Can I boot from a 30GB SSD or did I just waste my money?

Hi,

Situation:
-1x Alienware laptop bought rather impulsively with regrettably little research and money (bought on finance)
-Alienware laptop has 500GB HDD and a 30GB SSD
-Alienware laptop is running Windows Home Premium x64
-Is there any way I can run/boot windows from the SSD or did I just waste much money on nothing?

and you don't think I can run/boot windows from the SSD;

-What is a good use for a 30GB SSD?

Any help or input is welcomed and much appreciated,

Osuchan

I wouldn't try installing 7 to the 30 gig SSD, too small IMHO. It's likely already in use as a cache drive to speed up loading frequently used files. Similar to a hybrid SSD/HDD.

alphanumeric said:

I wouldn't try installing 7 to the 30 gig SSD, too small IMHO. It's likely already in use as a cache drive to speed up loading frequently used files. Similar to a hybrid SSD/HDD.

In your experience, how big is Windows 7 when put onto an SSD? Also I've heard that perhaps disabling hibernate settings and limiting/moving page files can limit the size but I have no idea if I could make 30GB work or how to do any of that stuff :/

On this PC with Windows 8.1 Pro and Office 2013 I'm using up about 20 GB. That's with hibernation disabled, system restore disabled, and all my user folders moved to my Data partition. The tutorials section will tell you how to turn those features off. There are installation tutorials too. I only just installed a little while ago and haven't installed all my programs etc, that's just the basics so far.

So considering that you're running at 20GB, how come you, and many people online, say that 30GB isn't enough given that it seems it would fit?

If you watch how you install programs 30GB well run windows 7 just fine. You should move the "User" folder to the hhd as this folder can become very large, 10GB or more is not uncommon.

On all my Win machines I use a ssd for the OS only and the average size is 20GB total for 64 bit HP and Ultimate. Claims that 30GB is insufficient are from users that have not really looked into it.

You will need to un-raid the drives.

Dell tutorial links:
http://dell.to/15Cz2AS
http://dell.to/13EbJpn

How to order Microsoft official Dell OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks.
Manuals | Dell US


http://support.dell.com/support/topi.../backupcd_form
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...oNotRedirect=y

Thanks very much for the advice madcratebuilder. I have my data backed up now, but am very nervous as to how I will actually do the SSD transfer. Given that i don't have enough room for some options for the transfer, any advice as to how best I should proceed?

theog said:

You will need to un-raid the drives.

Dell tutorial links:
http://dell.to/15Cz2AS
http://dell.to/13EbJpn

How to order Microsoft official Dell OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks.
Manuals | Dell US


RouteTo
Dell - Support

Thanks a bunch. Very handy links. Feeling ready to move boot to SSD but have obvious concerns as I don't want to ruin my re-install. Is there an order to following the tutorials? (i.e should I complete the top link then the bottom one?)

Also, I am still in possession of the following discs;

-Microsoft windows 7 Home premium SP1 64 Bit
-M17x R4 resource DVD
-Resource media webcam cenral

With these resource discs and the tutorials you've linked to, Do I now have all the resources I need to attempt this? And how does disabling Hibernate and moving "Users" factor in to all this?

Sorry for so many questions, this is my first experience interacting with OS installation and as such I am very nervous and very inept at even understanding which things apply to me and which don't and which things I should be doing and need not be doing, etc.

Thanks