install 7 onto a solid state drive a good idea or not?

jim4b · 15 Jun 2018

My current 2009 store built computer original hard drive is now failing with Windows 7 Home on it, and my disc for 7 install is a OEM type and I want to know if it is a possible and good idea to install it fresh onto my solid state drive, ( an Intel 120 GB )? And I did make a windows full backup to a external eSATA hard drive and I saved all my folders and files too also to external partition drive. Will activate by phone to Microsoft be no problem with my OEM, or will they require me to buy another 7 license?

file3456 · 15 Jun 2018

It shouldn't be a problem since it's OEM. Just install Windows on the SSD, enter the product key and chose the Internet for validation or what ever it's called now.

Make sure that before you do install Windows on the SSD you look in BIOS and if there is an option under SATA for AHCI you turn it on. Typically, you can access BIOS by tapping the F2 key or delete key as the computer boots.

After you install the SSD run ASSSD and check the drive. It should be aligned automatically when you install Windows. If not you can use a tool to do it afterwards.

I would only install stuff that needs HDD speed in the SSD and have a mechanical platter as a second drive for other stuff like documents, videos, music, downloads, etc.

jim4b · 15 Jun 2018

What is that ASSSD, is it a solid state drive check and test tool? Also with normal every day use of email and doing web browsing, how long will a SSD last before a failure?

Paul Black · 15 Jun 2018

Hi jim4b,

jim4b said:

What is that ASSSD, is it a solid state drive check and test tool?

Yes it is a SSD Benchmark Tool to determine your SSD drive's performance.
There is more information about it here: AS SSD Benchmark 2.0.6694

I hope this helps!

strollin · 15 Jun 2018

The partitions will be aligned on a fresh install. It's really only necessary to check the alignment when cloning an existing installation from another drive.

Megahertz07 · 15 Jun 2018

SSD's are much faster (~6x) than HDD's.
My suggestion is to buy a fast 120G SSD (Read > 500MB/s and write > 350MB/s) (~US$60) for Windows and programs and a HDD for data.
It is very easy to move /Users to the HDD during installation so you have the speed of a SSD and the space of a HDD at low cost.

Al the needed files
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...r-relocate.zip

Paul Black · 15 Jun 2018

Hi jim4b,

Megahertz07 said:

It is very easy to move /Users to the HDD during installation so you have the speed of a SSD and the space of a HDD at low cost.

As Megahertz07 has pointed out you could move /Users to the HDD during installation. Here is a forum tutorial [written by Kari] that will explain how to do this: Relocate User folders during Windows 7 installation

I hope this helps!

jim4b · 17 Jun 2018

Well thanks for all the helpful information. I ended up installing my OEM 7 with that restore system from a saved image option, ( from a Windows backup saved to a external eSATA drive ). So after doing a start up repair from the 7 disc it does boot and run okay except for a broken windows update. The attempt to turn off the Windows update service and then reinstall the updater, ( KB3172605 ) fails with a technical error. I did not install to my solid state drive, I replaced the bad hard drive with a new 1TB WD hard drive.

Paul Black · 17 Jun 2018

Hi jim4b,

I don't quite follow exactly what you have done!

Have you restored the computer from a previous System Image [when was the image created?] that was on your external eSATA drive, or have you re-installed Windows 7 from an installation disc? If you did either of these then I can't understand why you needed to do a Startup Repair from the Windows 7 disc!

The Windows Update KB3172605 is the Functional Update Rollup [THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT] - July 2016.

I hope this helps!