Install Windows 7 Pro 64 bit on a hybrid drive (SSD & HDD)

[SystemSeven]

Hi All,

This is my first post here although I've lurking for a few years. I'm glad to finally be "official" since I think this forum is a great resource.

Anyhow, I'm about to purchase an ASUS S56CA-BH51-CB ultra notebook that comes with Windows 8 and I would like to instal a fresh copy of Windows 7 Pro 64 bit in its place. I read a thread that's somewhat old about installing to a hybrid drive, see here ==> http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...eeps-putting-system-partition-hybrid-ssd.html

The gist I gathered from the above thread is that since the HDD chip is the one that determines what files go on to the SSD portion (for faster boots), all I have to is is install Windows 7 in a normal fashion.

Is there anything I've missed or any important items left out?

I thank you for your contribution and look forward to your reply.

SystemSeven

 

[richnrockville]

SystemSeven welcome to the forum.

One caution would be to make sure that there is only one disk in the laptop and then booting the w7 dvd, it will install on your ssd.
Sometimes with more than one hard disk in the laptop, it could try to install on the wrong hard disk.
I always make sure that installs go to the single hard disk in my machine. otherwise it can get sticky.

Rich

 

[gregrocker]

I think the thread you found addresses all possibilities. If you run into any problems during the actual Clean Install Windows 7 just ask back.

Be sure to make your Win8 recovery media, then you'll need to boot into BIOS setup to disable Secure Boot as shown in Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7.

You should then be able to boot the Win7 installer as a UEFI device, delete all partitions to reinstall with the HD firmware determining what is placed on the SSD chip - so I'd also make sure you have the latest firmware.

I often test Win7 on Win8 PC's by shrinking C to install Win7 to the shrink space in a Dual Boot. You can then compare, test 7 performance, even eventually hide 8 if you want to keep it that way for awhile to be sure.

 

[SystemSeven]

Hi Folks,

Thank you for the advice, I will use it!

SS

More:
I've spent most of the day looking at Windows 8 since I purchased the laptop and it's been somewhat like learning to use a computer all over again.

What in the world would make MS take such a radical departure from earlier OS's? Nothing is where it's expected and you need a guide to find items that were easy to find in XP or 7.

I think MS should have just published a system for mobile devices and another one for confirmed desktop users, such as myself and others, that use computers in an industrial setting. I don't have time to spend 10 minutes multiple times each day looking for an item the folks in Redmond decided to hide.

After the fiasco of Vista and now Windows 8 - not to mention the less-than-wonderful Windows 7 - I can see why many IT departments are still using XP and willing to ghost it to kingdom come and then some!

 

[SystemSeven]

SystemSeven welcome to the forum.

One caution would be to make sure that there is only one disk in the laptop and then booting the w7 dvd, it will install on your ssd.
Sometimes with more than one hard disk in the laptop, it could try to install on the wrong hard disk.
I always make sure that installs go to the single hard disk in my machine. otherwise it can get sticky.

Rich

So true! I had the OS put the boot loader on another partition and I wasn't even aware of it....that was a big surprise!

SS

 

[SystemSeven]

I think the thread you found addresses all possibilities. If you run into any problems during the actual Clean Install Windows 7 just ask back.

Be sure to make your Win8 recovery media, then you'll need to boot into BIOS setup to disable Secure Boot as shown in Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7.

You should then be able to boot the Win7 installer as a UEFI device, delete all partitions to reinstall with the HD firmware determining what is placed on the SSD chip - so I'd also make sure you have the latest firmware.

I often test Win7 on Win8 PC's by shrinking C to install Win7 to the shrink space in a Dual Boot. You can then compare, test 7 performance, even eventually hide 8 if you want to keep it that way for awhile to be sure.

Thanks for this info, I will put it to good use. I didn't quite realize the downgrade was so detailed.

SS

 

[gregrocker]

I disagree that Win7 is less-than-wonderful, in fact IMO it is the best OS ever and one of the greatest achievements in tech history - which makes it all the more confounding that MS would throw that to the wind for a one size fits all tablet OS gambit that has utterly flopped. But I'm sure that's what you'd expect to hear at the home of Win7!

Perhaps you've been stuck in the past with factory preinstalled Win7 which is the worst possible install one can have, larded with bloatware and useless duplicate utilities which interfere with better versions built into the OS. For that reason be sure you stick closely to the same steps as in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which assures you'll get an keep a perfect install.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[AddRAM]

Windows 7 Less then wonderful :shock:

Blasphemy...... Utter Blasphemmy