THinking about SSD Drive for Laptop... REALLY! I only use 98gb?

[TexasBulldog]

I don't like clutter and i backup all my photographs on a small portable drive that is always next to my laptop.

I have really been considering 6gb ram and a Kingston SSD drive as an Upgrade for my Laptop instead of buying a new one or trying to find a faster processor that works with this board blah blah blah.

1st im shocked that i am using 98gb of storage of the 500gb drive in my laptop. what a waste of a selling point :lol:

2nd is more of a question.... Is going from 4gb to 6gb ram and a standard Hdd to a SSD drive worth it?

[Datawiz]

Unless you have a 64-bit operating system, the extra ram will not work.

SSD, on the other hand, can be a VERY nice upgrade. My monster notebook has a 256 GB SSD as the operating drive and it is crazy fast. (I have a 750 GB SATA drive as well, and data gets backed up to it)

I also use 2 SSD's in RAID-0 on the tower I'm typing on now. Also ridiculously fast.

BUT, back your chit up. SSD's have been known to fail. ;)

[Joecooool]

BUT, back your chit up. SSD's have been known to fail. ;)
Ditto with the portable drives.

[lander]

You running a 64-bit OS? If not, then no since 32-bit can only use up to 4GB of RAM.

As for SSD, it is a noticeable difference. Just finished up testing many systems and the SSD equipped systems (with 8GB RAM and Win 7x64) booted up 15 seconds faster on average and were countable seconds faster on nearly everything that wasn't cached.

[lander]

BUT, back your chit up. SSD's have been known to fail. ;)

That was my one asterisks in my recommendation to go with SSD to management. :D

[TexasBulldog]

Datawiz- Is the failure rate of the SSD drives to the point of concern?

Even if its taken care of with warranty's and what not, i don't want to be dealing with that crap too often ya know.

I am running Win7 64bit

[Datawiz]

Datawiz- Is the failure rate of the SSD drives to the point of concern?

Even if its taken care of with warranty's and what not, i don't want to be dealing with that crap too often ya know.

I am running Win7 64bit

Failure rate is ABSOLUTELY a concern. The small office I work at has already had 2 fail in 2011. Just make sure you have an imaging system back your stuff up regularly (read Norton Ghost) and you'll be fine. The brand of SSD matters too. The Intel 160 GB's are very good. OCZ makes great drives as well.

Additionally, and I mean this VERY seriously: Once you have your operating system drive and software all installed (SSD or not), get a 2nd laptop drive (SATA is fine) and do an exact clone of the original drive. In the event of failure, your down time is substantially reduced. Just swap the drives and you're back up. Restore any user data at your leisure after the fact.

[prospero63]

Failure rate is ABSOLUTELY a concern. The small office I work at has already had 2 fail in 2011. Just make sure you have an imaging system back your stuff up regularly (read Norton Ghost) and you'll be fine. The brand of SSD matters too. The Intel 160 GB's are very good. OCZ makes great drives as well.

Additionally, and I mean this VERY seriously: Once you have your operating system drive and software all installed (SSD or not), get a 2nd laptop drive (SATA is fine) and do an exact clone of the original drive. In the event of failure, your down time is substantially reduced. Just swap the drives and you're back up. Restore any user data at your leisure after the fact.

IMO failure rate is no more/less a concern of any other storage media. Good backups have always been the way to go with SPF media...

[prospero63]

Ditto with the portable drives.

Ditto with the non-portable drives. All drives fail sooner or later.

[TexasBulldog]

Failure rate is ABSOLUTELY a concern. The small office I work at has already had 2 fail in 2011. Just make sure you have an imaging system back your stuff up regularly (read Norton Ghost) and you'll be fine.

Additionally, and I mean this VERY seriously: Once you have your operating system drive and software all installed (SSD or not), get a 2nd laptop drive (SATA is fine) and do an exact clone of the original drive. In the event of failure, your down time is substantially reduced. Just swap the drives and you're back up. Restore any user data at your leisure after the fact.

How does this work with License's for work related stuff and even office/windows7. The whole 1 device per license is annoying when you have legit problems it seems.

I backup docs, pics, vids, ect... but cloning a whole system is something i haven't done i guess. I used to with Win95/win98/nt/2000/XP but its gotten harder and more annoying with Vista and Win7 so i just stopped playing around like that.

For example, Could i "Clone" my laptop right now with Win7 blah blah blah, and then that cloned drive put that into my Desktop and then have 2 running systems?

[lander]

You're allowed to have the copy, but you're not allowed to use them both at the same time.

[Datawiz]

You're allowed to have the copy, but you're not allowed to use them both at the same time.

this

First thing I did when I got my $5,000 laptop was clone the primary drive and test it to make sure it booted properly. It sits on a shelf. I have one more just like it, and I update that drive with a fresh clone about every month. :cheers:

[Chris Fowler]

I've got an SSD in my MacBook Air. Backed up via Time Machine to a NAS...all media stored on the NAS.

