A few questions for setting up my new SSD

see comments in bold

JohnnyScience said:

But if I do a clean install, isn't there a way to transfer programs/files over if my old HDD will become a slave once I plug it back in after getting the new SSD installed & running?

Files yes, programs no. All you need to do is plug the old drive back in after Window is working good on the SSD and drag your personal files to the SSD as necessary. You don't need any additional tools to do this. Don't forget about your email and browser bookmarks.

You will need to reinstall your programs.


So even though I will disconnect all other drive, the SSD won't set itself up as C drive?

The SSD will be C.

I can still change this later on in disk format if it doesn't correct?

Change what? The Windows partition will be C. If you want to assign certain drive letters to your other partitions, you can do that in Windows Disk Management.

Also I would like to add a partition for quick & easy disc restore, any suggestions on how to do that when setting up the SSD? Or should I just not partition it & keep the CD? (i have a book of CDs for the computer anyways)

You don't need to "add a partition for quick & easy disc restore".

Use an imaging application such as Macrium to make an image file of both C and the "system reserved" partition on the SSD. Store that image file anywhere you want OTHER THAN the SSD--such as on your regular hard drive. Just put those image files in a standard folder like any other file. If you have a backup plan in place, I'd back up the image files to your backup drive, wherever it may be.

You MUST make a bootable "recovery" disk in Macrium to boot from if your existing Windows installation needs to be replaced. If it will not boot, you are toast. So test it.

"keep the CD"? Not sure what you mean, but yes, keep the burned DVD you make from that Digital River download.

In the worst case scenario, your SSD drops dead, you buy a new one, and try to restore Windows using your Macrium image files. That fails for unknown reasons. You then go to Plan B, which is to reinstall from the Digital River burned disc, just like you are about to do now.

Macrium is a fine application, but not infallible, so don't get yourself in a situation where you don't have the Plan B.

Ok I'll give Magician a go.

For whatever reason I can no longer put the computer into Sleep mode, only Hibernate.

Any idea what caused this?

What I install on the new SSD, what is the situation with it & Sleep? Because I would really like to use this feature again.

So I'm not using the new SSD with the Win7 64 install. Everything installed properly, but during installation it asked me for the Key code which I entered & I know it is the correct key code, it is telling me it's invalid?

What can/should I do?

So now should the next thing be to install Magician & really customize the SSD and then work on getting the all of the drivers installed for the difference cards/usb dongles etc I have & then the programs downloaded again?

Also Magician is telling me taht AHCI is disabled for one or more connected SSDS & system must boot in AHCI mode for best performance. What is this & how do I enable it for best performance?

I already set Magician to "Maximum Performance" under the OS Optimization tab & restarted but still getting this error?

I've attached a screen shot of the first Performance Test run in Magician. What do you guys think?

JohnnyScience said:

Ok I'll give Magician a go.

For whatever reason I can no longer put the computer into Sleep mode, only Hibernate.

Any idea what caused this?

What I install on the new SSD, what is the situation with it & Sleep? Because I would really like to use this feature again.

Did you read my reply to you earlier in this thread?

JohnnyScience said:

So I'm not using the new SSD with the Win7 64 install. Everything installed properly, but during installation it asked me for the Key code which I entered & I know it is the correct key code, it is telling me it's invalid?

What can/should I do?

You should not be particularly concerned with Magician right now. It's the least of your problems.

You should devote your time to getting your Windows licensing straightened out and once that is done, going to Windows Update to get necessary drivers and updates.

Ok so where do I try to re-enter the license key? Any idea why it wouldn't work? I'm 100% positive it's the right key.

JohnnyScience said:

I'm 100% positive it's the right key.

Positive has several definitions.

Ambrose Bierce's dictionary has this definition:


POSITIVE, adj. Mistaken at the top of one's voice.

So, you need to tell us why you are positive. We know absolutely nothing about your key--you haven't provided any information about it.

Ok I found where to activate it & tried & here is the answer as to why, I'm totally baffled, this was my original Key code, what do I do now?

Hmm, I'm looking at my original install CD that I got when it first came out & it says Windows 7 Professional...

Should I try re-installing using that CD?

I have never had issues with it in the past at any point like this.

Suggestions?