Intel SSD's and Windows 7

[MetricGnome]

There seems to be a ton of confusion about what settings one should be changing when making the switch to an Intel SSD, or any SSD for that matter.

I am using an 80GB Intel X-25M SSD.

C:\ = 60GB - 59.7GB useable
Z:\ = 15GB - 14.5GB useable

Here is a quick and easy list of things to do, to make life easier!

Step 1. Go to: http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ and download the free trial.

Step 2: Back up your shit!

Step 3: Back up your shit somewhere else!

Step 4: Go to: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363

Step 5: Toss firmware on usb stick and upgrade your SSD

Step 6: Put your SSD into IDE mode in your BIOS

Step 7: Install Windows 7

Step 8: Switch SSD from IDE mode to AHCI mode in your BIOS

Step 9: Let Windows install your SATA drivers!!!

Step 10: Disable Scheduled Disk Defragmenter

Step 11: Go to: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18455 and install the Intel SSD Toolbox - Run it once for good measure, setup a 2 week schedule and forget about it.

Step 12: Go to: http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskMark/index-e.html and run Crystal Disk Mark - Your results should be similar to the below.

Step 13: Start > Run > msconfig > Boot > Check "No GUI Boot" > Check "OS Boot Information" > Set Timeout to 5 seconds.

Step 14: Post your results!

 

[nsx241]

Some of your steps are out of order. 6 should come before 5. 8 should definitely go before 7. 10 is unnecessary - windows 7 does it automatically. 9 is not something you actually need to do. 11 is unnecessary, you don't need to schedule it if you run windows 7.

 

[Surly73]

Why the hell would you disable AHCI to install Win7?

The Intel firmware instructions say that AHCI or IDE mode can be used (but not RAID) in almost all cases but I can see the paranoid using IDE mode for the firmware upgrade. After that point AHCI should be on to increase performance an minimize/eliminate any problems with AHCI and driver issues after you've installed the OS.

Turn AHCI off to do firmware, then back on before installing the OS. You don't need to disable defrag service either, Win7 defrag should just skip any SSD devices. What happens if you also have a mechanical HDD for data? Now it wouldn't get defragged either.

It's a nice attempt at a succinct guide including links, thanks, but I don't agree with everything seen here.

 

[MixManSC]

I agree with Surly. If Windows 7 properly detects the SSD it will be omitted from the defrag scheduler. Also no point at all installing Windows 7 with it in IDE mode, you might need IDE mode for the firmware to install (seems to be the case on some mobos - mine installed the firmware fine with BIOS set to AHCI) but thats it. Windows 7 installs just fine in AHCI mode so no need to install Windows 7 in IDE mode then dick with things to get it changed to AHCI.