Installing OS on my first SSD, any tips?

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Soldato
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Hi all,

Just abouts to install Win7 on my new SSD which arrived this morn.

Any advice before doing so? I'm sure I read somewhere that someone said SATA mode must be set to AHCI or something? This ? Anything else?
 
Admiral Huddy said:
Just set the the mode from IDE to AHCI in the bios, then install like you would any other OS. Trim is enabled automatically and so to are the driver. There's really nothing to do.

You can install the Intel RST drivers if you wish,but the standard drivers are just as good.
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/chpsts/imsm
Click to expand...

thanks, in my bios (GA-X58UD3R mobo) I have

ICH SATA Control Mode
eSATA Ctrl Mode

and a couple of other Ctrl Modes (GSATA 6_7 etc.)

Is it just the ICH SATA Control Mode I need to change to AHCI or shall i change everything where I can to AHCI. Cheers!

edit - nvm I've just set 6-7 which is the SATA 3 port to AHCI and the ICH SATA control mode to AHCI as well, here's hoping for a smooth install!

Unfortunately have lost my USB Pen drive and couldnt be bothered installing off my USB drive as I've have had to take everything off it and then put it back on so installing via CD but hopefully this should be a bit of a faster install than I've tried in the past!
 
Last edited:
Looks fine to me :)

You can check afterwards:

1. Start> run > type "Regedit" press enter..
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services /msahci
3. Open msahci
4. check the value:

Value 3 = off
Value 0 = on

5. exit "Regedit"

If it's off, then go back to the hive and change the setting to 0 manually as above (use the right click and modify), save and then reboot changing the BIOS entry to AHCI as approriate.

To check TRIM is enbled:

Start> run > type cmd press enter then type

fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify
press enter

Value 1 = off
Value 0 = on

If AHCI and TRIM are enabled - you're good :)
 
I just put my ssd in and installed windows on it without doing anything, did i do something wrong?
 
The most important things to do pre-installation of Windows are:

1) Set the SATA mode in the BIOS to AHCI. This will depend on which controller you're using, Intel SATA 2 or Marvell SATA3. The Marvell SATA 3 is a bit naff but may be better than Intel SATA 2.

2) Disconnect all other SSDs and HDDs .
 
Surveyor said:
The most important things to do pre-installation of Windows are:

1) Set the SATA mode in the BIOS to AHCI. This will depend on which controller you're using, Intel SATA 2 or Marvell SATA3. The Marvell SATA 3 is a bit naff but may be better than Intel SATA 2.

2) Disconnect all other SSDs and HDDs .
Click to expand...

When i do this i get a blue screen and my pc reboots, its currently set to IDE and the options i get are IDE / RAID / AHSI
 
a66as said:
When i do this i get a blue screen and my pc reboots, its currently set to IDE and the options i get are IDE / RAID / AHSI
Click to expand...

Sorry, my post was directed at the OP doing a fresh installation.

Switch back to IDE mode then follow this:

A little guide:

I am receiving a lot of emails from users who bought a SSD drive, installed Windows 7 in IDE mode and then realize they need AHCI mode for faster SSD performance. Once you enable that in the BIOS during Windows 7 boot up, the OS will crash.

The common question is, is there a solve for this ?

To answer that question (and I do this safely with all Intel ICHR9/10 chipsets) there is a way to safely enable AHCI mode. Here we go:

1. Startup "Regedit
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
3. Open msahci
4. In the right field left click on "start" and go to Modify
5. In the value Data field enter "0" and click "ok"
6. exit "Regedit"

We have not tested this on Vista though.
Click to expand...

Once you've done that then restart the PC, go straight back into the BIOS, switch to AHCI mode, save the changes and let the PC restart.

Hopefully you'll be in AHCI mode.

If it doesn't work then just switch back to IDE again and run this:

http://windows7themes.net/download/registry/enable-ahci-windows7.reg

Again once you've done that then restart the PC, go straight back into the BIOS, switch to AHCI mode, save the changes and let the PC restart.

Assuming it works then you might want to install this.
 
Last edited:
Surveyor said:
Sorry, my post was directed at the OP doing a fresh installation.

Switch back to IDE mode then follow this:



Once you've done that then restart the PC, go straight back into the BIOS, switch to AHCI mode, save the changes and let the PC restart.

Hopefully you'll be in AHCI mode.

If it doesn't work then just switch back to IDE again and run this:

http://windows7themes.net/download/registry/enable-ahci-windows7.reg

Again once you've done that then restart the PC, go straight back into the BIOS, switch to AHCI mode, save the changes and let the PC restart.

Assuming it works, and you're using an Intel chipset, then you might want to install this.
Click to expand...

That fixed it, a lot faster now. Thanks for your help was beginning to wonder if my new purchase was worth it!
 
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