KoRnGtL15Premium
join:2007-01-04
Grants Pass, OR | [WIN7] Reload OS with ssd and hdd? I have a new custom built pc coming my way from HP. I need to do a clean install of windows 7. I know how to do it. BUT. Have never done a install of windows 7 with 2 drives attached. Especially with one being a ssd. Many say to disconnect the hdd during install. And have only the ssd hooked up. Others say it does not make a difference or not if the hdd is unplugged. I heard it can cause install problems if you leave both drives hooked up? So what is the deal? Does anyone have real input that has installed windows 7 with 2 drives hooked up during install? Specifically one being a ssd? Also my other concern is with the ssd during a reinstall of windows 7. Once I choose to delete everything. Do I make a new partition and not format it after? Since I heard formatting is not good or needed for a ssd. It is a 160gb ssd and I want to use the whole thing any ways. My other drive will be a storage drive which is a 500gb hdd. Do I just leave that alone during the install of 7? |
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1 edit | said by KoRnGtL15:Especially with one being a ssd. Many say to disconnect the hdd during install. And have only the ssd hooked up. Others say it does not make a difference or not if the hdd is unplugged. I heard it can cause install problems if you leave both drives hooked up? So what is the deal?
Not sure what specific problems these "other" people are referring to. That's a vague statement. I just built a custom gaming rig for a customer; 1 SSD and 1 mechanical HDD. I installed Windows 7 on the SSD. No problems whatsoever during the installation.
said by KoRnGtL15:Also my other concern is with the ssd during a reinstall of windows 7. Once I choose to delete everything. Do I make a new partition and not format it after? Since I heard formatting is not good or needed for a ssd. It is a 160gb ssd and I want to use the whole thing any ways. My other drive will be a storage drive which is a 500gb hdd. Do I just leave that alone during the install of 7?
1) Make sure you download the latest drivers from HP's website before you start.
2). Installing Windows 7 is easy. There is nothing to sweat. This website will walk you through STEP-BY-STEP on how to install Windows 7. The directions in that link spell out various scenarios and how to install Win 7. Since the PC is coming preconfigured from HP, I assume that Windows 7 will be loaded on one of the 2 hard drives. It is INCONCEIVABLE that they will ship a PC to a customer without a OS loaded. Therefore you need to choose the "custom" installation and format the the solid state drive (if indeed Win 7 is loaded on it). Again, the link that I provided should give you sufficient information. |
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 redxiiPremium,Mod
join:2001-02-26
Sherwood, MI
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| reply to KoRnGtL15
You have to format a partition if you want to use it. You can't avoid that.
I've never unplugged other drives when installing Windows, or heard of problems resulting from that. Windows is certainly capable of handling more than one drive. Any issues with that, it is probably a user error, resulting in the user accidentally formatting or repartitioning the wrong disk. If you can disconnect a hard drive, you can certainly tell which is which.
Just keep both connected, and partition/format the SSD to your liking. Create one partition on the SSD to cover the whole capacity, then install Windows.
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Moe, I need your advice… See I've got this friend named Joey Joe-Joe... Junior... Shabadoo.. |
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 BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 | reply to KoRnGtL15
The reason to disconnect the hdd is so the boot drive is created on the ssd if the hdd is detected as the first drive. Just connect the hdd after the installation is done. |
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ShootistPremium
join:2003-02-10
Decatur, GA
kudos:3 Reviews:
 ·AT&T Southeast
| said by BlitzenZeus:The reason to disconnect the hdd is so the boot drive is created on the ssd if the hdd is detected as the first drive. Just connect the hdd after the installation is done.
BlitenZeus is correct in his assessment of why to only have one drive connected while installing the OS. But that can gotten around by just installing to the first drive that come up on the top of the l;ist of drive to install to. But with a SSD and HDD installed if the SSD is the second drive in the list and you install to it the OS will place the 100MB System Reserve partition on the HDD. You don't want that.
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 plencnerbPremium
join:2000-09-25
Elgin, IL
kudos:1 | reply to KoRnGtL15
If you are worried about which drive comes up first in the list, I know in the past I have verified which drive comes up first in the BIOS, which of course depends on which drive is plugged into which SATA port on your motherboard.
Now, I've never worked with SSD drives before, but in the case of my last build I did, I had a 1 TB and a 500 GB HD installed. My 500 GB is a backup drive, so I plugged that into SATA port #2, and my 1 TB drive into SATA port #1. No matter how many times you reboot, the drive on SATA port #1 will always be first on the list. To round it out, I plugged my SATA CD/DVD Drive into SATA Port #3, as I wanted the drive letters to go C for 1 TB, D for 500 GB, and E for CD/DVD. Since they were plugged in that order on the motherboard, there was no issue.
