Few SSD q's

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****NEW questions, post 19****

Just bought a M4. Just about to install, but want to know a few things:

1) I set it to ACHI (or similar spelling).
2) Can I keep my current boot drive as a backup, but still installed?
3) I download a fair bit of programs/ music/ films and dont want it taking chunks of the SSD with it when I delete them, so how I can go about moving the downloads file so its literally just windows on the SSD.

Is there anything else I need to know that Ive missed?
 
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1) Go into the BIOS advanced page, SATA Configuration, and set the "SATA Mode" to "AHCI Mode".
2) Yes, this is fine - just make sure that the SSD is set as the primary boot drive in the BIOS.
3) This really depends on the aplications that you are using - but pretty much any should have an option to change the default download location (you may need to mess around in the options menu a bit to find this option) - and change it to a folder on the mechanical hard drive.

Also, if you have a crucial M4, check what firmware it has (it should say on the box it came on or on a sticker on the SSD itself). If it is firmware version 0009 or earlier then it is strongly recommended to upgrade to firmware version 0309 - as the older firmwares have an issue where after 5200 hours (7 months) of use they start restating you PC every hour. It is best to do it now when there is no important data on the drive. This page (pick the M4 driver option) has the new firmware and a guide on how to install it.
 
Thanks andi, Ive got all the main stuff installed on my current drives, so just tweaking the downloads shouldnt be too difficult (although expect a "filled my SSD rather quickly" thread soon).

Forgot about the firmware, but thanks for reminding me, Im on 0009, so will do that. Can I do that after Ive installed windows, or is it best to do it before?
 
You can upgrade the firmware after you have installed windows (I have done this with the M4 64GB with a Win7 HP install on it), but there is a small risk of bricking the drive when upgrading the firmware (this is covered by warranty) - so if you have already installed windows it is recommended to backup all your important files before doing the firmware upgrade. Hence it is a lot less hassle to do the firmware upgrade before you have had a chance to use the SSD.
 
Another quickie, do I format it the same way as a HDD or is there another SSD way?
By which, is it just clicking next like you would a HDD, or do you have to change a few of the drop downs?


EDIT: Dont worry, hit enter on there instead of FB and it went off :p
 
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Fed up of me yet?

Problem durning install, get to the initial 7 screen where you select language and theres no mouse/ kb. Never happened before with this mouse/kb or whenever Ive installed windows before.
Trying to install off pen, havent got a working optical drive to install from disk.
 
They should work in the USB2 ports using the generic drivers on the windows bootable DVD. You may want to try it with the USB3 ports, honestly not sure it will be any different.

Do you have an older keyboard/mouse you can use, possibly one with a PS/2 connection?

Also, make sure the windows disk is nice and clean.
 
Somethings up, tried my kb and mouse in both USB2 and 3 ports, same with my old KB and mouse. After acidentally removing my USB wireless adapter it blue screened (havent looked into it just yet), it tried booting, got to the splash screen and BS with the same error.
When I updated the firmware, it said that it failed due to boot due to my OC, but my OC has been 24/7 stable for almost 6 months.
Im going to google the problem, but if you have ideas, Id like to hear them :).
 
I would suggest switching the HDD boot priority back to your HDD and try running prime95 or IBT and see if you have any problems. If you don't then it may be something to do with the SSD.
 
My boot priority hasnt changed yet, Ill unplug the SSD now to see if that cures anything, but Im starting to get ****** now.
 
>.< not getting anywhere with this, I think its corrupted my original HDD.
Just unplugged the SSD and going to wipe my current HDD clean the fresh install way. It picks up my mouse and kb (well lights on the kb anyway, where there wasnt before), so Im going to get it running then try and get the SSD working again.
 
When you switch back to the original HDD, you may want to try it in IDE mode (assuming it was previously running in IDE, not AHCI mode).
 
Well what confused me slightly was that it was already in ahci mode before i got to switch it. I painfully had to remove all the hdds and start again, only managed to keep the data on my single 1tb. Got it all working now though. Thanks for the help.
 
Hallo again :)

Got it working, but before I go and download all the relevant folders and files, how do I move the default download files? Say I download VLC it comes up with a box that just says "Save file" or "Cancel". Do I move the downloads file from the SSD to the HDD or is there some technical way that will perm. fix it?
(I use Firefox, so it may be different between browsers)
 
For firefox, click on the orange button at the top left, then select options. When the
"options" box comes up select the "General" tab and look for the section on "Downloads". That bit allows you to control what happens when you download stuff, including chosing a different default download location (ie pick one on the HDD not SDD).
 
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