AHCI is apparently important for function and performance with SSDs, IDE is antiquated and probably shouldn't be used ever any more. The most important thing with SSDs I've read is to turn off defragmentation and use the TRIM command tool.
As a final note:
The Digital River DVD for Windows 7 is bootable, and the screen that Bare Foot Kid posted HERE appears.
You might want to look at this Wikipedia article: Advanced Host Controller Interface.
Me, I leave my sata drives on IDE mode, because if I have them set to AHCI, then for some obscure reason, they show up on the "Safe To Remove Hardware" icon in the system try, as though they where removable drives. Which technically they are, because SATA exists to allow to hot-plugging of hard drives. And with 10 hard disks installed, the "Safely Remove Hardware" menu can become a little cluttered, so by leaving my hard disks on IDE mode, I can at least clean-up said list.
Hello Casey.
Have a look at this tutorial at the link below.
AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista
Good to see that, you're just about ready eh.
The TRIM function is enabled by default in Windows 7 for SSDs that comply with the standard.
Did you notice I replaced the link in post #5 with the correct one, sorry 'bout that?
The Digital River install media is a standard retail Win7 installer.
They are all alike - only the Product key determines the version and whether it's retail or factory OEM.
Whew! I think I am ready...so I can change from IDE to AHCI without having to erase the OS from the SSD drive and starting all over...this stuff boggles my mind sometimes lol. The TRIM thing has thrown me for a loop. What is TRIM? What differance will I notice having AHCI instead of IDE? Just curious.
Casey
ps. + rep to you Ted!
Last edited by Case1; 19 Nov 2010 at 01:50. Reason: correction
Hello again,
Things have gone well, and I now have everything running smoothly. But there's still a question I have.
1) I'm having a hard time understanding what's going on with the simple volumes, and primary partitions. The primary partition is my SSD, it contains Windows 7. My question revolves around the WD HDD simple volumes. After reformatting the hard drive completely (I just used disk management this time), it showed up as something like 466GB primary partition and 13.6GB unallocated. I moved the page file to the 466GB primary partition. Curious with the unallocated part, I chose to Expand the 466GB partition, some stupid error came up, and changed it to a simple volume. I then also changed the unallocated part to a simple volume. For some reason as well, the page file made its own little volume. Anyways, how is my set up going to effect me, and is there a better way to format it for better performance?
Thanks!
Last edited by TheHighRoad; 21 Nov 2010 at 22:00.
You won't really be wanting a dynamic disk - complicates backup and restore process.
Change it back to basic disk if you have an app. that can do it.
No free ones currently available for that.
The earlier version Partition Wizard 4.2 could do it - if you can find that - you are in business.
Hello,
I did manage to locate Partition Wizard 4.2.2 and attempted to convert my dynamic disk to a basic partition. Here is what I get:
"...MiniTool Partition Wizard cannot convert any dynamic volume type except the simple or mirrored volume."
Yet, I am certain my drive is a simple volume as you can see on my screenshot. Any ideas?
I would move the data off the Dynamic Disk, delete the page file or move it to Win7.
Then convert it back to Basic: Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk
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