Again, I don't know if this is true with SSD drives, but I would think they would be.
--Brian
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--Brian Plencner
E-Mail: CoasterBrian72Cancer@gmail.com
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| reply to Shootist
said by Shootist:said by BlitzenZeus:The reason to disconnect the hdd is so the boot drive is created on the ssd if the hdd is detected as the first drive. Just connect the hdd after the installation is done.
BlitenZeus is correct in his assessment of why to only have one drive connected while installing the OS. But that can gotten around by just installing to the first drive that come up on the top of the l;ist of drive to install to. But with a SSD and HDD installed if the SSD is the second drive in the list and you install to it the OS will place the 100MB System Reserve partition on the HDD. You don't want that. I think both of your are overly cautious (paranoid ?) about windows being installed on the wrong drive. So what if Windows 7 gets installed on the mechanical HDD - is that such a big deal ? Just reformat it and start over! Unless someone is easily confused or a computer novice, it is difficult to get a SSD and a HDD mixed up.
I've done several windows installation on a PC with 2 or more hard drives. As long as you pay attention to what you are doing during the install, there should be no (ZERO) problems. |
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BlitzenZeusBurnt Out CynicPremium
join:2000-01-13
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·Frontier FiOS
| Apparently your comprehension sucks if you don't get how the bootloader on the wrong drive can be a problem. Windows would not be installed to the wrong drive, the bootloader would be installed to the wrong drive.
This is why you do it right the first time, and not have to reinstall to fix a stupid problem like having your bootloader on the wrong drive. If it was placed on the hdd, if the hdd was ever removed, or not the booting drive in the bios then the system wouldn't boot into windows which wouldn't make any sense at first since this is not a software multi-booting situation. The simple act of disconnecting the hdd during the installation will guarantee the bootloader is on the ssd. Noobs don't think about this kind of stuff until it's too late, and think it will be fine.
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I distrust those people who know so well what god wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires- Susan B. Anthony
Yesterday we obeyed kings, and bent out necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to the truth- Kahlil G. |
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| said by BlitzenZeus:Apparently your comprehension sucks if you don't get how the bootloader on the wrong drive can be a problem. Windows would not be installed to the wrong drive, the bootloader would be installed to the wrong drive.
This is why you do it right the first time, and not have to reinstall to fix a stupid problem like having your bootloader on the wrong drive. If it was placed on the hdd, if the hdd was ever removed, or not the booting drive in the bios then the system wouldn't boot into windows which wouldn't make any sense at first since this is not a software multi-booting situation. The simple act of disconnecting the hdd during the installation will guarantee the bootloader is on the ssd. Noobs don't think about this kind of stuff until it's too late, and think it will be fine.
Your post says it all. You are da man. We bow down in your humble presence. Everyone *sucks* but you - right? Only a juvenile would post such comments. |
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 JBpX
join:2009-05-14 | Zeus is right  |
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KoRnGtL15Premium
join:2007-01-04
Grants Pass, OR | reply to Tushmeister
Thank you very much and everyone else for the valuable input. Question. I seen the instructions from the link that tells me how to install it using the "format" option. Which is what I would need to do in my case it seems. Since windows 7 will be pre-installed from the factory. But, what is the difference between doing that and just straight out deleting the partition with the little 100mb boot file as well? Could I essentially do that as well while highlighting the ssd and hitting next for the install? Or is that when the boot file has a possible chance of getting on the hdd? With the format option. I was not sure if it formats both the partition and that little 100mb boot file? Specifically when selecting only the partition and clicking on "format"? I hope I am not making it sound confusing and you guys understand what I am trying to say....
said by Tushmeister:said by KoRnGtL15:Especially with one being a ssd. Many say to disconnect the hdd during install. And have only the ssd hooked up. Others say it does not make a difference or not if the hdd is unplugged. I heard it can cause install problems if you leave both drives hooked up? So what is the deal?
Not sure what specific problems these "other" people are referring to. That's a vague statement. I just built a custom gaming rig for a customer; 1 SSD and 1 mechanical HDD. I installed Windows 7 on the SSD. No problems whatsoever during the installation. said by KoRnGtL15:Also my other concern is with the ssd during a reinstall of windows 7. Once I choose to delete everything. Do I make a new partition and not format it after? Since I heard formatting is not good or needed for a ssd. It is a 160gb ssd and I want to use the whole thing any ways. My other drive will be a storage drive which is a 500gb hdd. Do I just leave that alone during the install of 7?
