Windows 7 - Quick or Full Format for new Intel Series-320

garuda · 09-17-2011

Just received my two new Intel 320-Series and want to put them in one of my Sager notebooks, which already has an x25-m 160 boot drive. I did the v.1.92 f/w update successfully.

I want to use the two Series-320s for user data files only, not O/S boot drive. So do you recommend a “quick” or “full” format? Does it matter which? Does “full” still check sectors on a new empty SSD?

Any special concerns or advice with these series-320 SSDs since they won’t be the boot HDD? I’m a bit rusty on the SSDs since I haven’t kept up with the new SSD particulars since my initial install of my X25-m boot drives a year ago. Thanks for any advice/comments for the 320s!
garuda

pparks1 · 09-17-2011

I don't full format anything these days.

GeneO · 09-17-2011

Don't full format an SSD, do a quick format.

Kipper · 09-17-2011

You really want to be careful on alignment of your SSD drives.

I am linking to a good friend of mine, she is one of the most knowledgeable reviewers of SSD drives to be found. Read this information here and she links to a program for setting the alignment to ensure the longevity of your new drives.

Dee's SSD Facts and Questions

karlsnooks · 09-18-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by garuda

Just received my two new Intel 320-Series and want to put them in one of my Sager notebooks, which already has an x25-m 160 boot drive. I did the v.1.92 f/w update successfully.

I want to use the two Series-320s for user data files only, not O/S boot drive. So do you recommend a “quick” or “full” format? Does it matter which? Does “full” still check sectors on a new empty SSD?

Any special concerns or advice with these series-320 SSDs since they won’t be the boot HDD? I’m a bit rusty on the SSDs since I haven’t kept up with the new SSD particulars since my initial install of my X25-m boot drives a year ago. Thanks for any advice/comments for the 320s!
garuda

First don't sweat all of the advice you get on SSDs. Win 7 correctly handles SSDs. There are some other will known operating systems out there which do not.

2nd, I always peform a full format on a new drive. If the mfg has done his job, then this step is overkill, but that isn't always the case and QC does not 100% test.

3rd. Win 7 is not going to try and defrag your SSDs since that is not pertinent to a non-sequential storage media such as a SSD. Win 7 is rather smart.

pparks1 · 09-18-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by karlsnooks

2nd, I always peform a full format on a new drive. If the mfg has done his job, then this step is overkill, but that isn't always the case and QC does not 100% test.

I would agree it's overkill. I've likely installed at least 200 hard drives in work computers and never once performed a full format and things have been just fine.

essenbe · 09-18-2011

I have 4 SSDs and have never run a full format on one, and have never had a problem with one. I create an aligned partition with diskpart and install the OS.

Kipper · 09-18-2011

As essenbe says

I have 7 or 8 internal SSDs with 4 or 5 of them running 24/7 and have never formatted any of them Quick or Full.

Diskpart or Gparted are your friends and Windows 7 does a dam fine job of keeping the SSD working great.

garuda · 09-19-2011

Thanks again, guys!

garuda · 09-23-2011

Preparation of Series-320 drives for use as "file storage" drives instead of using as "O/S installed on boot SSD.
Thanks to all here and whs for your input in helping me with my new Series 320 drives. Since there were several opinions expressed on this thread, I decided to do a bit more research and try a few options --- only because whenever the documentation touted that Windows 7 would auto-align and therefore formatting was unnecessary, this statement seemed always in the context of Windows 7 being installed on a boot SSD (C-drive).

However, I wasn't certain if the same applied when the SSD was to be used as only a "user file storage" drive instead of boot drive. I suspiciously reasoned, that without any interface with Windows 7 (by either formatting or installing O/S), how could the SSD know how to offset for proper alignment.

I will share what I learned from my experience which might help novices (like myself) facing the same situation. First, I updated to firmware ver. 1.9.2. (Even the latest new Series320s have only old F/W 0302 installed on it). Then "initialized" SSD in Windows 7's Computer Management window. (ORB > Control Panel > Sys& Sec > Admin Tools > Computer Mgmt > Disk Mgmt). Then from my experience, two options are available to achieve both "Basic/Simple Volume" and "1024 Offset (or something divisible by 4).

Opt#1: right-click unallocated SSD box in Computer Mgmt panel, select "Simple Volume" and follow the Wizard's dialog sequence and select "Quick Format" (all default values will work).

Opt#2: follow the " SSD Alignment" tutorial by poster WHS, except ignore the "ACTIVE" command for Diskpart when ONLY wanting to prep the drive for "file storage" and not O/S install. Thanks whs!

ie. furnished by whs:
Diskpart (enter)
List disk (enter)
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your SSD in List disk)(enter)
Create partition primary align=1024 (enter)
Exit (enter)

Since I had two drives, I tried both methods out of curiosity; they both worked for me. My numbers are reflected below in the screenshot jpg -- using the Verification procedure by whs. I also include the "data transfer rate" when I copied the old spin HDD to the new SSD. If any of the seasoned veterans see a error with any of these numbers or cares to comment, please reply.

Windows 7 - Quick or Full Format for new Intel Series-320

Quick or Full Format for new Intel Series-320 problems?