change AHCI before doing clean install of Windows 7 SP1

I have a Sony VAIO All-In-One VPCL137FX running Windows 7 SP1 64bit os with 8gb RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 330M GPU and Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 processers @ 2.66GHz.

I recently removed all of the Sony bloatware and kept only the drivers needed to keep the hardware working. I am planning on upgrading the 1TB HDD to a 256GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD but prior to doing so I want first do a Clean Install of Windows 7 SP1 that I was able to download from the Microsoft website using my other computer that is running Windows 10 via the "downloading for another computer" method. My goal is to have a complete and clean bloat free installation of Windows 7 complete with all drivers needed before I install the SSD.

I have upgraded my other computer to an SSD by simply doing a Clean Install of the OS (Windows 10 in that case) which was much easier than doing a clone and then imaging it to the SSD and will probably do the same here (if that is something I can do in Windows 7) and I know that seems redundant but it also seems like a way to deal with any problems I may have with the clean install without them being on the SSD so that any unnecessary writing and rewriting be done on the HDD.

I also feel like this first clean install is a good time to change the IDE to AHCI setting which leads me to another question...

Do I have to go into the registry and enable the msahhci file if I am doing a clean install if I am going to download the latest drivers from the Intel website?

Please advise...

Thank you,

Danny R

You need to do a clean install to the SSD if you do it to normal drive then copy some settings for SSD will be wrong. Change from IDE then clean install to SSD

- As Sony sometimes has special drivers, I suggest you to put the HDD into a USB case or boot from the win 7 installation disk and copy to a USB flash drive all c:\windows folder.
- Replace the HDD with the SSD and, on BIOS, change SATA mode from IDE to AHCI.
- Install win 7 using the key on the COA stick.
- When it ask for a driver, point to the old windows from the USB flash drive or USB case with the HDD.

Megahertz07 said:

- As Sony sometimes has special drivers, I suggest you to put the HDD into a USB case or boot from the win 7 installation disk and copy to a USB flash drive all c:\windows folder.
- Replace the HDD with the SSD and, on BIOS, change SATA mode from IDE to AHCI.
- Install win 7 using the key on the COA stick.
- When it ask for a driver, point to the old windows from the USB flash drive or USB case with the HDD.

I am trying to do the clean install using a usb thumb drive which I created from a windows 7 sp1 iso I was able to download using my other computer and am having these issues:

- there is no option to change IDE to AHCI in my BIOS settings

- the installation will not complete. it just loops back to the Windows Setup window every time

Would it be easier to just purchase a new copy of Windows 7 as I do not have the original disks and I am unable to download them from Microsoft as my version is an OEM version and Sony does not offer any support for my computer any longer?

If I do this do I want an OEM version or a retail version if I want to upgrade to Windows 10 at some point?

I am very frustrated that I cannot do a clean install easily and if I can just purchase a new copy for a reasonable price it would be worth it.

Thanks,

Danny R

AddRAM said:

If you changed the boot order in the bios to have the usb drive boot first, then change it back, that is most likely why it keeps starting the install over and over, a lot of people make that mistake, just use the one time boot menu to choose the usb stick 1 time, that`s it.

Your dvd drive and your ssd should be the only 2 items listed in the Bios.

If there`s no AHCI option in the Bios, that`s just something you`ll have to live with

As far as an oem or retail version goes, you will never find a retail version anywhere and you don`t need to, oem is the same exact thing when it comes to the operating system.

If the Sony has a Windows 7 COA with a readable key, you do not have to buy anything.

Actually, I didn't change the boot order then change it back prior to your comment although when I decided to just abandon this endless loop until I could get some more advice I did change the boot order back to HDD first thinking my computer would just boot my current configuration but to my surprise it booted into Windows 10 upgrade! I let this installation run and now I have "digitally licensed via my Microsoft account" version of Windows 10 v1703 Build 15063.332 installed.

Not completely sure how this happened but is it possible that it is because I used my laptop (running Windows 10) to create the Windows 7 SP1 Installation disk? I would have been signed on with the same MSA as I use on my VAIO pc...if there were somehow anything I did that was dodgy wouldn't the installation have failed? I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING ILLEGAL AND WAS IN NO WAY ATTEPTING TO DO ANYTHING BUT CLEAN INSTALL WINDOWS 7 WHICH I HAVE A LEGAL LICENSE FOR!

I would appreciate your feedback on this if possible...

Thanks,

Danny R