Solved dell inspriron 17r changing std hd to a ssd

[kaschiro]

I have a dell 17r inspiron lap top. I am thinking replacing the standard 5800 rpm hd with a SSD hd, to gain extra speed,
1. is this a wise choice?
2. if I do this, do I have to install all of the dell stuff that is on it, ie drivers ? does win 7 have all the drivers that I need
3. how much speed will I get, ie percentages
4. What model/product I only need about a 120 gb

More questions to follow this is a start
Kas

 

[bigmck]

I have a dell 17r inspiron lap top. I am thinking replacing the standard 5800 rpm hd with a SSD hd, to gain extra speed,
1. is this a wise choice?
2. if I do this, do I have to install all of the dell stuff that is on it, ie drivers ? does win 7 have all the drivers that I need
3. how much speed will I get, ie percentages
4. What model/product I only need about a 120 gb

More questions to follow this is a start
Kas

The answer is very short...Get the SSD. It makes your programs open in one second. Pretty fast. You can get the transfer process here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html Asking for the brand to get will get you a 100 answers, everyone has their preference. I have an OCZ Vertex and it has been good. I am sure others like theirs. The prices are getting low now. Only put your Win 7 and programs on the SSD. Put everything else on the HDD. If you have other questions, ask away.

 

[Ranger4]

Yes definitely get a SSD, the speed increase will astound you. You say you only need about 120gb, but as you will have to spend a reasonable amount of money to get a good brand I would definitely suggest going to at least 240 or 256gb so you have plenty of reserve.
Stick with the good brands although they will be more expensive, but it is often that you get what you pay for, so a cheap one may not be a good investment in the long run. Search the web for SSD's & read the reports & tests of the various brands. I am using a Samsung 840 Pro 256gb SSD which I am very happy with.

 

[rvcjew]

i also have a 840 pro 256GB and could not be happier, is your laptop sata 3?

 

[gregrocker]

You can also Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
Everything needed to get and keep a perfect install is included in the tutorial.

 

[kaschiro]

Thanks to all to replied, I now have enough info to proceed, next this is to shop for a SSD, I quess prior to that I am told that the dell inspiron 17r has a double bay. if that is true then I can load the ssd from the original. if that is true would it make it easier to move the OS to the SSD...right now my drive is about 650gb and I do not keep data files on the C drive, drive is partitioned into 4 drives and I keep data on those other partitions....If there is 2 bays how would I connected the 2 drive together.

 

[gregrocker]

If you want to Install and transfer the Operating System too SSD
then after install, right cick each of the User folders on the data partition to add them to Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums setting the default download location for each: Library - Set Save Folder - Windows 7 Help Forums.

You can also move your User folders to their copy on the data drive using User Folders - Change Default Location however this will cause the data drive to be deemed a System partition and force inclusion of it in a Windows Image Backup if you use that utiliity.

If you Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 then I'd unplug or disable the other HDD in order to boot your choice via the BIOS Boot order or BIOS Boot Menu key. Afterwards after you've got everything out of it delete the old Win7 partiton in Disk Mgmt after marking Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums.

If you don't unplug or disable the old HD during Clean install it will place the new install's boot files on the old one to configure a Dual Boot. Avoid having the new install boot files derailed to any other preceding Primary Partition by deleting the old OS partition, or marking Inactive and converting this and all other data partitions to Logical: How to set partition as Primary or Logical. Otherwise any Primary partition which precedes the new install partition may take the new install's boot files.

 

[kaschiro]

As it turns out I only have one bay. So I guess I just have to put my data on a portable drive and operate with the c drive on the ssd, since that is the most important as far as speed is concerned. I do not have the $$'s for the larger ssd
Kas

 

[gregrocker]

After doing a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, which most importantly means first enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to run all rounds of Important and Optional Updates with reboots until there are no more offered,

then install your programs with time in between each to notice any performance changes.

After all programs are installed take note of your available space to decide which files you can fit in. The others can be linked via Libraries from your external.

