Windows 7: Fresh Install Windows 7 Home 64bit Hybrid SSD

Skill Level: Beginner

System: Dell Inspiron i14z Ultrabook, i3 Core

I first used program called WipeDrive to wipe the entire hard drive. It detected two hard drives, 32GB(I assume its SSD) and the 465GB(HDD?). Formatted both, extracted installation drives for Intel Smart Response Technology on a flash drive, Load the Drivers on Windows Installation Screen, and installed Windows 7 onto the 32GB Hard Drive.

When the installation is done, I open Disk Management, and format and partition the 465GB part of the Hard Drive. So now when I open 'My Computer', it shows two Hard Drives,



Local Disk (C: ) 32GB with 11.8 Free and
Second Drive (E: ) 465GB of 465GB free

Did I do this correctly? I just have a bad feeling I did something incorrect and it should still display 500GB instead of two separate drives... Thanks for your help in advance!

Looks like you didn't install things correctly, if you wish to use the Intel Smart Response technology.

Chipset Software — Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide

I haven't tried it. My own preference is to use a medium-sized SSD (120GB) for the OS and applications, and a spinner for data.

As you see, 32GB will work as an OS drive for Windows 7, but it's a bit small. You could probably continue with your current setup, as long as you made sure to install enough applications to the HD instead of the SSD. (Disabling hibernation would also free up space on the SSD equal to the amount of RAM in your notebook.)

But I do not see RAID Mode; heres what I did:

Press F2 during start up, it loads Aptio Setup Utility - American Megatrends, Inc.
I go to Advanced Tab>SATA Operation

And only choices are:

ATA
AHCI
Intel (R) Smart Response Technology

I do not see any other choices or RAID....

This is all I see:

[IMG]http://**************/image/vbl6dla0x/[/IMG]
http://**************/image/vbl6dla0x/


[IMG]http://**************/image/vbl6dla0x/[/IMG]

Intel Smart Response technology is it.

From the Dell support forums:

Clean Install Windows 7 On Dell Inspiron 14z - Laptop General Hardware Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

Hey,
I think I got it just figured
I was able to get Windows installer to see the 500G drive in ISRT/raid mode AFTER I applied this hint from Ubuntu forums:
ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php
post #3
To clear HDD raid metadata I did:
- boot from Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS x64 Desktop bootable cd (iso to dwnld here: www.ubuntu.com/start-download)
- from terminal run the following commands:
sudo dmraid -E -r /dev/sda (sda = my 500GB
sudo dmraid -E -r /dev/sdb ( sdb = my mSata 32GB, this command turned out not to be necessary)
- reboot your Dell, enter bios, set up ISRT to 'enabled' and sata mode to 'ISRT'
- boot from Windows 7 x64 sp1 installation CD and have your OS see the 500GB disk (surprisingly, on mine there were no additional drivers needed
- install all Dell drivers, and the ISRT driver/soft package at last, then follow the ISRT illustrated guide above
As another experiment, I'm gonna restore original Dell 500G ghost disk image to my computer - after I have cleared raid metadata using dmraid from linux and see if that boots up
..will keep you guys posted on progress
Marek

I don't often create a bootable Linux CD to perform maintenance on a Windows PC, but I've done it.