Which reminds me...I think one of the HDs went out on the NAS the other day. I better look into that. :leaving:

[prospero63]

You're allowed to have the copy, but you're not allowed to use them both at the same time.

I don't think that's accurate. But I'm also not a licensing guy.

Protect Yourself from Piracy (http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/mpa.aspx)

For instance, Windows XP is primarily licensed for use on a single PC and without purchasing additional licenses cannot be installed on other machines.

Does user agreement permit having 2 hard drives, one a clone of the - Microsoft Answers (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/does-user-agreement-permit-having-2-hard-drives/2e75d10c-4cbe-4a6a-877e-e633ce6f1a72)

[lander]

this

First thing I did when I got my $5,000 laptop was clone the primary drive and test it to make sure it booted properly. It sits on a shelf. I have one more just like it, and I update that drive with a fresh clone about every month. :cheers:

The one thing I don't like about SSD vs spin drives is recovery of a failed drive. I haven't found anyone, yet, that can take a failed SSD and do any type of recovery from it. If a spin drive fails there are vendors that you can send the drive to and they can recover most everything from it.

[prospero63]

this

First thing I did when I got my $5,000 laptop was clone the primary drive and test it to make sure it booted properly. It sits on a shelf. I have one more just like it, and I update that drive with a fresh clone about every month. :cheers:

Like I said. I'm pretty sure that's not at all accurate. If you read the Windows 7 EULA for example, it's pretty clear:

OVERVIEW.
a. Software. The software includes desktop operating system software. This software does not include Windows Live services. Windows Live is a service available from Microsoft under a separate agreement.
b. License Model. The software is licensed on a per copy per computer basis. A computer is a physical hardware system with an internal storage device capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate computer.
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. You may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the “licensed computer.”
b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.
c. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the software at a time.

[Datawiz]

I don't think that's accurate. But I'm also not a licensing guy.

Protect Yourself from Piracy (http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/mpa.aspx)



Does user agreement permit having 2 hard drives, one a clone of the - Microsoft Answers (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/does-user-agreement-permit-having-2-hard-drives/2e75d10c-4cbe-4a6a-877e-e633ce6f1a72)


This is the "I don't give a shit about their licensing" part. I'm going to protect myself, plain and simply.

Upon the failure of my OEM drive, with my copy of Windows now down the drain, there is no way I'm going to be chased or prosecuted for having a clone of my drive to get me back up and running. Regardless, Microsoft will be irrelevant in about 10 years.

The per copy/per computer basis is not an issue. It's the same damn computer. I'm not putting it in another computer. Christ, I can't believe how many fugging copies of Windows I've purchased for all of my computers over the years. BUT, it came with THIS computer and will go back on THIS computer in the event of a failure. That is not a breach of licensing.

[Chris Fowler]

Like I said. I'm pretty sure that's not at all accurate. If you read the Windows 7 EULA for example, it's pretty clear:
Looks to me like it's clear that you can do it.

"per computer" In this case there is only one computer.

But I'm not a lawyer...

[Chris Fowler]

Like I said. I'm pretty sure that's not at all accurate. If you read the Windows 7 EULA for example, it's pretty clear:
Looks to me like it's clear that you can do it.

"per computer" In this case there is only one computer.

But I'm not a lawyer...

[Datawiz]

Looks to me like it's clear that you can do it.

"per computer" In this case there is only one computer.

But I'm not a lawyer...

Looks to me like it's clear that you can do it.

"per computer" In this case there is only one computer.

But I'm not a lawyer...

Did you both stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night? :lol:

[prospero63]

Looks to me like it's clear that you can do it.

"per computer" In this case there is only one computer.

But I'm not a lawyer...

Misread the second drive vs. second laptop. If I were the OP though, I'd verify it with MSFT licensing real quick, if you are actually concerned.

[lander]

This is the "I don't give a shit about their licensing" part. I'm going to protect myself, plain and simply.

Upon the failure of my OEM drive, with my copy of Windows now down the drain, there is no way I'm going to be chased or prosecuted for having a clone of my drive to get me back up and running. Regardless, Microsoft will be irrelevant in about 10 years.

The per copy/per computer basis is not an issue. It's the same damn computer. I'm not putting it in another computer. Christ, I can't believe how many fugging copies of Windows I've purchased for all of my computers over the years. BUT, it came with THIS computer and will go back on THIS computer in the event of a failure. That is not a breach of licensing.

And that's where MS loses on any argument of having a second hard drive cloned. It's if/when you put that hard drive into any other computer, even an identical system, that you run afoul of the licensing that you agreed to.

Funny how people that don't work in the trenches are so clueless when it comes to these concepts. :rofl:

[prospero63]

This is the "I don't give a shit about their licensing" part. I'm going to protect myself, plain and simply.

Then you should clarify that with the OP IMO.

[TexasBulldog]

This is the "I don't give a shit about their licensing" part. I'm going to protect myself, plain and simply.