 

[kaschiro]

More questions....The system on the disk right now is the EL Cheapo of the win 7 systems, from the store. I have my own win 7 ultimate, but it is the 32 version, can I not use that, even though the machine is a 64 bit. I know I will have to install programs, but I have to clean house anyhow. But my main concern is the drivers for the dell or is the drivers on the ultimate enough. The clean install way seems complicate....I am getting on in years and some things get complicated. I can do OS's easier. The dell is the first machine I bought, the others I have built myself...
Kas

 

[jadinolf]

My best Windows 7 computer -the one shown here has only a 120G SSD and I do very well with it. Cost less than $100 USD.

I've been using it since May of 2012 and it is doing very well.

My next (and last) computer will also use a small SSD and I will learn to live with it.

 

[gregrocker]

I use 32 bit on install with less than 4gb RAM which I think performs a little better. Of course with a higher end processor you'd want to up the RAM to match the performance or lose it.

I've never not been able to find a driver even if it's not supported for an OEM Clean reinstall. Most will be delivered by Windows Updates when you enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3). we can help you find any not on the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your model. They may be listed under Vista if it shipped with that.
Other tips for getting and keeping a perfect install are in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[madcratebuilder]

Newegg has some really good Black Friday deals on ssd drives right now, check them out before you buy.

I've converted a couple of older Dell lap tops to ssd, the only dell drivers I needed was chipset and wifi. I used Intel drivers for video and MS for the remainder. A ssd even makes Vista run pretty good.

 

[scottls59901]

More questions....The system on the disk right now is the EL Cheapo of the win 7 systems, from the store. I have my own win 7 ultimate, but it is the 32 version, can I not use that, even though the machine is a 64 bit. I know I will have to install programs, but I have to clean house anyhow. But my main concern is the drivers for the dell or is the drivers on the ultimate enough. The clean install way seems complicate....I am getting on in years and some things get complicated. I can do OS's easier. The dell is the first machine I bought, the others I have built myself...
Kas

FYI-

1. According to Samsung SSD TS-
Trying to clone a HDD System Image (Macrium Reflect...) to a SSD, will Only give you 10% Performance Gain!

2. I tried to install Win7 Pro 32-bit on my Dell laptop, but they Only had 64-bit drivers.
I wanted Pro 32-bit, because I could install all of my expensive old XP programs (Photoshop/Word/...).
BTW- I bought fully functional Win7 Pro 32-bit OEM Cheap on Amazon (not necessary to register, but no MS TS).

3. I unsuccessfully tried Samsung 840 Pro 256gb on my desktop, but had slow-down issues after all my apps were installed?-
I finally went to a Western Digital VelociRaptor HDD (10k rpm/64mb cache, and Too big for a laptop), and it is nearly as fast as my SSD.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

My conclusion for you to Easily boost your performance-
I'd clone Your present OS to an external HD (make Linux boot CD!), using free Macrium Reflect.
Install an inexpensive/Rock Solid-
Western Digital Scorpio Black WD2500BEKT 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 2.5" Internal Notebook Hard Drive Bare Drive

Then clone (Cold Start!) your old 5400rpm OS to it.

 

[gregrocker]

Scott it was not necessary to buy a new copy of Win7 in order to install 32 bit, as you are entitled to use eithe 32- or 64-bit with each license. You can get the latest official installer for your licensed version at Windows 7 Direct Download Links.

What I would do is use the other license elsewhere with your choice of 32- or 64-bit.

You'd also want to image to the external, not clone. Then apply the image with app's boot disk. However I would not bother if you don't already have a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps also apply to retail.

An SSD will always yield better performance. If not ask back here, try SSD Alignment - Windows 7 Forums and SSD Tweaks and Optimizations in Windows 7

 

[kaschiro]

Thanks to all who chimed in, I now have enough information to go forward
As we say in La Quinta, California, "Muchas Gracias"
Kas
case closed(solved)