Replace it with the SSD of your choice. I used a Crucial M4 128gb since I was too poor for a 256 model. Crucial is just fine, the Samsung 830 and 840 series are also good. Don't even bother with sandforce/OCZ
4. Remove the HDD to prevent the laptop from using the HDD to boot. (Not necessary*, I did it just to be sure.)
5. Boot the laptop and press F2 to get into the bootmenu. Turn UEFI off and turn Legacy support on (SSD support).
6. Reboot! *(If you didn't remove the HDD you now want to change the boot sequence. Let it boot from the SSD)
7. Connect an USB/DVD player of your choice to the laptop with a copy of Windows 8 on it/in it.
8. Install Windows 8 on the SSD. You don't need a key or anything. The key is already in the laptop.
9. Check your TRIM settings to optimize the SSD performance.
10. Uncheck defrag and indexing. (If this is the right term in English).
11. Almost done now! Shut down if you removed the HDD, you can now put it back in. Skip this step if you didn't remove it.
12. Format the HDD, remove the stupid Lenovo partitions, and make some partitions of your choice. I went with 800gb - 200gb. 800gb for all my media, videos and downloads. 200gb for programs which I don't want to install on the SSD.
13. You're good to go. Have fun.

ps: Laptop boots in about 12 seconds now. So it's a bit faster. Games load much faster though, which was the primary reason for me to swap the SSD.

I hope this quick guide will help some people. I've read a lot of difficult stories on swapping the SSD, don't fret, it's not hard. People made it seem hard. Basically it's remove, swap, change boot, install, check settings, format and there we go!

 

Did you install Windows 8 off a disc? Also did you have problems updating the Lenovo driver updates? I've heard quite a few have run into problems with windows 8. I have yet to receive my Y580 but I doubt it will come with a windows 8 install disc and it might be difficult to obtain( I won't be in the US to get it off lenovo). So for this reason I will probably end up cloning the stock hdd that comes with my y580 and transferring it over to the ssd( I'd imagine I will have to find a way to disable the caching of the mSATA before I make the clone).

Also thanks for the breakdown! Makes this ssd swapping business seem less intimating

 

Yes, I installed it from a disk. Couldn't find a large enough usb.
Lenovo had all the drivers saved on a small partition on the HDD. I made sure I had a backup of those. I forgot to add it to the description.
I don't have any problems with w8 so far. Everything works fine, I just try to avoid the start screen and use the desktop environment with a 'start' button app.
The Y500 has the W8 key hidden in the BIOS or something. So once you install W8 you don't even have to enter a key. Just look on the net for a W8 download >_>.

Goodluck!