Need help installing Windows 7 on an SSD on a new system.

Anesthetize · 15 Jun 2011 at 20:09

Just I got my system build, and now I need to install Windows 7. So before I put the disc in, is there anything I need to do in the bios?

I have a HDD and an SSD installed, so will I need to make sure it knows that the SSD is the drive I want to install it on, or will I just choose the SSD though the installation process?

Also, I'm using a Bios unlike anything I've ever used here. And I barely used the older Bios screen, but it's a z68 motherboard, it's all controlled with the mouse now. It's probably not that new, but this is like space-age for me, so if things need changing, please explain what to go on and what to select etc.

Thanks for any help.

Anesthetize · 15 Jun 2011 at 20:26

vanandjuanunited said:
Enable ahci in bios then boot from dvd

I can do that in two places though. One says:

Marvell SATA3 Operation Mode - and in there I can choose IDE or AHCI. Or there's a part that just says:

SATA Mode - and in there I can select IDE, AHCI and RAID.

Which one do I have to change? Just one? both perhaps?

Anesthetize · 16 Jun 2011 at 10:06

Puppetmaster said:
Depends whether your using the marvell sata ports or the other ones i would guess.

I have no idea what that means

skanky said:
worthy advice this, but not just for SSDs.

generally when i have to install windows on a multi hdd system, everything bar the hard drive i want it installed on is unplugged until its been installed.

So I unplug the HDD, I can do that. But here's another problem, some people say I should have my SSD on SATA port 0. Here are the ports I have available:

SATA3_M1, White <----Got the DVD drive here.
SATA3_M2, White <----Got the SSD here.
SATA3_0, White <-----Got the HDD here.
SATA3_1, White <-----Got the front SATA here for external HDD.
SATA2_2, Blue
SATA2_3, Blue
SATA2_4, Blue
SATA2_5, Blue

And others have mentioned on other forums that you should have the SSD in Port 0 and have the HDD on Port 1, Does that mean, just to be completely clear, that I plug the SSD into SATA3_0, White and the HDD in to SATA3_1, White?

And also, can someone elaborate on the AHCI thing please.

Thanks again.

Anesthetize · 16 Jun 2011 at 10:27

vanandjuanunited said:
Which mobo is it?

Looks like the ssd is on the marvell controller. Assuming m1 and m2 refer to it.

May need to put the ahci driver on a usb drive whichever option you choose

I would probably swap the ssd and hdd over.

ASRock Z68 Extreme4.

How would I put an AHCI driver on a USB drive? And can't I just change some options in the Bios to do this itead?

I can go ahead and change the SSD and HDD to SATA3_0, White and SATA3_1, White respectively (are those the right ports?).

Also, which ports should I then plug the DVD drive and external HDD SATA cables into?

Thanks for the help so far, really appreciate it.