SSD / Backup - recovery

[whs]

You can either open a Command Prompt from the installation disk ( http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html ) or format the SSD on an other system (e.g. with an enclosure).

 

[stereo]

I installed Windows on my Western Digital HDD.
Everything went perfect. After that, i turned off the pc, switched the SSD into SATA slot. Turn on pc Now i have my both hdd, the SSD is like a normal partition but i CANNOT format it, whatever im doing. It has ( ? ) the volume 46 GB and 100 MB system reserved. Why that ? When i installed Windows on my HDD,20 minutes ago, the SSD was unplugged.
Ok, after that i inserted the windows 7 dvd, reboot ..... Shift and F10, Diskpart
Right now ( i have a laptop now ) i am in Diskpart menu
I have my both HDD, like disk 0 and disk 1, and disk 2 is my SSD
All 3 are ONLINE...and on the right side i see Dyn and Gpt
On my SSD only, on the Gpt, i have a star like this *
Please tell me what to do.
Can i format here the SSD ?
I leave the pc open with this menu ( diskpart )
Thanks

 

[stereo]

Ok, i went back into my OS.
I repeat: is installed now on the HDD not on the SSD.
SSD i like a normal partition. I formated the SSD as NTFS file.
I installed HD Tune, i run the benchmark test, and seems to be okay, no damaged SSD


Transfer rate
Minimum 113.3 MB/sec
Maximum 227.4 MB / sec
Average 220 MB / sec


Acces Time 0.1 ms
Burst Rate 108.4 MB / sec
I checked also the HEALTH status, everything is okay.
Help me, please.
I don´t understand why i cannot install Windows 7.
Please give me some ideas.
Thank you.

 

[essenbe]

When you get to the first screen, do not choose your language. Hold down the shift key and press F10 and you will have a command prompt window. When finished type exit and press enter. Youwill have to do it twice and you will be back at the select language window.

 

[stereo]

When you get to the first screen, do not choose your language. Hold down the shift key and press F10 and you will have a command prompt window. When finished type exit and press enter. Youwill have to do it twice and you will be back at the select language window.

Ye, i understand the part with Shift and F10, but after that, what do i have to type there , before i press exit ?

 

[whs]

The commands to create an aligned partition on the SSD are those: (each followed by Enter)

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your SSD in List disk)
Create partition primary align=1024
Active (assuming you want to install an OS)
Exit

LOL - Steve was 2 seconds faster

 

[essenbe]

I just fixed being faster. After Creating partition if you don't want the 100mb oartition type format fs=ntfs quick then type active EDIT: Also when you install, make sure the SSD is the only disk installed

 

[stereo]

I have good news, guys
As i said before, i installed Windows 7 on HDD, about 2 hours ago. After that, i plugged in the SSD and i formated the SSD as NTFS. Than i turned off the pc. Unplugged HDD. Inserted win 7 dvd.
Etc..etc... next....and when i was there to choice the hdd ( where to install OS ) i didnt choice DELETE or FORMAT, i just press NEXT. Those 100 MB arent there. Is that bad ??
And in 10 minutes Windows 7 was installed on my SSD
I´m worry about those 100 MB - system reserved.

 

[whs]

If C is active (meaning it contains the bootmgr), then you do not need the 100MB partition. Does it boot? If it boots from the SSD, you are all set. Make sure you change the bootsequence in the BIOS.

 

[essenbe]

Dont worry about it. It is the way most people have it. Open an elevated command prompt. Type diskpart then type select disk# where the disk # is the # of your ssd, then type list partition. it will tell you the size of each partition (should be 2) and the offset. Tell us what the offset# is.

 

[essenbe]

WHS is right. It dosen't matter as long as it boots. Some people have the 100mb partition some don't. I don't have it.

 

[stereo]

I formated both HDD, and i tested my SSD. No problem when i reboot.
It´s sooo fast. WOW
Thanks a lot, guys. I go now to test the SSD
Thanks a million

 

[whs]

You are very welcome. Looks like you are a happy camper now.

 

[essenbe]

Congratulations. Good job. You will enjoy it now.

 

[stereo]

One more question, guys: i attached here a picture.
I would like to change C with E and viceversa.
On the mobo SATA slot number 0 i have the SSD. Why is that in the image as DISK 2 ? The SSD shouldnt be DISK 0 ?
How can i proceed, to change E with C ?
Thank you

 

[essenbe]

Have you changed the primary boot disk in bios to the SSD? The primary boot disk should be on port 0 is conventional wisdom. I don't know how disk management orders the disks. Mine change every so often. Just make sure the primary boot disk is connected to port 0 and that it is listed as the 1st hard drive in bios. I don't think it matters how disk management lists them.

EDIT: In bios I have the CD/DVD as 1st boot device and the SSD as 2nd boot device. That is so if you ever have a problem where windows won't boot or post, you can put in the installation or recovery disk and it will boot to that.

 

[whs]

It does not really matter how disk management shows it. My SSD on this system is Disk2 also. I would not muck around with it.

Having the optical drive as first boot device is the conventional wisdom for the reasons Steve mentioned. The downside is that it adds to the boot time because the BIOS will first try to boot from there before it goes to the SSD. You can usually hear it because the optical drive makes cranking noises at boot (also extra wear and tear on the drive). For that reason I do not set it first but rather change the BIOS boot order when I need to boot from a CD/DVD - which is the rare case.

 

[stereo]

I leave it like it is now
What about the pagefile ? Can i remove it on HDD, or it's better to have it on SSD ?

 

[essenbe]

Leave it on the SSD.

 

[whs]

Leave it on the SSD.

+1. just remove the hiberfile.