If I purchase a newer laptop with Win8 then replace it with Win7, will the M-SATA still be recognised ?
I'm using a M-SATA SSD drive on a Windows 7 laptop fine.
Like I said, it will depend on whether you can find working windows 7 drivers for your hardware.
I'm using one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT2...TF8&qid=1375132505&sr=8-1&keywords=m-sata+ssd
In a Alienware M17xR4, was windows 7 from new. I can't imagine any currentish laptops with M-sata slots wouldn't support using Win7, but I could be wrong.