Solved New Intel SSD

[1Bowtie]

Just got my new Intel 520 series 120 gb SSD and was wondering if i need to first secure erase the drive prior to doing a clean install of Win 7 HP 64bit????

 

[essenbe]

If it is a brand new SSD, no you don't need to do anything. The installer will do all that is needed. Or, if you don't want the 100MB partition this tutorial will tell you how. But, with a new SSD don't do the 'clean all' command.

 

[1Bowtie]

This is unbelievable 179 views and no answers

 

[1Bowtie]

Thanks essenbe, i appreciate your answer, i've heard it both ways so i just wanted to check first.

 

[Brink]

Hello Smitty,

Yep, you would treat it like any other new HDD. No need to format it, just select the unallocated drive to install Windows 7 on, and the install will do the rest as Steve posted above.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[linnemeyerhere]

1Bowtie,
Also remember to disable the W7 scheduled defragmentation.

 

[1Bowtie]

Thanks Brink and also linnemeyerhere for the heads up, probably wait till morning and do clean install.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

After you get it going, check on sizes of page file and System Restore. They may be higher by default than you want. You can get rid of hibernation file if you don't use it and save some drive space.

I'd go to Intel site and find out if you have latest firmware. You can update firmware if not---kinda like a BIOS flash---some risk, but recommended.

Get and use the Intel SSD toolbox. It's probably on an included disc. Use it to "optimize" your drive on an automated schedule. Intel recommends once a week.

Your included disc may not have the latest version of the toolbox. Get the newest if not. The newest version has a better interface and includes a nifty readout for estimated remaining drive life. Mine is still at 100% after 11 months and 1.5 terabytes of writes.

 

[1Bowtie]

After you get it going, check on sizes of page file and System Restore. They may be higher by default than you want. You can get rid of hibernation file if you don't use it and save some drive space.

I'd go to Intel site and find out if you have latest firmware. You can update firmware if not---kinda like a BIOS flash---some risk, but recommended.

Get and use the Intel SSD toolbox. It's probably on an included disc. Use it to "optimize" your drive on an automated schedule. Intel recommends once a week.

Your included disc may not have the latest version of the toolbox. Get the newest if not. The newest version has a better interface and includes a nifty readout for estimated remaining drive life. Mine is still at 100% after 11 months and 1.5 terabytes of writes.

Thanks ignatzatsonic, this is Intel's latest SSD the 520 series so it has the latest firmware, already dll'd the latest toolbox, will check the page file and get rid of hibernation file, looking forward to using an SSD.

 

[BugOutMachine]

Be sure to download the Intel Toolbox v. 3.02 which will disable all of the Windows 7 features that cause issues with the SSD.

I have the 520 SSD as well and absolutely love it. It makes a world of a difference!

 

[pbcopter]

Windows 7 automatically disables defragmentation for the SSD.

 

[1Bowtie]

Well i did a clean install of Win 7 HP and am not happy no other hdd's were plugged in, it seemed slow in the install process. After the install and driver installation it take forever to load, if you stay with it finally it will get to the desktop, did the rate the system and came up with 7.4 which is really good. Do a restart and it take 5 minutes, it's like it get's lost, i outed the page file no hibranation. I have also run the Intel SSD Toolbox and the drive optimizer is not available, I have an NVidia motherboard in a Dell XPS 730 comp as in my system spec's. I know it's probably something simple but i'm at a loss. Need some experts advice.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

1Bowtie,
Yes something is seriously wrong. The loading speed of W7 on my 5 installations with a SSD have all been incredibly fast. I would ask you to try a different sata port but if the port was turned off then why or how could it even load. On many mobo's in the bios you can turn on and off certain or all sata ports, please check this as I'm at a loss as to why you are having this issue. Try plugging the SSD into the spinners sata port and re-boot we know that port wasn't turned off!

 

[essenbe]

I'm at a loss also. Are you on port 0, is the sata controller in AHCI mode? There must be some reason the Intel Tool Box won't optimize your drive.

 

[whs]

Well i did a clean install of Win 7 HP and am not happy no other hdd's were plugged in, it seemed slow in the install process. After the install and driver installation it take forever to load, if you stay with it finally it will get to the desktop, did the rate the system and came up with 7.4 which is really good. Do a restart and it take 5 minutes, it's like it get's lost, i outed the page file no hibranation. I have also run the Intel SSD Toolbox and the drive optimizer is not available, I have an NVidia motherboard in a Dell XPS 730 comp as in my system spec's. I know it's probably something simple but i'm at a loss. Need some experts advice.

For starters, put the pagefile back. 2GB would suffice. The hiberfile you do not need.

With a fresh installation, the alignment should be OK. But check it anyhow (look under 'Verification'): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S

Then post a picture of your Disk Management. Maybe there is something odd to be discovered.

 

[1Bowtie]

Here's the exact message in the toolbox, The Intel SSD toolbox cannot communicate with the selected SSD. Consider changing to another storage driver compatible with your system and try the Toolbox again.

 

[1Bowtie]

Here's the pic

 

[whs]

Disk Management looks OK. Sounds like you have a driver problem. Did you set the BIOS to AHCI but not Win7.

 

[1Bowtie]

With the nforce motherboard there is no AHCI in bios, you can only do raid or ide and i put the only storage drivers there are in. Intel storage controllers all work without a problem. For some reason SSD's are not compatible with nforce boards.

 

[mjf]

Have a look at this tutorial from our old friend "Bare Foot Kid" it may help
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

Take note of the specific reference to nforce