Find Right SSD for Windows 7 System files

[jmcconville18]

I want to add an SSD to my hp dv6 laptop. I've been reading up on how I can put an enclosure in my disk drive to add an SSD. I plan on using the SSD to hold the system files so I can have a faster startup and use the current HDD just for my documents and other files.

My first question. Is this possible to do?

Next. How big of an SSD would I need to accomplish this?

Thanks in advance

 

[Ztruker]

If your HP DV6 only take one hard drive then your only choice is to replace the existing hard drive. If it will accept two hard drives then you can add a SSD (128GB would be fine) as the 1st drive and move your existing hard drive to the 2nd SATA port. Then you clone the existing hard drive to the SSD, boot up and you should be set.

Then it's a matter of cleaning both drives so you only have what you want on the SSD, and everything else on the old hard drive.

You could also do a Clean Install of Windows 7 to the new SSD instead of cloning the old drive, your choice.

 

[mneal]

My first question. Is this possible to do?

It *should* be. You can buy a hard drive caddy that will take the place of your optical drive.

The first thing would be to do a full backup of your Windows installation onto an external device. That way, if something goes wrong you should still be able to restore your machine.

Pull the HD out, put the SSD in. Put the HD into the hard drive caddy and set it aside.

Install Windows using Kari's tutorial. After you've done all the updates and program installs, but *before* you leave audit mode, pull out the optical drive and put in the HD caddy. Format the drive, set a drive letter and *then* run the script to move the folders per the last part of the tutorial.

Next. How big of an SSD would I need to accomplish this?

A 128Gb should be plenty, I'd think, especially if you keep your data/media files on the HD and install as many progs as possible to the HD.

 

[jmcconville18]

Thanks for the help. I'm trying to make my system as fast as possible. If I put all my programs on the SSD and just left my hdd for videos and documents would I notice an increase in speed? Or would it be best to leave it for just the system files and benefit from the fast startup time

 

[mneal]

An SSD is many times faster than a platter drive, so you're going to see a marked increase in speed regardless of which way you set it up.

I'd also recommend maxing out the RAM on your laptop, if you haven't already.