Transfer laptop Windows 7 to SSD

[DaveJ]

Is it easy to transfer Windows 7 OS to an SSD? I'm thinking about doing it over the weekend or maybe next. These are my concerns:

1) Since it's a laptop there is no second place to install a new SSD HD to transfer onto, that I know of, so I'm not sure how they would be both plugged in simultaneously during the transfer.
2) Would the SSD need to be as big as the Windows HD, or just the data. The hard drive is 451GB total/105GB is used. A lot can be cleared off since I hardly ever manage space.
3) It's a Dell laptop, so does Dell do anything to prevent this?

Also...
A) Is there any way to have a 2nd drive in a regular laptop? In case I want to use the 451GB drive rather than tossing it aside?
B) Is there any store (physical place I can go to -- we have Micro Center and Best Buy) that sells SSDs that are competitive with newEgg?. I'm the type who likes to buy stuff at the store instead of waiting. I'm impatient.

In addition, I heard that older SSDs might slow down over time (not due to data but due to some electronic principle). Has anyone heard of this?

Thanks

[AgingAmerican]

1. Instructions here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

[DaveJ]

3. Great, thanks.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Mnpaul]

2. The easy way

Go to Microcenter

Buy this adapter
http://www.microcenter.com/product/315702/USB_20_to_IDE-SATA_Adapter

Download Mini tool Partion wizard home edition
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

Plug your new drive into the USB adapter

Click on your current drive - select copy

Select the new drive as destination

click Apply - it will ask about resizing

after it is done you may need to click align - if you don't need to do it, it will tell you

you may also need to set the new drive as active

click apply again

now you should be ready to swap drives and you can use the usb adapter to use the old drive for extra storage

[DaveJ]

4. Old drive...

Normally is there anyplace to plug a second drive into a laptop? I haven't checked yet.

Edit: Also I already have a USB to HD adapter that seems to have an IDE adapter. I guess it's the same as that one. Looks like I'm good to go. Just need to figure out the transfer software.

[Mnpaul]

5. The software is pretty easy to use

The biggest problem I have is forgetting to click "apply" but if you don't it will remind you that you have pending actions when you try to close the software.

Most laptops don't have a place for a second HD use the usb adapter.

[DaveJ]

6. Ok, I just ordered an SSD

Went ahead and got it from NewEgg. Hope it gets here by Friday. Thanks!

[DaveJ]

7. Files in use

The program copied the first two small partitions then on the main partition said files in use. Not surprising. It said to reboot and it would finish, so I rebooted, but the program did not proceed like it said it would.

[sir pball]

8. If your laptop has a DVD drive and you don't use it

You might be able to find an adapter that will mount your hard drive in the optical drive bay. I use one in my MacBook Pro but I don't know if anybody makes them for other laptop models.

[DaveJ]

9. Problem now is the cloning

The USB adapter works, but Partition Wizard, so far, is not copying the OS drive while it is in use. It says to reboot and it will continue, but it doesn't.

It looks like I might need to take the drive out and hook them both to another computer and do the copy there.

Just found out, this laptop sucks in that I need to take the whole thing apart just to access the drive.

Another option is, I'm wondering if the recovery partition copied over correctly, maybe I can just restore windows that way. I can copy everything else over.

[sir pball]

10. Mybad

I thought you wanted to keep the drive in the laptop permanently.

[sir pball]

11. Oh, boot from a Linux/BSD live CD

And copy over from there. The "dd" command is your friend for this, a couple of minutes' googling should set you up fine. If you hunt around, you can find live Windows CD or USB images but those aren't technically legal so I won't recommend them.

[DaveJ]

12. I just took the drive out

I'm now starting to attempt a copy on a copy... pain in the ass laptop, had to take half the thing apart and broke a little tab piece for one of the keyboard interfaces, but I assembled it again and it still works......

[DaveJ]

13. Ok, SSD drive is in!

My notebook is super fast now. I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice. I had some trouble along the way. Partition Wizard crashed after 4 hours, so I found a different Win7 disk and just did a full install. If there are any licensing issues I'll order a fresh disk from Dell. Also, my power button is now wonkly, because I did not know how to unhook the little black tabs that the ribbon connected to on the motherboard. No major loss. I'd recommend an SSD drive to anyone. It was totally worth it.