[QUESTION] Installing W7 on new SSD

[leonnkeong]

I currently bought a new SSD (Plextor M5S 256 GB) to replace my HDD. Hence, I have few little questions FREQUENTLY asked by other forumers as I search but slightly different from mine.

1. I just wanted to confirm whether is this the steps to do a clean and clear installation for my new SSD. I'm sorry if it sounds awkward.

Unplug all HDD > Plug in SSD > get into BIOS and set CD boot priority AND onboard SATA to AHCI MODE > Insert disk and install W7 etc > set back to SSD boot priority and reboot > install mobo and GC drivers > plug in HDD and reformat (lets say I don't need the data).

And I'm done. Is that correct? I have read WHS and Brink tutorial too.

2. Is it NECESSARY to install Intel Rapid Storage Technology? It kinda caused me frequent BSOD before this.

3. Is TRIM enabled after my steps?

4. Any more necessary things need to be done?

Thank you in advance.

 

[DeaconFrost]

The main setup is no different than an HDD. You are right on with the steps, but I've been told that installing the Intel RST loads Intel drivers for the SATA ports, as opposed to built-in, Microsoft ones. I was able to confirm on two systems that my speeds for an SSD increased after doing so.

As for as TRIM, that would be enabled, yes. Nothing else needs to be done, except to install the remaining drivers, update the OS, and then enjoy.

 

[leonnkeong]

Thank you for the fast respond. Do you personally think without RST will make a huge decrease of speed?

Just additional question, is it necessary to overclock my i7-2600k? Overclocking seems in return me multiple BSOD.

 

[kbrady1979]

You could try Intels Rapid Storage Technology again........it may work right this time, or it may have not been the problem to begin with. No it is not necessary to do any OC'ing, but since you have a 2600K, you very well could. If you want help with that, post in the OC'ing subforum and we'll get you sorted out.

 

[Quadrider10]

after that, you are done. the things you should do are tho, turn off disk defrag (should never defrag an ssd) and reduce the number or writes. you can search that in the tutorials section.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Disk Defrag is disabled for you automatically with an SSD, when AHCI is set in the BIOS before the install. You don't have to manually disable it.

 

[Quadrider10]

Disk Defrag is disabled for you automatically with an SSD, when AHCI is set in the BIOS before the install. You don't have to manually disable it.

i did. a schedule was set for like once a week.

 

[kbrady1979]

Disk Defrag is disabled for you automatically with an SSD, when AHCI is set in the BIOS before the install. You don't have to manually disable it.

i did. a schedule was set for like once a week.

Was that from a fresh install of Windows 7 onto an SSD, or was that a migrated image?

 

[essenbe]

If you have hard drives, a schedule is set, but the SSD is not included in the schedule. But, I disable scheduling and do what needs yo be done manually. I disable Hibernate to save space, reduce the page file if you have 8GB or more of ram and that is about all. I move user folders to another drive, if you have another in a desktop to save space. Other than that, I do nothing else.

 

[leonnkeong]

You could try Intels Rapid Storage Technology again........it may work right this time, or it may have not been the problem to begin with. No it is not necessary to do any OC'ing, but since you have a 2600K, you very well could. If you want help with that, post in the OC'ing subforum and we'll get you sorted out.

W/O Intel RST will not cause any much decreasing of speed, yes no? I'm really afraid of spending hundreds bucks still encountering BSOD :huh:

Anyway, any opinion on my SSD (Plextor M5S 256 GB)?

 

[essenbe]

No, it will run fine without IRST.You'll get good speeds out of it. Just make sure your sata controller in bios is set to AHCI before you install. As far as opinions on your SSD, I can't give one because I've never owned one. Although, those that I know of who have them were very pleased with them.

 

[alphanumeric]

I heard it suggested to turn off indexing on an SSD. I did that on mine, along with disabling hibernation, turning off system restore, etc.

 

[kbrady1979]

I have left indexing on, and turned if off and could not notice any difference. I think I just left it off. I disabled hibernation as I have a desktop, but I left system restore on and just lowered how much space it used.

 

[alphanumeric]

I think it all comes down to what do "you" consider as "excessive writes". Sometimes I wonder if I took it too things too far, but my system is extremely fast and I'm not missing any of the features I turned off. so for now I'm going to leave things the way they are.

 

[kbrady1979]

I think it all comes down to what do "you" consider as "excessive writes". Sometimes I wonder if I took it too things too far, but my system is extremely fast and I'm not missing any of the features I turned off. so for now I'm going to leave things the way they are.

As long as you aren't losing out on any functionality you need, it's all good! One good thing is 99% of SSD's now don't suffer from the write failures of first and second gen SSD's. They are exponentially more durable and reliable now than they were just a few years ago.

 

[Faladu]

I suggest you look at tweaking 7 with the SSD tutorial, shuffling as much of your temporary files OFF the SSD as you can and all that fun stuff.

Here is the tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/70822-ssd-tweaks-optimizations-windows-7-a.html

 

[leonnkeong]

Thanks a lot for the reply, just a question, will SSD encounter BSOD frequently?

And another question, will non-system storage (let it be my HDD), shows up BSOD? Kinda silly question but it would be much appreciated if it is answered.

 

[kbrady1979]

Are these "in general" questions, or are you actually encountering blue screens? SSD's can cause blue screens if they are defective.......just like almost any piece of hardware.

 

[essenbe]

Faladu, an awful lot has changed about SSDs since that tutorial was written. We are 2 or 3 generations of SSDs since that. SSds are not near as fragile as many think. I suggest everyone read the tests done by xtremesystems. They tried to kill the SSDs by writing constantly to them You will be surprised at how much it took. And we are another generation removed from that.

leonnkeong, I have 7 SSDs, and none of mine have ever caused a bsod, if that's what you are asking. An ssd will BSOD like any other hard drive if the computer encounters a failure of some component. I am really not sure what you are asking, but an SSD will operate much like any other hard drive and can be used in place of any other hard drive.

 

[kbrady1979]

Faladu, an awful lot has changed about SSDs since that tutorial was written. We are 2 or 3 generations of SSDs since that. SSds are not near as fragile as many think. I suggest everyone read the tests done by xtremesystems. They tried to kill the SSDs by writing constantly to them You will be surprised at how much it took. And we are another generation removed from that.

leonnkeong, I have 7 SSDs, and none of mine have ever caused a bsod, if that's what you are asking. An ssd will BSOD like any other hard drive if the computer encounters a failure of some component. I am really not sure what you are asking, but an SSD will operate much like any other hard drive and can be used in place of any other hard drive.

That's very true! The guy that tortured those SSD's found that most would hold up WELL beyond what they are rated for. I know the Samsung 830 handled almost 7 PetaBytes worth of writes before it gave it up.