Another ssd question, well a couple really.

razer

razer

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Hi ,Im thinking of installing a ssd in my pc, Its a HPxw64000. my questions are, 1, my pc only has sata2 , would I benefit from installing a sata3 card. 2. if I did a complete new install, can I back up from my external hard drive after. and 3. My pc is a refurb, can I still use the refurb code on the pc to activate windows 7 again. Thanks.
 
1. Put simply, I’d say it’s unlikely that you’ll notice a difference in real terms between SATA 2 and SATA 3 as the bottlenecks at that point will be elsewhere in the system. Technically though most modern SSDs will choke on SATA 2.

2. If you mean backup your existing Windows partition to an external HDD and then restore that to a newly installed SSD – technically you can, but I would strongly advise against it. It is far, far better practice to do a fresh install of Windows on the SSD.

3. There shouldn’t be any reason why not. If you run into issues you can just ring Microsoft and explain you needed to replace the hard drive and they should sort out the activation for you.
 
HI Greg thanks for replying.
1. I understand that by going through SATA 2 it will reduce the speed from the SSD, I can live that. Its still going to be faster than the HDD.
2. On the subject of the back up from my external, I was only thinking about all my folders and programs.. I will be putting them on my old HDD and using it as storage, I intend to partition the SSD, not quite sure as how to do that, or what size to make them. Im not sure as to do a clean install or do a clone.
3. I thought it may be the case.
Thanks
 
1. Agreed, to be honest you need to be running a top end system and doing something demanding like shifting raw video around a lot (or something along those lines) for the limitations of SATA 2 to be a “problem” in reality outside of synthetic benchmarks and wot-not. You should definitely see a big improvement with the addition of an SSD even on SATA 2.

2. In that case I would backup what data you want to keep to the external HDD; then I would make a single new partition on the SSD which is the same size as the drive – this is basically what happens by default when you follow through the Windows install (so just follow the Windows install through and it will guide you through this). Then setup Windows and install your programs as you want, format the internal HDD and then copy over your data from the external HDD. If you don’t have the original system restore/Windows disc you can download an ISO of Windows and stick that on a USB drive to install from, then use your existing Windows activation key. All I would say is I’d avoid cloning a mechanical drive to an SDD unless you are well versed in doing this; it’s potentially more trouble than it’s worth.
 
I have tried cloning to SSD from HDD with no problem.
If you are asking if restoring your folders i.e. Data not programmes, then that shouldn't be an issue.
I have a 131gb system partition on mine and the other partition is data. If doing a clean install consider a register fiddle that uses you D drive as your user folder.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location.html (Option two)
 
Thanks guy's , Im still not sure what route to take regards the cloning or fresh install yet, but I will read a bit more first.
 
Restoring a windows install from a HDD to a SSD could give problems if the original install was set us as an IDE partition rather than a AHCI partition. It's hard to change once set up, and requires some registry tweaking. A SSD drive set up as IDE and not AHCI will lose a great deal of performance.

It's always better to start from scratch.
 
Thanks all, I think I will go with a fresh install. I just hope I can get back all my folders, and programs off my external HDD after.
I have just looked and my system as it is was installed with the ide, now I can change it before I do a new install to the AHCI but all I have in bois is RAID+AHCI, will that do ?.
 
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You can try updating your bios - to see if gives you some new options.

RAID + AHCI should do they trick though.

Also, might be worth upgrading your RAM if you have less than 4GB.

You will see major improvements by installing a SSD - even it is SATA 2.
 
To OP and original post
1) massive performance increases. Absolutely noticeable. I use my ssd raid system as windows system drive and stores the swap file...the performance gain is incredible. A core2duo system will feel incredibly fast after the upupgradr.

2) I believe all of the backup system has HDD to SSD migration options so there abuldnt be a problem. Even with IDE and AHCI but that's at BIOS level

3) code can be reused.
 
Hi thanks. I did try the clone route, but it just kept going around and around. I have a feeling it to do with the fact that as some of you have point out. my HDD was running in IDE, and Im running the SSD, in AHCI. I have the SSD running with windows 7 installed. im just seeing if I can get all my folders and files on . I have no idea what im doing tho. The one thing I want back is my Email. I have that on Thunderbird, If I down load it on to SSD , is there anyway I can access all my old emails ?. Sphinx. I have 16GBb ram installed.
 
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Not 100% sure, but emails might be kept somewhere within thunderbird folder. Should be just a matter of copying it across.

