New rig...SSD installation advice.

max76249 · 25 Jul 2011 at 22:32

Hey guys, quick questions but I really don't want to make a mistake. I've been told I have to do something special when using a new SSD as a boot drive, could you explain please?

Philtor · 25 Jul 2011 at 22:37

Enable AHCI in the BIOS first, then disconnect any HDD's you have and install Windows. Don't partition the SSD (just hit next at the install/format screen) and once installed run the Windows experience index assessment.

max76249 · 25 Jul 2011 at 22:43

Thanks for the quick response. It may sound stupid...but how do I enable AHCI, and is there a particular SATA slot for the SSD?

Philtor · 25 Jul 2011 at 23:28

Hit the Del key straight after turning on your PC to enter the BIOS setup and look for anything relating to 'ATA/IDE Configuration' as it's called with my Asus board. It may already be set to AHCI but if not change it and then save and exit. You should use the first SATA port to connect your SSD up to. On mine it's on SATA port 1 whilst the HDD and DVD Burner are on ports 3 and 4.

David2655 · 26 Jul 2011 at 07:39

What does AHCI stand for/actually do? gonna do my first build with a SSD boot drive soon.

thewanted · 26 Jul 2011 at 08:06

Apologies for the hijack, but if I take my Intel SSD out of my MacBook and place it in my Windows 7 PC, should I do anything to it first?

Wipe it with zeroes or just install Windows 7 normally?

Philtor · 26 Jul 2011 at 09:58

David2655 said:
What does AHCI stand for/actually do? gonna do my first build with a SSD boot drive soon.

Advanced Host Controller Interface. It enables the SSD to perform a good bit faster than under the old IDE mode standard basically.

Philtor · 26 Jul 2011 at 10:02

thewanted said:
if I take my Intel SSD out of my MacBook and place it in my Windows 7 PC, should I do anything to it first?

Wipe it with zeroes or just install Windows 7 normally?

You want to use HDDErase and perform a secure erase on the drive. There's a version for Intel drives if you Google it (on my phone or I would link you

)

DragonQ · 26 Jul 2011 at 10:29

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=19641294&postcount=2

thewanted · 26 Jul 2011 at 12:45

philtorrens said:
You want to use HDDErase and perform a secure erase on the drive. There's a version for Intel drives if you Google it (on my phone or I would link you )

Thanks mate

sunlitsix · 26 Jul 2011 at 18:28

So these Intel RST drivers can be installed on any chipset/SSD?

max76249 · 27 Jul 2011 at 08:54

Thanks for the hijack =P
So the SSD is installed as said, but now I've tried to reconnect my HDD, Windows doesn't recognise it (it's not there in 'Computer' menu). What to do?
One last thing, should drivers be installed on the SSD of the HDD (when I get it working)?

Philtor · 28 Jul 2011 at 00:30

Go into disk management and initialise it.