Moving OS-X and Windows 7 from HDD to SSD

[CFoss]

So I've recently purchased a SSD (OCZ 120GB Vertex 2). I've been running OS-X and Windows off the 750GB HDD Apple provided. Anyway, I have a lot of media and old applications on both systems. I have OS-X backed up to my Time Machine drive.

So... how do I go about moving the operating systems to the SSD? Obviously, I'm not going to be able to move everything off the HDD into the SSD. I'm also not too sure what to do about Windows.

Finally, does it matter what bays I use? I suppose it won't matter if I move the HDD in the first bay to the second bay, etc?


Edit: To be more specific about my concerns about Windows 7... is it possible to move the OS, or will I have to uninstall it from the computer, then reinstall it into the SSD?

 

[clyde2801]

The lifehacker optibay page looks like it has some decent instructions for setting up a ssd and copying your user folder and data onto a regular HD:

http://lifehacker.com/5541774/how-to-install-a-solid+state-drive-in-your-macbook

Go down to the middle of the page for "Transfer OSX to the SSD".

Of course, I'm curious to what the real nerds here have to say about it.

If you have a '09 or '10, you can put the ssd in the second unused optical bay port easy peasey.

 

[handheldgames]

Another App that provides a visual breakdown of your hard disk usage is: GrandPerspective. http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/ It will help you find many GB of wasted space. At least it did in my case.

 

[CFoss]

...Carbon Copy Cloner....

I always thought CCC was shareware. That's handy to know! Thanks!

Another App that provides a visual breakdown of your hard disk usage is: GrandPerspective. http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/ It will help you find many GB of wasted space. At least it did in my case.

Image

There's no way I'm getting ~720GB of information into a 180GB SSD. But it IS a useful app, thank you.

 

[xgman]

for windows I use Ghost and then do a repair from the win7 dvd to fix the boot table if needed.

for mac, I boot to a SL dvd and utilities and just restore in disk utility works fine.

 

[CFoss]

So it would seem Windows kicked the bucket last week. Perfect timing! I JUST got the motherboard to detect the SSD.

I've just formatted my Windows partition, and am now in the progress of moving my HDD data to the SSD. What files should I copy over?

 

[TonyK]

I'm thinking of moving OS X to SSD. The current drive is 320GB but the most I can afford is a 120GB SSD. I would probably upgrade my 3 500GB drives to 1TB drives to provide more space and to move my USR folders to one of the 1TB drives.

That would leave just the OS on the SSD which comes to about 90GB which seems large to me. 9GB is the Developer folder. Hmmm. How to do this and not get screwed in the process.