the computer questions/problems thread

[slackerbot]

Windows 7 has SSD in mind. that's why i usually recommend doing a fresh install, instead of doing an image copy from your old drive. that way Windows setup can make all the correct settings for the SSD.

[lakeside resort]

Originally Posted by slackerbot

- buy off the shelf computer
- buy SSD
- look for recovery DVD in box. or burn a copy, if it's stored in the hard drive.
- remove or unplug hard drive.
- install SSD.
- insert recovery DVD in optical drive
- turn on computer
- follow instructions to install/restore Windows
- after everything is done, shut down, reconnect the hard drive
- boot up. wipe the hard drive.
- install programs to SSD and store files on hard drive.
- also point your audio/photo/video editors to the hard drive for scratch/temp disk

after I finish this process, and before I wipe the HDD, the computer will boot from the OS on the SSD and not the HDD, right? hopefully that's not too stupid of a question.

[kamenriderv3]

you should be able to specify which drive to boot from in the bios. if you can't tell which is which, when looking in the bios, then you could connect only the ssd first.

[lakeside resort]

I just read on some forum that you're supposed to update the firmware for an SSD before installing anything on it. Where would that step fit into this process?

[kamenriderv3]

probably at the start but it depends on how the firmware is installed. if it's on a bootable cd then you can boot from it.

might be a good idea to just do most of your setup with only the ssd connected. add the old hard drive after things are working with the ssd.

[slackerbot]

when did you buy the ssd? check the manufacture date and the firmware date. you probably already have the most current firmware.

[lakeside resort]

I just got it last week, but it's not the most recent release. It's a Samsung 830 128 GB. Should I run the packaged "Magician" software, which prepares the disk and automatically checks for firmware updates? And then install the OS on the SSD? Or should I install the OS and then run the firmware updates?


Edit:

It looks like I can make a bootable USB with this Magician software and then use it to update the firmware. So would I:

- connect the SSD to my new computer
- create the bootable USB
- shut down and disconnect the HDD
- restart the computer and boot from the USB
- update firmware and shutdown
- install the OS to the SSD with recovery disk
- shut down and reconnect HDD
- boot from SSD and then wipe the HDD

???

[kamenriderv3]

there's other similar routes to get to the same results but that's a good plan.

[lakeside resort]

shit balls. I just got this computer and it looks like this model only has one SATA III port. wtf. so is there any way for me to add an SSD as a boot drive in addition to the stock HDD?

can I just move the HDD over to one of the SATA 2s since an HDD doesn't reach full SATA III speed anyway? and then use the SSD on the SATA III?

[slackerbot]

are you sure? even the low end computers come with at least 4 sata ports.

[lakeside resort]

it has four sata ports: three sata ii and one sata iii.

[joetron2030]

Yes, put the SSD on the SATA3 port and the HDD on the SATA2 port.

[lakeside resort]

hey dudes. so I'm up and running on my SSD. how do I wipe my HDD? I tried using DBAN but I kept getting a nonfatal error message. how do I clean my SSD of all the Dell bloatware?

[slackerbot]

you can use the add/remove programs thing in the control panel to remove all the Dell bloatware.

for the HDD, just format it.

[lakeside resort]

sweet. thanks for all your help, dudes.