ssd configuration

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  1. Posts : 23
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #1

    ssd configuration


    I just installed ssd in my computer and it doesn't show up in the explorer - I'm assuming that's because it isn't formatted yet. So I went into the computer management screen and the ssd is there as "not initialized". A dialog came up saying the ssd disk must be intialized before the logical disk manager can access it - there were 2 choices for intializing: MBR or GPT. I am not sure which one I should go for.
    Or should I leave it to windows 7 to format it when I install win7 on the ssd?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    Post a screen shot of your Disk Management.

    I'd disconnect all other drives before trying to install Windows to an SSD---or to any drive for that matter.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 23
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Here is a screenshot of my disk management:

    ssd configuration-disk-management-screenshot.png
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    I assume the drive in question is the middle one with 55.80 unallocated?

    Is it brand new and never before formatted?

    What happens when you right click in that space and attempt to make a volume?

    Post another screen shot of what you see when you try to make a volume (partition).

    I am a bit puzzled why you would see anything about logical disk manager, MBR, or GPT.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 23
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Yes the middle one showing 55gb unallocated space. That's the new ssd I just installed. Like I said in my original post I hadn't formatted it yet and checked to see if it showed up in disk management. It did and that was when I got a dialog to say it needs to be intialized for the logical disk manager to access it. That dialog showed 2 options - MBR or GPT (see screenshot below):

    ssd configuration-ssd-message.png

    Also, when I right click that space all I get is two options: properties and help, the rest are greyed out.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 23
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Guess I'll bite the bullet and initialize ssd with the mbr and see what happens after that. Hope it doesn't damage ssd or anything.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,781
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 32-bit
       #7

    What you saw is perfectly normal - this would happen everytime you install a brandnew, never-used drive. There's nothing in sector 0 of the disk, no partition info, no signature, nothing. Windows needs to write either an MBR (with an empty partition table) there or, as you found out, a GPT.

    MBR and GPT are simply two different (incompatible) partition schemes, each with their advantages and limits. MBR disks for example can only support up to 4 primary partitions (or 3 primary and 1 extended) and a total disk size of 2TB.

    The MBR is the preferred one for general usage, so you did just fine. You could have let the Windows 7 install DVD take care of this, but as you still have no actual partitions on the SSD you're good to go. The installer will set them up.
      My Computer


  8. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #8

    Run these commands in elevated Command prompt.

    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
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,781
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 32-bit
       #9

    whs, he can do these steps but there's no need to - and if there's one single active partition then the setup DVD won't create the 100MB boot partition.

    Question is whether the OP prefers a Windows system in a single partition or with the separate boot partition? Functionally, it doesn't matter though.
      My Computer


  10. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #10

    Undertand. Not having the 100MB active partition may be an advantage. Lots of people run into trouble with that. Plus many do not understand the concept anyhow. And it is just one more thing to image.

    He can, of course, initialize the SSD in Disk Management and let the installer do the rest. His choice.
      My Computer


 
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