Solved What Device shall I get for £70

[Infinite]

What Device shall I get for £70

I was thinking to either get a 19" Monitor or a XBOX 360 for £70 if I save the other £80 too of course.

But then I was thinking about upgrading my PC.

My Specs are in my Profile, do you guys think I should get a 64GB SSD Crucial M4:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT064M4SSD2

And a 2.5 to 3.5 inch bracket and the tools I need.

What do you guys think around £70-£120 the best upgrade for my computer can get me.

My current Hard Drives are 2 HD in Raid 0 which I do not know how to stop.

If I do get the SSD I want each HD seperate so in Computer it shows SSD - 64GB, Hard Drive 500GB, Hard Drive 2 500GB.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Without a doubt a SSD is the single best upgrade you could do. It will beat any RAID0 hands-down so I would definately get that.

Once you have that, and are ready to install, then :

1. Back up any data on your RAID0 to an external drive.
2. Enter your BIOS, and break the RAID using the setting in the BIOS.
3. Physically unplug the 2 x HDD's from the motherboard.
4. Install the SSD.
5. Boot from your Windows installation media and install to the SSD
6. Once you have everything you want installed to the SSD, reconnect the 2 x HDD's
7. In Windows, format these 2 x HDD's and copy your saved data back to them.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Infinite]

2. Enter your BIOS, and break the RAID using the setting in the BIOS.

Regards,
Golden

Thanks Golden, but how would I be able to do that, I do not know the Motherboard or BIOS name for you to be able to tell the exact instructions.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Download and install HWINFO32

When you open it, there is a section that will give you your BIOS information - once you have that, you could try to find the manufacturers manual to see what the RAID procedure is.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Infinite]

Here:

 

[Golden]

Triple check that this is correct :

Foxconn - Products: Motherboard

http://www.foxconnsupport.com/downl...eries=en-us0000014&keywords=&sort=Motherboard Manual

 

[Infinite]

Yes, it is LGA 1155, the computer came with a Foxconn MotherBoard Utility Disk.

And the computer I got online specs say so:

Foxconn H67M-S/H67M-V/H67 this is from HwInfo32.

And the max memory is 32 GB.

 

[Infinite]

There's only 8USB Ports though

 

[Golden]

Thats OK, it will be the same BIOS setup.

Once you have your SSD, post back here and we'll help you get everything setup.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Infinite]

Though, I want to remove RAID0 Now

Here are some BIOS Screenshots:
http://i44.tinypic.com/lfgc6.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/fum0zd.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/wsjpti.jpg
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/img0204pv.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/img0205t.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/img0208ts.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/img0207hp.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/img0206wu.jpg/

Whoops didn't know they were upside down, can you rotate them or do you need me to?

 

[Golden]

Gah - can you rotate and repost please.

 

[Infinite]

1 - http://i43.tinypic.com/2myu9sp.jpg
2 - http://i39.tinypic.com/2w539mh.jpg
3 - http://i40.tinypic.com/34oqb0k.jpg
4 - http://i40.tinypic.com/175x1g.jpg
5 - http://i41.tinypic.com/jb77cy.jpg
6 - http://i40.tinypic.com/kxm3d.jpg
7 - http://i43.tinypic.com/20zcnkw.jpg
8 - http://i39.tinypic.com/wjyici.jpg

 

[Golden]

See if you can downlaod the manual here:

Foxconn Support - Download Manual

Find the section that deals with RAID (its probably in the SATA Configuration menu of one of those images you posted, but its better to double-check against the actual manual).

You can screen capture from the manual and paste it here using the paperclip icon.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Infinite]

Though, how do I get to Intel Rapid Storage Manager?

Also will I need to Reinstall Windows? It might be my chance to replace my 32 Bit OS with 64 Bit since I have 8GB Ram.

 

[Golden]

Check the top of Page 73 of your manual - the section entitled 5-2 BIOS Configuration.

5-2 BIOS Configuration

1. Enter the BIOS setup by pressing <DEL> key during the POST(Power On Self Test).
2. Select the "SATA Configuration" from the "Advanced", then set the "SATA Mode" op-
tion to [RAID Mode].
3. Press <F4> to save the setting then PC will reboot itself.

Aptio Setup Utility - Copyright (C) 2010 American Megatrends, Inc.


Regards,
Golden

 

[Infinite]

Ok, one last thing before I proceed, will it delete Windows 7 from Hard Drive?

 

[Golden]

Yes it will - you will need to reinstall Windows to one of those disks (do NOT forget to plug the other one out of the motherboard until the installation is completed).

Make sure you have everything backed up and your Windows installation DVD (is it a retail one?) and your key handy. Once you are sure, check again to make sure you have everything ready.

Regards,
Golden

EDIT: Strictly speaking it doesn't "delete" Windows, but its unusable since the RAID0 has been broken. Reinstall Windows to one of these disks, formatting the disk just prior to installing.

 

[Infinite]

Thank you so much Golden - RAID 0 Removed, didn't need to remove the other Hard Drive. Currently at 78% on Copying Windows Files. Writing this from my iPhone, maybe it was the RAID stopping me installing Windows 7 64 Bit.

I hope my computer doesn't brake for not removing the other Hard Drive :S

Thanks Again

 

[Infinite]

OS Set Up and running without RAID But now I can't see the other 465 GB Drive

Formatting in Disk Management now

EDIT: Finally - No RAID 0, and 2 465GB Hard Drives with the 2nd Empty.

 

[Golden]

Good stuff.