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Dell T5400, Clean Install Win7 Pro x64, SSD, V4900 - Settings?
Hey everyone, I am new to the forums and generally new to Windows too (always have had Apple products - don't shoot).
I am a Design Engineer, and the past few years I have been running Windows XP, then to Windows 7 via Boot Camp on my iMac with Pro/E WF4 (now Creo Elements..). Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet and get a Dell refurbished workstation.
As Ordered:
- Dell T5400 Refurbished
- e5440 Quad Core 2.83GHz
- 2x 500GB SATA HDD
- Quadro FX 4600
- Windows Vista Business
- 16GB ECC FB RAM
As I will be using this primarily, and most likey only for, Creo Elements I ordered the following parts that I will be installing:
- AMD Firepro V4900 1GB
- Crucial M4 128GB SSD SATA III
- Windows 7 Professional x64
- Soyo 24" MVA 1920x1200
I read through the Sticky "How to do a Clean install of Windows 7" and a few other very informative posts on here, but have never done much at all with Windows. As far as setting the computer up (everything should be here tomorrow) I assume these will be the steps to take:
1) Replace video card with V4900
2) Replace 1x 500GB SATA with 128GB SSD (I ordered one cable and SSD->3.5" bay adapter, couldn't find a definitive answer on what all I need to physically install the SSD...)
3) Plug in monitor, mouse, keyboard and power cable
4) Turn on and....?
I want to just use the SSD as a boot drive for Windows 7 Pro x64, and also install Creo Elements and possibly Lightroom 3. Will it automatically recognize the SSD? What happens if I don't (or the computer doesn't) see the SSD upon bootup? How do I get to the BIOS to set the SSD as AHCI (I think that's correct)?
How do I update the SSD's firmware to 0309 before installing Windows 7?
How do I enable TRIM on SSD?
Where do I disable Auto-Disk Defragmnt on the SSD?
Any advice for after the initial setup, assuming it all goes accordingly, so that all my files, documents, pictures will save to the 500GB SATA drive, and nothing will automatically save to the SSD?
I apologize for the low-end questions, but I am completly new to upgrading or modifying a computer (iMac always came so nicely packaged, good for what I needed it for - except Pro/E). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Chris C.