Windows 7 on Intel X25-M G2

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Going to try Windows 7 on my Intel X25-M G2 (INTEL SSDSA2M080G2GC) and just wanted to make sure I get everything right.

1. I have an Abit IP35 motherboard with BIOS from Phoenix Tech. v. 6.00PG, date: 01/11/2008. It has both the IDE, RAID and AHCI as options for the SATA and I have never had any problems with it. Do I need to update it?

2. I bought my SSD last summer. I guess I need to update the firmware? Is this the correct one and the update I need is the 34nm one right?

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363

So I then end up with maybe updating my mobo, then definitely updating my SSD firmware. Whats next? This is my plan but it would be great if somebody could just approve it:

-Change the SATA setting in BIOS to AHCI (will my old storage SATA HDD still work?)
-Boot to the Windows 7 install disk
-Delete the old partition on my SSD
-Make a new partition and quick format it
-Install Windows 7 on the new partition

When W7 is installed I:
-Turn off defragmentation (anything else that should be turned off/on or double checked that it has the correct settings?)

And now I am a little bit lost. I should install Intels own driver for the SSD right? Exactly which one is it I need? Is there anything else that should be done?
 
The steps I took are such:


1. Ensure SATA is set for AHCI
2. Check that you have the latest firmware for the SSD drive, i.e. boot from Intel created disc http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...&DwnldID=18363
3. Install WIN 7
4. Install M/B drivers - do not, however, install intel chipset driver
5. Install other drivers
6. Go to device manager, open IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller and check that the SATA controller is using the "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller". This will ensure that TRIM works and then your system is set and forget - no need to install the Intel toolbox

You maybe able to use the latest intel drivers for your chipset but it is just as easy to use the standard MS ones...
 
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You can install it if you want to, but you don't need to install it as trim will keep your SSD in tip top condition. I personally don't like a lot of startup applications running when they are not neccessary - your call though.
 
i thought it was recommend for use with all intel ssd's? and as far as i can tell it does not load at startup its just an optimizer app?
 
i just run it once a week at sometime over the weekend, would be good to hear other views, as i don't fully know myself.
 
I don't think nobody has answered this question for the orginal poster (a question I have too).
WHen SATA setting is changed to AHCI in the bios, what happens to the other drives in the system? I have two drives set as mirrored raid that hold my data and I would need to preserve these. Will changing to AHCI require me to erase the mirrored drives?
 
DarrenM343 said:
I don't think nobody has answered this question for the orginal poster (a question I have too).
WHen SATA setting is changed to AHCI in the bios, what happens to the other drives in the system? I have two drives set as mirrored raid that hold my data and I would need to preserve these. Will changing to AHCI require me to erase the mirrored drives?
Click to expand...

Someone correct me if this is mistaken but I'm fairly sure that on the Intel controllers RAID has the same functionality as AHCI (for SSD's and TRIM etc at least) so you can keep it at that. Otherwise your RAID volumes won't work in AHCI.
 
i thought if you change it from ide while you have an install you get the blue screen of death, (unless you patch or regedit) it was the case on vista for sure, but i dunno on win7 ahci should be set before install really
 
CHeers, I'll have to read up a bit more on this.
In my bios (MSI GD-65 mobo) I can set AHCI in two locations. Firstly there is a RAID MODE setting that can be set to IDE or AHCI (mine is currently set to IDE). Secondly, I can expand a setting called "On CHIP SATA Controller" (or '..devices') where there is a second setting called RAID MODE which can be set to SATA (or is it IDE? I've forgotton already), OR RAID OR AHCI. MIne is currently set to RAID because of the Mirror I have setup.

So I wonder what happens if I set the first RAID MODE option to AHCI from IDE but leave the second RAID MODE option set to RAID within the 'On CHIP controller' section?
 
i have no idea myself, as if you did not have raid i would advise setting both to ahci - infact i would recommend starting a new thread with that question in the title to attract the right sort of help
 
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