XP Pro 64 bit on SSD

Hamster

Hamster

Hamster

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Currently I have a dual boot setup with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit on my SSD and Windows XP 64 bit on a separate mechanical drive. To change between the two, I go into BIOS, change the primary boot device and AHCI is changed to IDE (I have several mechanical storage drives in my system). I am quite happy doing this and do not want XP and Win7 to share a physical drive.

I was thinking of picking up a cheap SSD to replace the mechanical drive that XP sits on to make things run a bit faster.

I understand that TRIM function will not work under XP. Are there any potential issues to be aware of?

Main components of my system are:
i7 2600k, Asrock Z68 Extreme7, Samsung 840 Pro SSD, several WD Black 2TB storage drives, 16GB RAM.

I wasn't exactly sure whether the hard drive subform would be more appropriate for this so mods, feel free to move this there if you wish :)
 
Off the top of my head but I've just woke up and having a cuppa before getting ready for work. :(

Drive/partition offset - seem to remember you have to use diskpart or something to set the offset or you don't get all the performance.

Defrag - turn of any scheduled defrags, though can't remember if XP has a scheduled one out of the box?

Services - I'm probably thinking of Vista but there where some services with that that needed disabling, like readyboost type stuff. But not sure there are any with XP.

TBH you're probably best googling for a proper guide but you want to avoid it running things that will 'thrash' the drive unnecessarily, things that will just shorten the life of the SSD and not really add performance as they where designed to speed up access on mechanical drives.
 
Thanks :) Looks like there are quite a few settings that need changing to get things running well and prolong the life of the SSD! Disabling/preventing defrag was the only thing i thought of so thanks for making me think about offset and other services :)

I've had a little google and came across some more tips here but I'm sure there will be other things that need doing.

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?43460-Making-XP-pro-SSD-friendly

Given that a lot of settings need to be changed, I am wondering whether I will see a whole lot of benefit with the SSD. If someone has done this themselves and can let me know if it's worth the effort, please let me know :)
 
Is there a valid reason for keeping xp64?

You could run it in a vm if it's just for testing purposes.
 
Yes. Unfortunately a few bits of old software that I use won't play nicely in Win7 and XP is the only real option for those. VM mode within Win7 hasn't got them up and running.
 
What is the software as Vista64 onwards have better support than XP64 ever did from MS or anyone, drivers or such.
 
Hamster said:
Yes. Unfortunately a few bits of old software that I use won't play nicely in Win7 and XP is the only real option for those. VM mode within Win7 hasn't got them up and running.
Click to expand...

By VM mode do you mean when you set it to run in Win XP compatibility mode or do you mean you've tried them on an actual VM running under Win 7?
 
tom_e said:
By VM mode do you mean when you set it to run in Win XP compatibility mode or do you mean you've tried them on an actual VM running under Win 7?
Click to expand...

No, you can get a totally free Virtual copy of XP (may need a legit XP license cannot remember its that long ago) that runs like a program inside Win7 and either with or without support CPU Virtualization support.
 
jh30uk said:
No, you can get a totally free Virtual copy of XP (may need a legit XP license cannot remember its that long ago) that runs like a program inside Win7 and either with or without support CPU Virtualization support.
Click to expand...

:confused: ok but the question wasn't aimed at you.
 
tom_e said:
By VM mode do you mean when you set it to run in Win XP compatibility mode or do you mean you've tried them on an actual VM running under Win 7?
Click to expand...

I may have been mistaken when I said VM. I was trying Windows Virtual PC in Windows XP mode. I take it they're not the same(?)
 
There are a few SSD brands that have utilities that perform a manual TRIM on demand function, such as Intel Toolbox and Samsung Magician. Might be more, but don't know of them.

Some drives have more pro-active clean-up abilities in their firmware to make up for lack of tools.

To avoid having to change AHCI to IDE mode in BIOS you could add AHCI drivers to XP. Either providing a them during the installation when press F6 (or some other F key) or by making a new CD with them integrate. Might be able to add them to existing install.
 
Hamster said:
Given that a lot of settings need to be changed, I am wondering whether I will see a whole lot of benefit with the SSD. If someone has done this themselves and can let me know if it's worth the effort, please let me know :)
Click to expand...

As above you probably want to look at getting off it or virtualise it some way but yes, you should still see a speed boost over a mechanical HDD. You may waste a few hours installing XP and tweaking it but you should always be able to just go back to the HDD install if it turns out to be a pain or not worth it and then just install programs, move your profile etc to the SSD and get a bit of benefit that way.

Just make sure the HDD is disconnected when you try the install to SSD, that way you know it will be safe to roll back to.
 
Thanks Bane, chaosophy :)
I'll have a look at what's needed. I don't mind a bit of tweaking but I think i need to read up on how much needs changing in XP to get it trouble free with XP. Then i'll make a decision on whether it's worth doing.
 
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