I currently have my OS (win.7 hp 64bit) installed on a Samsung 500gb HDD and I just bought a Corsair 64gb SSD to use as my boot drive. What I am wondering is, what is the best way to re-install my OS on the new drive? This is my first time working with an SSD and I am not sure what to do about my existing OS. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason
hi there :)
for a quick install if you have windows installation disc unplug all disc drives from the board plug just the ssd in and install windows as normal. or do you want to clone existing drive to the ssd? i don't recommend a clone. a fresh install is best because windows will recognize its a ssd and adjust install accordingly.
Remember do not run a disk defragmenter on a SSD. It can shorten it's life span.
see brinks tutorial How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7Clean Install Windows 7
Last edited by brianzion; 22 Mar 2011 at 10:52.
how much data do you have on the existing drive now? it would be advisable to try and save all important files you want to keep on to a external drive before anything so when you are up and running with the ssd you can reformat the samsung drive getting rid of all the data then moving all your saved files from external drive to the samsung and use the samsung drive for your main downloads/ files etc and just use the ssd for the operating system thus this will keep the ssd seperate you can make your own file system with explorer on the samsung drive. (ssd run operating systems just fine. i run linux kubuntu on my ssd and it runs great)
Thanks for the quick reply. I wasn't planning to clone my current OS. Just seems simpler to reinstall using the install disc. I don't really have much data on the Samsung drive (whole system is new) so erasing the drive is no problem, except for the fact that I am unsure how to make that happen. Once I have OS installed on the SSD, and have the HDD blank, how do I set it up so that nothing else is written to the SSD?
Again, thanks for the reply and the help!!
windows will install operating system to the ssd and will need to use it for important files (page file hibernate file etc.) but the majority of files can be moved have a read of this tutorial by brink >>> How to Change the Default Location of Windows 7 User Folders >>> User Folders - Change Default Location
Tips for getting a perfect reinstall - use the ones which apply: Reinstalling Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums
ok I have a question, if I have an SSD with an OS (windows 7 ultimate, not sure what it is X64 I believe) and wipe that clean then just reinstall, or will windows treat it differently and just bork up my SSD (a 32GB SSD drive that already has win7 non it but no longer needed for old machine it was in)
You can reinstall to an SSD just like a HDD.
If you have a retail (not OEM) license for Ultimate you can move SSD to the new machine by Sysprepping it on the old hardware so it will start up to install all new drivers, be reactivated on the new hardware: Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer
Ok everyone. I really appreciate all of the help. I am new at this and all of your advice is invaluable to me. I will get to work on the install this Friday morning and hopefully by the weekend I am up and running. Thanks again!!
Jason
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