New SSD Questions

I have just purchased a new OCZ Vertex2 90GB SSD. It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I have read most of the tutorials and many of the threads, but still have some questions. I currently have a WD 1002FAEX HD with Windows 7 pro installed. I plan on keeping it, adding a Seagate Barracuda 500GB drive and the OCZ.

I have already converted to AHCI mode via regedit hack and in bios, based on one of the excellent tutorials here. It worked exactly like it was supposed to.

My questions are:
1. Should I install the SSD on SATA port 1 or does it matter?

2. The tutorial says to align=64 but other posts have said align= 1024. which is correct.

3. There seems to be some contention between some of the manufactures as well as some of the people on this board. when formatting the partition should I use the command format fs=NTFS or format fs=NTFS quick?

4. One tutorial says to format the drive in the command prompt. Another says to let the installer format the partition. Which is best? One thread said that if you let the installer format, it will undo what was done in command prompt.

5. Am I correct in that a new ssd does not require the clean all or the clean command?

6. After changing the boot order in BIOS to boot from the SSD, will I be able to reformat my current installation of Windows 7?

BTW, I plan on doing a clean install and start over.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Hello essenbe.


1) The SATA port doesn't matter.

2) Smaller is always better, they would both be 'correct'.

3) The argument "quick" just means to do a quick format, I would suggest not to do a quick.

4) If you're using diskpart to do something else then do it all in diskpart and formatting with the installer will re-do the format and any information you added using diskpart will be removed.

5) No it is not necessary, remember that "clean" and "clean all" over-write data and a new SSD/HDD has no data to over-write.

6) You can format/over-write anything that is not marked "System" that is where the boot files are stored.

DeaconFrost said:

I recently did a fresh install on a new, unused SSD, and it didn't align properly using the built-in Windows 7 installer and formatter. I had to wipe the drive again, using the clean all switch, and create the partition in diskpart first, following a guide here.

This one.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Thanks for the help. I believe I have it figured out now, except for one thing. If I disconnect all HDs except the ssd and install windows 7 - when I plug the other hds back in, I will have two hds with win7 and I assume both listed as C drive. How do I delete the original win 7 installation?

First after you have installed Windows 7 to the SSD be sure that the SSD is listed as the first boot device in the PC BIOS, then power-down the PC and reconnect the other HDD.


While you are booted into the new Windows 7 use the "clean all" in this tutorial at the link below, doing it this way it won't allow you to over-write the new "System" Windows 7 installation.

Just be sure to have backups of anything you want to save because after you use it nothing on the entire Hard Disk Drive will be recoverable.


Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command