1) Make sure you download the latest drivers from HP's website before you start. 2). Installing Windows 7 is easy. There is nothing to sweat. This website will walk you through STEP-BY-STEP on how to install Windows 7. The directions in that link spell out various scenarios and how to install Win 7. Since the PC is coming preconfigured from HP, I assume that Windows 7 will be loaded on one of the 2 hard drives. It is INCONCEIVABLE that they will ship a PC to a customer without a OS loaded. Therefore you need to choose the "custom" installation and format the the solid state drive (if indeed Win 7 is loaded on it). Again, the link that I provided should give you sufficient information. |
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plencnerbPremium
join:2000-09-25
Elgin, IL
kudos:1 | reply to KoRnGtL15
Bad Link? |
First, if you click on the link as it is in your post (which is what I did), I get the page shown in my above picture.
The link, as you posted it directly, is below. I put it in the code tags so that it would not be converted to an actual link. This was taken by doing a right-click on the link (as you can see, I'm running waterfox), and selecting "Copy Link Location". What comes up in the actual browser window is a bit different, as you can see in the attached picture.
http://http//windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-7
So, I did want to point that out. Now, I don't know if this was your intent or not, or if that was a mistake on your part. So, please don't take this the wrong way if that is how you wanted to post it. I was just a bit surprised when you said "will walk you through STEP-BY-STEP on how to install Windows 7.", and when I clicked on it, all I saw was links to things that had nothing to do with the install of Windows 7 at all.
Now, I did figure out that if you remove the part before the first slash, and use the rest of the URL, you do get the page that you are talking about.
While that page is on Microsoft's site, and it does a great job of giving you the steps, I think it would be better if there was pictures. Reading all that text (at least to me), makes the install process seem that much more difficult then it needs to be.
Really, I wanted to point out that the link may not be exactly what you want it to be, and that might confuse someone.
--Brian
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============================
--Brian Plencner
E-Mail: CoasterBrian72Cancer@gmail.com
Note: Kill Cancer to Reply via e-mail |
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joewhoPremium
join:2004-08-20
Dundee, IL Reviews:
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·AT&T Midwest
1 edit | My opinion, and they are just opinions, is that you should correctly configue the jumpers on the hard drive, and correctly plug them into the mother board. If you have only two drives, then plug the ssd into the main slot and the hdd into the secondary slot, while having the jumpers configued correspondingly. Bios will confirm the configuration.
In other words, use the jumpers to make the ssd the main drive and the hdd the secondary (storage) drive, then look up your motherboard to confirm which drive gets plugged into which slot.
Edit for spelling, which is really a typo. |
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 billaustinthey call me Mr. BillPremium,MVM
join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV
kudos:2 | reply to KoRnGtL15
This is what I would recommend, and is actually very simple. Get a copy of Acronis True Image (I used the 2011 version). When the new PC arrives, boot with the TI CD (You may have to install it on another PC, and then create the boot CD, or just connect them as drives two and three and do the cloning with the other PC). Clone the HD to the SSD. Remove the HD and boot with the SSD connected to the first SATA port. Go through the HP Setup and then configure the PC the way you want it (Be sure to make a set of Recovery DVD's in case you need them in the future). I don't see the need to go through all the effort to do a 'clean install' of Windows 7. It's not going to come with anything from HP than can't be removed (If you do go that route, be sure to download all the necessary drivers from the HP site before getting started).
Be sure to check the manual and software for the SSD. I put a Samsung SSD (128GB) in my work laptop. Samsung recommends only using 90% of the drives capacity, and leaving the balance as un-partitioned space, so the SSD has something to work with to do housecleaning. They also recommend turning off things like defragmenting and file indexing. |
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billaustinthey call me Mr. BillPremium,MVM
join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV
kudos:2 | reply to joewho
Your opinion is sound, for drives using an IDE (PATA) interface. SATA drives don't have jumpers to specify Primary and Secondary. It is determined by the SATA port the drive is connected to. Unless you specify otherwise in the BIOS, or use the boot menu to override, the PC boots from the lowest numbered SATA port that has a drive attached. |
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 jaaPremium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
kudos:2
·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
| reply to KoRnGtL15
With XP, if you had two drives attached it could assign letter "d" or "e" to your boot drive (ssd) and "c" to the hdd. Not sure if 7 would do the same thing. Leaving the hdd unplugged during setup would solve that problem.
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NOTHING justifies terrorism. We don't negotiate with terrorists. Those that support terrorists are terrorists. |
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jaaPremium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Optimum Online
·Vonage
| reply to joewho
said by joewho:My opinion, and they are just opinions, is that you should correctly configue the jumpers on the hard drive, and correctly plug them into the mother board. If you have only two drives, then plug the ssd into the main slot and the hdd into the secondary slot, while having the jumpers configued correspondingly. Bios will confirm the configuration.
