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

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14 Apr 2011
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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.
 
Unplug all HDD's so the SSD is the only drive plugged in, set AHCI in bios and install Windows 7. By unplugging all other HDD's you guarantee all the windows boot files will be on the SSD.
 
By unplugging all other HDD's you guarantee all the windows boot files will be on the SSD.

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

I have no idea what that means :(

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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Copy the files from the dvd disk that came with the mobo or download from asrock site.

think its the intel Rapid storage driver you need.

The install may pick the driver up automatically - the usb file is for the chance it doesnt

It should tell you in the manual how to do the install.

Leave the other drives where they are.

Easiest way is to only plug in the ssd and the dvd drive and try installing it as stated earlier in the thread. Set bvios to ahci for both HDD controllers and start the install. If it cant find the driver try pointing the install to the dvd drive with the os disk in it. Failing this the usb method should suffice
 
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