# Installing an SSD: Reformatting vs. Imaging, Windows Key Questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-an-ssd-reformatting-vs-imaging-windows-key-questions/744274>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-an-ssd-reformatting-vs-imaging-windows-key-questions/744274 "2016-01-26T16:52:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-an-ssd-reformatting-vs-imaging-windows-key-questions/744274/21 "2016-02-01T07:05:31Z")

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> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> I replaced the HDD in my wife’s laptop with an SSD a few months ago, and used Acronis True Image to clone the drive. It appeared to transfer properly, but soon afterward the laptop started freezing up randomly. I started over with a clean install of Windows 7 and it’s been fine since. Just FWIW.

Just as a point of information, earlier versions of Acronis True Image did not properly support partition alignment on Advanced Format (AF) 4K sector aligned drives, and AFAIK all or most SSDs are AF.

Mind you, this shouldn’t have caused random freezes, it would only have caused inefficient operation, needless bus traffic, and premature aging of the SSD, but it might be related in some way. Installing Win 7 from scratch would have created the optimal 4K aligned partition boundaries. You can also do this by backing up and restoring with a utility that understands AF alignment.

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