In other words, use the jumpers to make the ssd the main drive and the hdd the secondary (storage) drive, then look up your motherboard to confirm which drive gets plugged into which slot.
Edit for spelling, which is really a typo.
What is a jumper?? 
Seriously, do ssd and sata drives have jumpers? AFAIK, jumpers are for pata drives when they share a cable to identify one as master and one as slave.
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NOTHING justifies terrorism. We don't negotiate with terrorists. Those that support terrorists are terrorists. |
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ShootistPremium
join:2003-02-10
Decatur, GA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to BlitzenZeus
said by BlitzenZeus:Apparently your comprehension sucks
Well you made my Saturday morning. I am sitting here LMAO.
Thank you VERY MUCH.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ******** |
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ShootistPremium
join:2003-02-10
Decatur, GA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Tushmeister
said by Tushmeister:Your post says it all. You are da man. We bow down in your humble presence. Everyone *sucks* but you - right? Only a juvenile would post such comments.
And only a juvenile would assume that doing a reinstall after you screwed up the first one by not removing the spinning hard drives before you started the install on a SSD would be just fine. Like everyone has the time to start from scratch after following your suggestion.
But then you know what is BEST for everyone.
Get REAL.
The only way to assure the OS and system reserve partition is place on the same drive during the install of Win 7 is to remove/disconnect all other drives while you are doing the install. It really does not matter if you are using all spinning drives or all SSDs or a mixture of both.
But then if you actually knew something you would know this.
Have a great day.
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plencnerbPremium
join:2000-09-25
Elgin, IL
kudos:1 | I'm trying to figure out how to say what I want to say, without coming off the wrong way.
So, I'm going to quote what Shootist said above
said by Shootist:The only way to assure the OS and system reserve partition is place on the same drive during the install of Win 7 is to remove/disconnect all other drives while you are doing the install.
Really? I have a 1 TB Western Digital Hard Drive, a 500 GB Western Digital Hard Drive, and a LG DVD/CD Burner.
If I was to open my case to my desktop, and take a SATA Cable and run it from my 1 TB HD, and plug it into SATA Port #1 on my motherboard, and then take another SATA Cable and run it from my 500 GB HD, and plug it into SATA Port #2 on my motherboard, and finally take a 3rd SATA cable, and run it from my CD/DVD drive to my motherboard. Then, if I boot the computer, and go into BIOS, and verify the order of the drives, that there is still a chance that, if during the install process of Windows 7, I select my 1 TB drive as the drive I want to install Windows 7 onto (as that is why I put that on SATA #1), that it will somehow install parts to the 500 GB Drive?
With that logic, it seems that if I have only 1 hard drive plugged into SATA Port #1, and a DVD drive plugged into SATA port #2, there is a chance that the install will FAIL, as it will try to write the system reserve partition to the device plugged into SATA #2, which is a DVD/CD drive! If I use your logic, I should find a way to connect my DVD drive to my USB port, so that the only device I have connected internally is my ONE HD! I would not want to screw up the install by having it trying to write to the device on the 2nd SATA port, even though its not a hard drive, but you think there is some way that it could.
Maybe I have put to much faith in the motherboard designers that they know what they are doing. Maybe I am looking at this wrong, and that if you have 2 hard drives (regardless of type) on port #1 and port #2, that REALLY means both items are on SATA Port #1. 
I just don't get how, if you plug things in correctly, and verify the order in the BIOS, how it would not work right. If that was the case, I would think Microsoft would be all over the motherboard designers, or the Motherboard designers would be all over Microsoft to get their install fixed.
Also, a comment was made that most people don't have the time to do a clean install. Well, I would think that, if you want to it right, so that you know exactly what has been installed, you would take the time to do a clean install. In the OP's case, this should be a very easy step as he has no data on the system to save anyway (they said it was a new computer coming with Windows 7). The only thing to worry about would be to make a set of System Recovery DVD's (in case something did go wrong), as well as to find on the system where all the drivers are stored. Most new PC's now come with a folder somewhere on the hard drive that contains the drivers and applications that have been installed. It may not be very obvious as the location, like it won't say "C:\Drivers" (it might, but all PC builders don't follow that), but if you take the time and the effort to LOOK at your system, you should find them. Back that up to an external HDD or USB Stick, and you should be good to go.
Again, I don't see what is so hard about this. I think people are making this out to be more of a task then it is. Spending a little time up front to verify you have the drivers off the system, and things plugged in correctly (and verify via the BIOS), and you should have no problems.
--Brian
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--Brian Plencner
E-Mail: CoasterBrian72Cancer@gmail.com
Note: Kill Cancer to Reply via e-mail |
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