Imaging and partition alignment

Question

We are using ZCM 10.3.1 and the August 2010 Imaging CD to create and
restore Windows 7 images to wiped conventional and solid state drives.
We have been running the Windows 7 Experience Index tool to check disk
performance. We are in the process of moving towards use of solid state
drives and want to be sure we are getting the best possible performance.
We have identical model laptops with the same SSD where some will score
a 7.1 on the disk performance and others will score 5.9.
In the process of doing more research on solid state drives, we came
across some info that mentioned the need to have the partition aligned
for best performance.
So far we have found that if a laptop had Windows 7 installed directly
to the solid state drive from the Windows 7 DVD, the partition is
aligned (determined by taking the partition starting offset and dividing
it by 4096 - result should be an integer if aligned). These laptops
score at least a 6.9 on the Windows 7 disk performance test.
On a laptop that had an image laid down using Zenworks the partition
always ends up misaligned. These laptops typically score a 5.9 on the
Windows 7 disk performance test.
Has anyone else noticed a partition alignment problem when using
Zenworks imaging ?

Answer 1

Or maybe run a chkdsk on a freshly imaged machine to see if there are
errors ?
On 10/8/2010 2:25 PM, Chris Granitz wrote:
> Does anyone have anything to offer on this ?
>
> Would someone else mind checking the partition alignment on one of their
> imaged machines ?
>
> On 10/5/2010 1:33 PM, Chris Granitz wrote:
>> Some additional info...
>>
>> We have also noticed that if we run Windows Chkdsk on a laptop that was
>> restored using a Zenworks image (conventional hard drive or solid state
>> drive), that there a lot of errors that chkdsk corrects. That is
>> particularly bothersome. Windows seems to otherwise run fine, but
>> obviously Windows is not totally happy with some aspect of the image
>> that Zenworks is laying down.
>>
>>
>> On 10/5/2010 1:12 PM, Chris Granitz wrote:
>>> We are using ZCM 10.3.1 and the August 2010 Imaging CD to create and
>>> restore Windows 7 images to wiped conventional and solid state drives.
>>> We have been running the Windows 7 Experience Index tool to check disk
>>> performance. We are in the process of moving towards use of solid state
>>> drives and want to be sure we are getting the best possible performance.
>>> We have identical model laptops with the same SSD where some will score
>>> a 7.1 on the disk performance and others will score 5.9.
>>>
>>> In the process of doing more research on solid state drives, we came
>>> across some info that mentioned the need to have the partition aligned
>>> for best performance.
>>>
>>> So far we have found that if a laptop had Windows 7 installed directly
>>> to the solid state drive from the Windows 7 DVD, the partition is
>>> aligned (determined by taking the partition starting offset and dividing
>>> it by 4096 - result should be an integer if aligned). These laptops
>>> score at least a 6.9 on the Windows 7 disk performance test.
>>>
>>> On a laptop that had an image laid down using Zenworks the partition
>>> always ends up misaligned. These laptops typically score a 5.9 on the
>>> Windows 7 disk performance test.
>>>
>>> Has anyone else noticed a partition alignment problem when using
>>> Zenworks imaging ?
>>
>