Solid State Drive set up

[Notpretty]

This is either an issue with formatting a new Solid State Drive or something related cloning data and setting up windows 7 on the SSD. The plan was to run the OS off the SSD.

First, I now know I forgot to format the SSD before cloning...but it think it may have happened automatically because the clone process seems to have worked...sort of. The bad...it took up 2/3's of a 250GB SSD...not good. So I thought why not start over, delete everything on the SSD, format it and try a clean install from my windows 7 upgrade disc. Did that and it work better...just a small amount of the SSD was used....but...

But now, with just the SSD plugged in, am getting an error at boot up..."No boot manager" and boot fails. Plug the original HD drive back in and boot is fine and appears to be running off the SSD mostly...quiet and fast. But the old hard drive does tick away now and then. So, I'm thinking this is not how it should be and not as efficient as it should be. This is why I bought the SSD...to boot faster, play games and most common aps off the SSD...faster. Where did I miss the boat...?

Is boot manager something I can add? I tried to boot via the upgrade disc and do a repair, but it fails saying "Partition for windows missing"...which may be a formatting issue too. I am guessing the partition houses the boot manager...?? How can I fix. I get Microsoft security error during repair...

My Solid State Drive says at the Disk Management Screen:

232.88 GB NTFS
Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition)

Marlon

 

[MilesAhead]

I would format the SSD then do step by step what you did the first time.

edit: also take a look through the Tutorials section. I'm sure there's several concerning SSDs and their various configuration options.

 

[Notpretty]

I would format the SSD then do step by step what you did the first time.

edit: also take a look through the Tutorials section. I'm sure there's several concerning SSDs and their various configuration options.

Does this tell you/me that he drive is set up with a partition correctly?

My Solid State Drive says at the Disk Management Screen:

232.88 GB NTFS
Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition)

And, FYI...no I didn't clone my doc's, pics, etc...I excluded all of them.

 

[Ranger4]

Before you do a reinstall on the SSD disconnect your existing HDD completely, so the SSD is the only drive connected then follow the clean install in the Tutorial section.

 

[whs]

We really need a picture of your disk management. It sounds like your bootmgr landed on another disk during the installation.

If you reinstall, it is important you do what Ranger4 says.

 

[gregrocker]

If the SSD OS partition says it's System Active then it has what it needs to boot.

With all other HD's disconnected boot into the WIn7 installer to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until it starts.

If that fails then post back Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

 

[MilesAhead]

I have a feeling the clone software is not capable of reducing the image size. Just a wild guess the OP needs something that can make images only as large as the used space on a partition and write that out to a smaller drive.

 

[Notpretty]

I did as everyone suggested. I went in and killed the partition using the win 7 upgrade set up disc (Custom). After I killed the partition it would not allow me to format the drive, but does give the option to select "New" meaning new drive. I clicked next and proceeded with the install with the other drives plugged in...should have unplugged, but I think it worked. I will run a test in a couple hours...not at home now...to confirm I can unplug and boot fine off just the ssd. I think it will work. I'll post the results. Thanks for the help.

Damn...SSD boot and app start up is fast. Can't wait to try a game. Cheers.

 

[gregrocker]

You should have all other HD's unplugged during any install.

And you need to create a New partition before you have anything to Format. But it's OK since the installer will format even if you forget, or don't even create a new partition.

 

[Notpretty]

Well I did not unplug the hard drives when I did the install but I just ran a test and it booted fine with them unplugged. Do you think I need to redo this again everything seems operate correctly and fast, very fast. installing a game now hoping it's faster than before.

 

[gregrocker]

No need to do it over if SSD will boot itself, and performance is good.

Did you delete everything on the SSD during install? If not better post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

 

[whs]

If it runs, I would leave it as is. The position of the bootmgr with a new installation depends on the portsequence of the disk onto which you install. Apparently you were lucky and had the right port for the SSD.