Fresh Crucial M4 install procedure.....

StevieP

StevieP

StevieP

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I've finally pulled the trigger and ordered the Crucial M4 128GB SSD and even though I've done plenty of reading in respect of which SSD to get, it occurs to me that I dont really know what steps I need to take to get the thing up and running! :confused:

I've read about disabling defrag and one or two other things but can anyone give me a step-by-step guide as to how to do a full install and what the optimal settings are?

My motherboard is the MSI P67A-GD65 and I'll be installing Windows 7 64-bit and ideally using my current HDD as a storage drive.

Thanks for any help guys........
 
The answers to all your questions can be found within this very forum! I was in the same boat as you but after reading the various threads, FAQs and articles online I was ready to go. I will give you the basics :)

Right, assuming your shiny new SSD is installed and ready to go...

1) Make sure SATA mode is set to AHCI in the bios. This setting should be listed as something similar to "SATA controller mode" or "Configure SATA as"... look at your motherboard manual if you are not sure.

2) Install Windows 7 as you would normally. Nothing needs to be done at this time. Windows 7 will make the necessary changes during the setup routine to ensure your SSD functions correctly. This includes enabling TRIM. You can check this after installing Windows 7 by opening command prompt and typing:

fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify

One of the following values will be returned:

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)

0 is good! TRIM is enabled! 1 means you need to enable it. To do this, type the following:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 0

Done! TRIM enabled.

3) Your old drive should still appear if you haven't disconnected it. Do with it as you wish!

4) Google "ssd tweaks" for some guides on how to squeeze more performance and life out of your SSD.

5) Run some benchmark software to ensure the SSD is performing as it should. ATTO Disk Benchmark is nice and simple to use.

Hope this helps :)
 
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1) Unplug all other HDDs and plug SSD into optimal port (usually port 0, make sure it's an AMD/Intel SATA 6 Gbps port and not a Marvell one).
2) Install firmware update (see Crucial forums for instructions).
3) Install Windows to empty drive (do NOT partition or format).
4) Run Windows Experience Index (this will disable defrag for the SSD only).
5) Re-attach HDDs.
 
Anyone know what will happen when I re-plug in my HDD given that it is currently my primary C drive and will therefore have boot sectors (??) etc on it - will I just be able to save what I want off it and just re-format?
 
This shouldn't be a problem. Plug-in your HDD and go into the BIOS. Make sure your SSD is set as the 1st boot device and voila. Your old drive should only boot if you select it manually via the boot menu or perhaps if the SSD is not present and thus the old drive is selected as an alternative boot device.
 
I've read that currently shipping Crucial M4's already have the 009 firmware, so you probably won't need to update. But best to check it before hand anyway.

Waiting for my M4 to arrive as well, hopefully tomorrow :)
 
Wucked said:
I've read that currently shipping Crucial M4's already have the 009 firmware, so you probably won't need to update. But best to check it before hand anyway.

Waiting for my M4 to arrive as well, hopefully tomorrow :)
Click to expand...

Join the club, mine should be here tomorrow too. Glad all these first setup guides are appearing saves me having to post one myself.
 
quick question about the m4 - updated to 009 firmware but crystaldiskmark is giving me back readings of 415mbs (seq) - shouldnt it be much higher?

i assume the 009 firmware went through but how do i check?

** just tried to enable the sata controller mode to ahci but i get a blue screen when windows loads and it restarts?
 
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trisonetwo said:
quick question about the m4 - updated to 009 firmware but crystaldiskmark is giving me back readings of 415mbs (seq) - shouldnt it be much higher?

i assume the 009 firmware went through but how do i check?

** just tried to enable the sata controller mode to ahci but i get a blue screen when windows loads and it restarts?
Click to expand...

How To Find Your Firmware Revision in Windows:

1) Click on the Start menu
2) Open Control panel> System> Hardware
3) Select device manager
4) Expand disk drives
5) Right click on the drive and select properties
6) Select details tab > select 'hardware lds' from the drop down menu and the firmware version will be displayed.

Also, switching to AHCI after windows is already installed will cause it to crash. Here is a work around....

1. Switch back from AHCI to the previous mode, and boot windows.
2. Startup "Regedit"
3. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlset/Services
4. Open "msahci"
5. In the right-hand field, left click on "start" and go to Modify
6. In the value Data field enter "0" and click "ok"
7. exit Regedit
8. Reboot your computer and enter the BIOS
9. Switch to AHCI again.

Now Win7 should recognize AHCI and install the appropriate devices and drivers, once this is complete reboot again and you're good to go.

Also of final note, make sure you have your SSD plugged into the Intel controller on your motherboard.
 
I've also got the 128gb, been a few weeks and not got around to building the i2500k system yet but been meaning to :)

anyway when I do come to install windows on it I was wondering if I had to format it first or anything(like with hard disks), don't know where I heard/read it but was something about not formating ssds as it can damage them/shorten their life span.
 
Well it landed today and all seems to have gone OK!

Can someone have a quick look to see if the following CrystalDiskMark test results look about right??

crystaldiskmarktest.jpg


Not really sure what I'm looking at tbh!
 
Glad someone asked this...

I got my 128GB M4 yesterday. I tried installing Windows7 64bit Professional SP1 and it complained about CD/DVD Drive drivers. (it actually meant the Intel AHCI drivers I believe)

I browsed to them from the Motherboard CD and found the driver but it failed to install.

So I was unable to proceed any further.

Not sure what to do now?
 
StevieP said:
Well it landed today and all seems to have gone OK!

Can someone have a quick look to see if the following CrystalDiskMark test results look about right??

crystaldiskmarktest.jpg


Not really sure what I'm looking at tbh!
Click to expand...

How does the performance feel? Was it worth the benefit?
 
DragonQ said:
1) Unplug all other HDDs and plug SSD into optimal port (usually port 0, make sure it's an AMD/Intel SATA 6 Gbps port and not a Marvell one).
2) Install firmware update (see Crucial forums for instructions).
3) Install Windows to empty drive (do NOT partition or format).
4) Run Windows Experience Index (this will disable defrag for the SSD only).
5) Re-attach HDDs.
Click to expand...

My 256GB M4 arrived yesterday afternoon, I did exactly as above (it was on 002 firmware) and the install was flawless. Even on the Intel SATA2 controller on my X58 board its an order of magnitude faster than my previous mech HDD. The windows install only seemed to take about 12 minutes, and the subsequent patching from windows update site was also really fast. I'm going to install a few games this evening and have some fun with it. So far though I'm very pleased, I just hope now that its as reliable as my mech drives have been.
 
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