Installing a new SSD on my Asus UX32VD do I need AHCI enabled?

[NZCampbell]

Gday people Im almost ready to install my new Samsung 830 series SSD 256GB drive (some miner screw issues means I cant do it tonight).
Now do I need AHCU enabled for my E-Sata connection or is IDE ok ?

Also should I upgrade the BIOS and can someone point me to a tutorial for that?
Cheers

 

[gregrocker]

Look for a BIOS upgrade on the Support Downloads webpage for your exact model. The instructions for running it will be on it's download page or in a ReadMe file which is extracted with the installer, so pay attention to where it extracts the file and browse there first before running the installer.

Some owners are hesitant to install a BIOS update if it doesn't specify needed improvements, but I always upgrade the BIOS at reinstall because there are sometimes improvements not specified.

As a matter of course I also always enable the most modern AHCI mode in the BIOS when checking if the new SSD is detected after unplugging all other HD's and installing the SSD. In the rare case that the install fails you can try IDE mode to see if that remedies the failure.

Study over the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which will assure you get and maintain a perfect reinstall if you stick with the methods and tools therein.

 

[NZCampbell]

Thanks Greg Rocker.

However I have an Asus not a Dell - sorry Im upgrading mu Asus Zenbook not my Alienware. Also Im not doing a factory OEM. I have a full retail version of Win 7 Home Premium.

I also heard that AHCI was good only if you are hot swapping drives.

BY the way is there a program that lists all of your drivers ?
cheers

 

[gregrocker]

The steps are the same for getting a perfect retail Clean Reinstall.

However if the Asus came with Win7 then you can use the license which came with it to save using a retail license.

Your drivers are all listed in the Device Manager. Read over the reinstall steps to see how drivers are handled in Win7 as it is different than XP.