Setting up an SSD boot drive

I'm constantly seeing slickdeals lately for SSD drives. I have a Windows 7 computer that has 4 hard drive slots. Currently I have a 500gb drive in one of them with Ubuntu and my Windows 7 installed on it and a 1 tb hard drive I use for all of my files that I can access from both the Ubuntu and the Windows 7 install. I'm so tempted to get an SSD drive and somehow create a boot drive for the Windows 7 install, which I use way more. Can anyone tell me if this is realistic, or point me in the right direction to get started? My system doesn't feel slow right now. Will I see any benefit?

Quote from someone28624 : I'm constantly seeing slickdeals lately for SSD drives. I have a Windows 7 computer that has 4 hard drive slots. Currently I have a 500gb drive in one of them with Ubuntu and my Windows 7 installed on it and a 1 tb hard drive I use for all of my files that I can access from both the Ubuntu and the Windows 7 install. I'm so tempted to get an SSD drive and somehow create a boot drive for the Windows 7 install, which I use way more. Can anyone tell me if this is realistic, or point me in the right direction to get started? My system doesn't feel slow right now. Will I see any benefit?

SSD will speed up your system significantly...it is realistic for you to do.

Is it necessary?...up to you.

Remember that SSDs are best for OS/Programs...I myself put my data on a regular HDD.
For two reasons.... space/cost and safety.

To continue a dual boot if you want you'll need to use the linux boot loader (Otherwise just use a live CD/DVD)....

You need to drop the linux loader (LiLo, Grub) onto the first drive, contained in this need to be options to load the windows one from hd0 and the linux one from hd1 (your drive references may vary, this is just an example).

I have a 64GB Crucial M4 and love it. Only for 7 and programs. No linux.

Best SSD brands (in no particular order) Crucial, Samsung, Intel, Plextor mainly due to "longevity/safety" others are ok.

SSDs are very fast...faster than just about any HDD..but not as realiable IMO over the long run... backups are important.

You also never want to completely fill up an SSD leave at least 20% free

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Basic steps....

Connect drive and update firmware (If not latest)
Connect SDD as only drive (disconnect all others)
Install Windows 7 (preferably from usb)
Re- attach all other drives after windows is up and running (do when off)
Use the library feature to set up old user folders as default save location
Redirect temp files to HDD (Environmental Variables)
Turn off indexing and system restore on SSD

Enjoy a faster system

Upgrading to a SSD will absolutely improve your computer's performance noticeably. If your motherboard supports Sata 3, I'd suggest getting a newer Sata 3 SSD. With a SSD, programs that may take like 5 to 10 seconds on a regular HDD will only take 1 second or less with a SSD. Things become much "snappier" and bootup time decreases by a large margin (as little as 10 to 20 seconds from pushing the power button to reaching the desktop).

As for getting a SSD just for Windows 7, it all depends on preferences. I personally only use Windows 7. I have an Intel 520 240GB SSD and everything opens pretty much instantly. Games load much, much quicker.

So do you think I could partition a 256gb SSD and boot my Win 7 and Ubuntu and keep files on my 1 tb drive?

Quote from someone28624 : So do you think I could partition a 256gb SSD and boot my Win 7 and Ubuntu and keep files on my 1 tb drive?

Yes... just partition in windows then install Ubuntu on second partition then add in data HDD

I opened up my computer today and dug around...for the exciting task of installing a PCI card to add some USB 3.0 ports. Yay. I did realize I was wrong about my current HDD set up though. I have 5 slots for drives and currently have a 1 TB drive housing the OS's and a 2 TB file drive. Now I'm wondering if I can just add a 128gb SSD as my boot drive (is this sufficient to partition for Win 7 and Ubuntu?) and somehow merge the 1 TB and 2 TB drives into one huge volume for files? Given that I have 5 slots, I have enough room to install them in every other slot and still let them "breathe" a little.

Quote from someone28624 : I opened up my computer today and dug around...for the exciting task of installing a PCI card to add some USB 3.0 ports. Yay. I did realize I was wrong about my current HDD set up though. I have 5 slots for drives and currently have a 1 TB drive housing the OS's and a 2 TB file drive. Now I'm wondering if I can just add a 128gb SSD as my boot drive (is this sufficient to partition for Win 7 and Ubuntu?) and somehow merge the 1 TB and 2 TB drives into one huge volume for files? Given that I have 5 slots, I have enough room to install them in every other slot and still let them "breathe" a little.

Yes a 128 wold be sufficient for 7/Ubuntu assuming all data is on HDD's

What I would do is dual boot the SSD... make the faster of the two a data drive and use the other for a backup (images, less used data etc)

You don't want huge volumes anyhow, I try to keep all live volumes at a 1TB or less.

Only my backup would I want more. Just for ease of maintenance etc.

Don'y merge volumes...adds in another layer of complexity and potentially more issues, if anything split the 2TB into 2 1 Tb volumes if you want.

You then have room in there for future drive additions

Quote from someone28624 : I opened up my computer today and dug around...for the exciting task of installing a PCI card to add some USB 3.0 ports. Yay. I did realize I was wrong about my current HDD set up though. I have 5 slots for drives and currently have a 1 TB drive housing the OS's and a 2 TB file drive. Now I'm wondering if I can just add a 128gb SSD as my boot drive (is this sufficient to partition for Win 7 and Ubuntu?) and somehow merge the 1 TB and 2 TB drives into one huge volume for files? Given that I have 5 slots, I have enough room to install them in every other slot and still let them "breathe" a little.

You should be able to add the 128 gig ssd with out any issue. If you want you can keep the ubuntu drive on the 1tb drive but that is up to you.

As for merging the 1tb/2tb drive some software can do it but not sure how that will work in a mixed windows/linux setup. You are better of just keeping them as they are and using the 2tb as a backup/ videos and the 1tb for games and what not.

Ok, sounds good. Can anyone recommend a program to clone the Windows drive? Really not in the mood to reinstall everything.

Quote from someone28624 : Ok, sounds good. Can anyone recommend a program to clone the Windows drive? Really not in the mood to reinstall everything.

Do a clean install.

Best for SSD... otherwise you may run into issues.

I haven't reinstalled Windows 7 a single time since I've had it. I'm having flash backs to the days of reinstalling Windows XP and having to call Microsoft to explain why you're activating the same license again. Is it still like that?

Quote from someone28624 : I haven't reinstalled Windows 7 a single time since I've had it. I'm having flash backs to the days of reinstalling Windows XP and having to call Microsoft to explain why you're activating the same license again. Is it still like that?

No...I've re-installed 7 many times with no issue even after a complete motherboard/cpu upgrade.

I ordered this [newegg.com] drive today if anyone is interested. Feedback is always welcome. I chose the larger size because the price difference isn't dramatic and I figure it will be good to be able to store more programs on the SSD.

Don't clone it. Chances are your disk alignment is off which could hinder performance by quite a bit.

Reinstalling on an SSD is pretty quick. Installing programs? Much quicker. Just DL the .exes beforehand to have everything ready to go.

There are a few setup steps you should do to maximize your performance. Check out: http://www.overclock.net/t/115665...-ssds-hdds