Windows 7: Help with SSD install

I have just installed a new SSD and I'm looking for instructions on what to do next. I have two other HDD's in the computer one of which is the current "C" drive with the OS and all of the programs installed on it. The new SSD has been initialized by windows, but it is still unallocated space. This will be my first time moving the OS and the progams, so specific instructions would really be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott,

I just got an SSD as well. My first step was to set bios to AHCI (to get full speeds, etc from the SSD). After that, I did a fresh install of Windows 7 on to the SSD. I still have my 2 other HD's hooked up and use them as storage. I might reformat them to remove all the installed programs. All the programs will have to be installed on your SSD, if you decide to go that route.

Depending on your motherboard, it shouldn't be too hard to set all SATA drives as AHCI.

Also, what type of SSD is it? Don't forget to turn off system restore to save yourself some space on your SSD too.

Bill

Thanks Bill,

I bought an OCZ Vertex2 60G drive. I have already enabled AHCI in the BIOS, but I'm a little confused about doing the fresh install on the SSD. Do I need to change the boot order in the BIOS before I do the install? Can I turn off system restore during the install process? How do I remove the OS from the current drive and/or prevent the windows.old folder? I have read about the windows.old folder on this forum, but I'm not familiar with it. Thanks again for the help, I'm new at this.

I would plan on doing a fresh install of Windows and all applications to the SSD.

I am assuming you have a traditional Windows 7 installation disc.

I'd disconnect my current drive and set the BIOS to boot from DVD drive first and then boot from your Windows install disc.

Windows 7 is smart enough to recognize that you are trying to put it on an SSD drive and will automatically adjust certain settings.

I'd keep system restore unless I had severe space issues. You can always get rid of it later. No, you would not turn it off during install. Do that later or not at all.

Some people turn off drive indexing on the SSD after a Windows install.

You might get rid of your hiberation file if you don't use hibernation. That saves considerable space.

Many of the changes people make because of SSDs are really designed to save space on the drive, but you may not have any space issues and so would not have to make those adjustments.

A 60 GB drive is certainly plenty big enough for Windows, but I don't know if you plan on keeping personal data on the SSD as well. If not, you would then use your old drive for that purpose I guess.

I can't think of a reason why you would want to leave your current drive connected during the install. Leave it out and after you are operating well with the SSD, you can reconnect it and get your personal files from it.