Upon the failure of my OEM drive, with my copy of Windows now down the drain, there is no way I'm going to be chased or prosecuted for having a clone of my drive to get me back up and running. Regardless, Microsoft will be irrelevant in about 10 years.

The per copy/per computer basis is not an issue. It's the same damn computer. I'm not putting it in another computer. Christ, I can't believe how many fugging copies of Windows I've purchased for all of my computers over the years. BUT, it came with THIS computer and will go back on THIS computer in the event of a failure. That is not a breach of licensing.

Calm down, i was just asking a question :shots:

So, if someone who wasn't being Honest..... :leaving: and "Cloned" their drive and then stuck it in their Desktop... Would it work?

Forgetting all about "Legality". Its simply, would it work? Especially if Both are being used on the same network/modem?

[Chris Fowler]

Did you both stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night? :lol:
Bah...I submitted once. VB posted twice. :banghead:

[prospero63]

Bah...I submitted once. VB posted twice. :banghead:

That's ok, I misread one of the recommendations anyway. :leaving:

[lander]

Calm down, i was just asking a question :shots:

So, if someone who wasn't being Honest..... :leaving: and "Cloned" their drive and then stuck it in their Desktop... Would it work?

Forgetting all about "Legality". Its simply, would it work? Especially if Both are being used on the same network/modem?


They would have to be identical systems, mobo, etc. So if you cloned your notebook and stuck it in your desktop, no, it aint' gonna "just work", you'd have to tweak it.

MS and others will pursue those that intend to defraud them. So when techs like myself clone drives and put them away for a rainy day, there is no intent to defraud, so there is no cause for concern. But if you clone a drive and start selling those clones, or using them in other systems with the intent of not paying the licensing fees, then your intent is now to defraud, and they will care about that if they catch you doing it.

Going 56 in a 55 is technically illegal...but do you get a ticket for it even when a cop is sitting there with a laser on you?

[prospero63]

Calm down, i was just asking a question :shots:

So, if someone who wasn't being Honest..... :leaving: and "Cloned" their drive and then stuck it in their Desktop... Would it work?

Forgetting all about "Legality". Its simply, would it work? Especially if Both are being used on the same network/modem?

Works fine, within reason. There's some duplicate GUID issues that would happen if both were online at the same time, but most folks probably won't see or care about them. Hence why licensing tends to be so stringent in terms of actually paying for all the copies that are or may be in use.

I'm not a lawyer. I don't care if you get cross with MSFT licensing. I maintain multiple copies of stuff myself, though I have licensing on my side because if the software I use and the manner in which it is purchased. If you are really concerned, I'd suggest firing a question off to Microsoft licensing. What I will say however is they tend to take a different stance on data vs. programs. Put simply, having a backup copy of your data in a fully ready to run setup is viewed differently than having a backup copy of your applications in the same state. It doesn't take a lawyer, given your question above, to figure out why.

[TexasBulldog]

They would have to be identical systems, mobo, etc. So if you cloned your notebook and stuck it in your desktop, no, it aint' gonna "just work", you'd have to tweak it.

MS and others will pursue those that intend to defraud them. So when techs like myself clone drives and put them away for a rainy day, there is no intent to defraud, so there is no cause for concern. But if you clone a drive and start selling those clones, or using them in other systems with the intent of not paying the licensing fees, then your intent is now to defraud, and they will care about that if they catch you doing it.

Going 56 in a 55 is technically illegal...but do you get a ticket for it even when a cop is sitting there with a laser on you?

Ok. It sounds like it COULD be do-able but i was just wondering how they got around that ya know.

I have an XP problem child of a desktop now that throws the "not a valid key" error and im just beyond irritated and sick of dealing with Windows with it and i just want to throw it away but it is a legal copy of winXP.

Right now i just threw an old laptop as a docked "Desktop" to run the magic jack, and basic computing needs for my DVR and outlook.

It just pisses me off to no end having to fork over $200 to WINDOWS again because they annoyed the piss out of me long enough with the XP install im having issues with.

besides, i really enjoy win7 now.

[prospero63]

They would have to be identical systems, mobo, etc. So if you cloned your notebook and stuck it in your desktop, no, it aint' gonna "just work", you'd have to tweak it.

That's not quite accurate IMO. Aside from windows activation issues, it will pop right up with today's hardware most of the time. The beauty of plug and pray.

MS and others will pursue those that intend to defraud them. So when techs like myself clone drives and put them away for a rainy day, there is no intent to defraud, so there is no cause for concern. But if you clone a drive and start selling those clones, or using them in other systems with the intent of not paying the licensing fees, then your intent is now to defraud, and they will care about that if they catch you doing it.

Corp licenses tend to be different than personal licenses though. ELA's, etc. tend to alter the license agreements.

Going 56 in a 55 is technically illegal...but do you get a ticket for it even when a cop is sitting there with a laser on you?

QFT.