Even though the original hdd was on ide, you will be able to access it still.
 
razer said:
Hi thanks. I did try the clone route, but it just kept going around and around. I have a feeling it to do with the fact that as some of you have point out. my HDD was running in IDE, and Im running the SSD, in AHCI. I have the SSD running with windows 7 installed. im just seeing if I can get all my folders and files on . I have no idea what im doing tho. The one thing I want back is my Email. I have that on Thunderbird, If I down load it on to SSD , is there anyway I can access all my old emails ?. Sphinx. I have 16GBb ram installed.
Click to expand...


Download a program called Moz Back up.

http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/

Then back up Firefox and Thunderbird.
 
OK, update, I have done a complete new install . with windows 7 . but I have a problem, I cant get full resolution on my monitor, not like I had before. it only goes up to 1600 X 1220. not the 1900 or whet ever it is, any ideas on how I can et it back.
 
Download the latest video/graphics drivers and also the same for your monitor
 
Thanks for that Sphinx, it did the trick. how ever on start up this morning I noticed I have two versions of windows 7 on the ssd, one is windows 7 , the other one says windows 7 repaired. I have managed to stop the screen from asking me what one to run from. but how do I get rid of it all together as its taking up disc space.
 
Right click the drive and run disk clean up and choose system files option
 
Thanks to every one that's help me. I know have a up and running system.
 
razer said:
Hi ,Im thinking of installing a ssd in my pc, Its a HPxw64000. my questions are, 1, my pc only has sata2 , would I benefit from installing a sata3 card. 2. if I did a complete new install, can I back up from my external hard drive after. and 3. My pc is a refurb, can I still use the refurb code on the pc to activate windows 7 again. Thanks.
Click to expand...


Ive just updated to SSD and just kept the old HDD complete with the OS so I could I theory jut swap it back in if I had a complete failure, though im not sure how you stand in terms of the OS Licence.
 
I found I had the licence code on the side of the PC. so it was all easy in the end.
 
Overexposed said:
Ive just updated to SSD and just kept the old HDD complete with the OS so I could I theory jut swap it back in if I had a complete failure, though im not sure how you stand in terms of the OS Licence.
Click to expand...
You should use your HDD as a system backup. There are plenty backup software out there free that does a system drive clone. My SSD 1 raid is backup using this. While have redundancy, i don't want the risk of losing data.
 
Thanks, I now have my old HDD as my second drive,, and brought a Seagate 3TB external HDD. so hopefully im well covered now, the on thing I have noticed tho is that, windows7 wont back up to anything over 1 TB.
 
razer said:
Thanks, I now have my old HDD as my second drive,, and brought a Seagate 3TB external HDD. so hopefully im well covered now, the on thing I have noticed tho is that, windows7 wont back up to anything over 1 TB.
Click to expand...

Might be because you have a 32bit OS?
 
yes , but I cant recall what. but I read up and it says that it won't do a system back up if your external HDD is over 1 TB.
 
razer said:
yes , but I cant recall what. but I read up and it says that it won't do a system back up if your external HDD is over 1 TB.
Click to expand...

Didn't know that, I just make a system image every few months.

I have Win64 with a 2Tb external drive connected and it has worked fine for a few years now.
 
I have just tried to run it again just out of interest, and this is what I get . The request could not be performed because of a I/O device error. Error code Ox8078002A.
 
I will have a look into it, but im sure it said it cant do it to a drive that's over 1tb .
 
It is usually because your external drive is formatted as fat - reformat it as NTFS.
 
As suggested, try a format first, if not you it could be a possibility that the hard drive is failing.

Once formatted, open a command prompt and do chkdsk /f. H:

Replace h: with the drive letter of your external drive.

It wont do a surface scan, but it may tell you if the drive is buggered.

Other than that, you can try downloading diagnostic software of your drive, it may tell you the SMART status which may tell you if you the drive is failing.
 
Just had a thought. It may not be the drive, it could also be a problem with the enclosure.

But try the above first and let us know what happens.
 
Go to your computer management from control panel and select storage management from the left hand window. In there you should see the USB drive. Now you need to right click on the drive on the bottom left window and convert it to a GPTD or something alone that line. That will unlock 3TB. On older motherboards you may need to update your chip set driver usually have a software or driver called "3TB unlocked". Also google "how to unlock 3TB in windows 7" that should bring up a few YouTube videos with the method I described.
 
thanks, it will give me something to try tomorrow . I will let you know how it goes. by the way , its a new external hard drive .
 
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I'm considering getting an SSD too, trying to put it off as long as possible though as the price really seems to be dropping just now. Figure I could get double the size in a few months for a similar price.
I suppose that sums up computing and electronics in general though!
 
Ok , update, I have reformatted the Seagate external hard drive, and im doing the back up from there dashboard. I have it set to back up continually also.
Tom don't put it off do it now, its the best thing I have done, my pc runs so much faster, and starts so much quicker, and I only have sata 2 , im well happy. :)
 
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