Installing OS on new SSD, noob questions.

Medic-one · 15 Nov 2012 at 09:43

I'm about to buy my first SSD, and am going for that Crucial M4 256 GB SATA 6Gb/s version (CT256M4SSD2).

At the moment i have my OS (win 7) installed on a old 320 GB Harddrive, which i want to format and use for other stuff afterwards.

I want the 256 GH split in 2 partions, 1 for windows 7 and program files, and one for a few games. How big should i choose the win7 partion to be ?

Reading the customer reviews on here for that drive i see comments like "just bought this one flashed the firmware to 000f with ease" and "Crucial have now released 0009 firmware that increases read speeds up to 530mb".

Could anyone help me with a noob guide on how to start off please.

Please edit/change/advice on the following :

- plug in SSD with sata cables.
- start up.
- Go into bios to check version of SSD ?
- Flash SSD to latest version ? (no idea how to).
- Format SSD ? (and in which option/mode)
- Enable Trim ? (not sure where/how)
- Ensure Bios is in AHCI mode ?
- Start windows
- Create 2 partions on SSD (games and OS)
- Restart pc with win7 dvd
- install win7 on SSD
- Change SSD to first boot in bios.
- start windows
- format old 320 GB which used to have win7 on it.

Is that about right or am i missing important bits ?

Also read something about disconnecting any other hard drives before installing Windows on the SSD minimizing the possibility of having the boot partition on the wrong drive ?

And just read this "ssd-optimization-guide" online, i take it i do all those steps before i install my OS ?

And finally, at the moment i have an old Asus P5B mainboard, but for xmas i'm getting myself a new mainboard/cpu/memory/gpu/psu bundle and will probably have a Gigabyte Z77X-D3H mainboard then.

Does it matter at all, or effect anything if i do the SSD install on my old mainboard next week, and then swap to new mainboard next month, or would it be better to wait untill i have all the new hardware, and then install OS on new SSD ?

Medic-one · 15 Nov 2012 at 15:18

Cheers People!

eddyr said:
I personally would wait till you have the board you intend to use longterm, unless you don't mind reinstalling. I've read of succesful OS transfers to other mobo's but theres no guarantee it will be problem free.

What kind of problems could arrise then ?

On the one hand i did think of waiting till i've got everything complete, but on the other hand i'm an impatient ******* and as one of the components is gonna be an xmas present from the wife i won't be allowed it "play with it" untill i actually receive it from her at xmas which is basically 1.5 month away still...

Medic-one · 15 Nov 2012 at 16:59

Mmm crap. Guess i'll beter wait untill i've got all the new components then and just do everything at once.

Medic-one · 16 Nov 2012 at 11:27

Are there gonna be any problems with my current harddrive/OS once i set all new components up ?

It's gonna be a new PSU, mainboard with CPU and cooler, memory, and GFU.

I've got a few harddrives, but i take it best with be to only attached the one with the OS and the new SSD first, so the new system can boot from the HD, and then i can do a clean install on the SSD ?

Medic-one · 18 Nov 2012 at 16:59

So best way is

- put all new hardware (mainboard, gpu, etc) together.
- only connect new SSD
- when starting go straight into bios (of new mainboard) to check AHCI is activated.
- insert windows dvd.
- install windows onto new SSD

Right ?

How bout that SSD optimization, like disabling System Restore, drive indexing, and disk defragmentation schedule and turning off pagefile and hibernation ?
(all from this website http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-2/3/)

Can i do all that after i've installed win7 on a partition of the new SSD, or does that need to happen before the win install and/or before i split it into 2 partitions ?

Medic-one · 19 Nov 2012 at 12:10

Cheers folks. What does the pagefile do precisely, is that for when it goes **** up and you can recover your data?

How will it work though if i chose to create a partion for windows during it's install, so i'll have another unused partition (for games) and then afterwards (after the win install) i want to change all those settings (System Restore, drive indexing etc) will that apply to both drives (both partitions of the SSD) or would i need to do it seperately for both ?

Medic-one · 14 Dec 2012 at 11:19

Decided to go for the 256 GB Samsung 840 Pro now, instead of the crucial one, which will be part of "the great upgrade" consisting of :

- Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz
- Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77
- TeamGroup Elite 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel
- Xigmatek Aegir SD 128264 CPU Cooler
- Corsair TX650 PSU
- MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III OC V2 3072MB
- LG BH10LS38 Blue ray burner

I take it though that the same steps still apply after i've put it all together,

- Connect only new SSD (and blue ray player)
- once booted go straight into bios and set storage conroller to AHCI.
- reboot, and insert windows 7 dvd
- install win 7 from disc.

When doing that new win 7 install, will i be given the option to create a partition ?

And after windows is installed i can do those bits from the SSD optimization guide, or does that need doing before installing windows ?