SSD on Sony Vaio question

lastsd · Apr 18, 2013

I just wanted final check before opening my ssd and try clean install

My laptop -> Sony Vaio FW 590
My SSD -> Samsung 840 250G (non-pro version)

My plan for clean win 7 install

1. Download the Win7 + SP1 home 64bit (since the disk didn't come with the laptop)
2. Found my OWN win 7 key by using product key finding program (my sticker at the back of my laptop is ruined)
3. Copy the iso to dvd using the microsoft program.
4. Follow installing procedure.
5. Check everything is running correctly using AS SSD program

Questions
1. Sony BIOS is very limited -> does not allow me to set AHCI/IDE/RAID (only change I can make is enabling Intel virtualization technology, date, boot up drive, etc.)
1a. I checked if TRIM is enabled using CMD command and it is enabled
1b. However, AHCI is not enabled right now (by checking regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesMsahci -> start is set to 3 instead of 0)

=> I was planning to just try ssd install and see if it will automatically use AHCI and if it doesn't try changing the regedit and hope it fixes it. Is there any better plan than this?
It's weird that there is TRIM can be enabled but no AHCI

2. My laptop only has SATAII. From what I have read, it shouldn't be that much slower in real life situations but if I end up with SATAII with IDE, I would imagine that would be actually slow. Is there actually something really wrong with using IDE other than speed?

3. I couldn't find any firmware update to Samsung 840 (The official website version is 1.0 last time I checked) am I looking at a wrong place? (I think there is no update yet because it is fairly new?)

4. Any other way to check if my ssd install was successful other than AS SSD?

That's all I can think of now.
Thank you in advance.

RetiredChief · Apr 18, 2013

TRIM can be enabled in windows (ie edit registry); the deal is windows can be enabled, the command sent, BUT that DOES NOT mean that the driver will send it on to the SSD. If SSD driver, as displayed in AS SSD, is pcide = BAD; then even if TRIM is enabled it is NOT passed to the SSD.

1) If in IDE mode you will take a performance hit, how much I'm not sure but still should be faster than a Mechanical HDD.
2) Don't sweat the loss of trim. Newer SSDs have internal wear leveling and Garbage collector (GC). GC does basically what TRIM does; it just works better when trim is passed to the SSD

One of the things I HATE about laptops is the "LIMITED" bios functionality. Their rational is they do not want the user to screw up the setting.

As to trying the reg edit to enable msahci and reboot is that you will not be able to boot to OS, then would have to try booting to safe mode and undoing the registry edit.

About a week ago we had a problem on a system, lost the "f" drive and initially did not reboot to SSD (C Drive error no os found). After getting it up I found that they had installed the OS using the IDE mode (Was for a Crucial C300 SSD). I cloned this drive to an Agility III SSD. Replaced the OLD SSD with the Agility III (removed the Defective HDD (F-Drive)) and booted to the New SSD. The cloning software I used changed the registry to enable msahci. And checking with AS SSD it reflected that the driver was msahci - This surprised me. I booted to the BIOS and it was still set to IDE mode, so I changed it to ahci, saved and booted to the OS. I did boot to OS and gave a message "found new hardware, installing driver” Been working ever since.
NOTE: The reason I switch SSDs is that I could NOT take a change of messing up the original drive - It was in a $100,000+ system used to control a satellite Instrument.

PS I instal a Older SSD in to an OLD core dual (about 4->5 year old) Laptop and HAD NO problems.

lastsd · Apr 18, 2013

RetiredChief :

TRIM can be enabled in windows (ie edit registry); the deal is windows can be enabled, the command sent, BUT that DOES NOT mean that the driver will send it on to the SSD. If SSD driver, as displayed in AS SSD, is pcide = BAD; then even if TRIM is enabled it is NOT passed to the SSD.

1) If in IDE mode you will take a performance hit, how much I'm not sure but still should be faster than a Mechanical HDD.
2) Don't sweat the loss of trim. Newer SSDs have internal wear leveling and Garbage collector (GC). GC does basically what TRIM does; it just works better when trim is passed to the SSD

One of the things I HATE about laptops is the "LIMITED" bios functionality. Their rational is they do not want the user to screw up the setting.

As to trying the reg edit to enable msahci and reboot is that you will not be able to boot to OS, then would have to try booting to safe mode and undoing the registry edit.

About a week ago we had a problem on a system, lost the "f" drive and initially did not reboot to SSD (C Drive error no os found). After getting it up I found that they had installed the OS using the IDE mode (Was for a Crucial C300 SSD). I cloned this drive to an Agility III SSD. Replaced the OLD SSD with the Agility III (removed the Defective HDD (F-Drive)) and booted to the New SSD. The cloning software I used changed the registry to enable msahci. And checking with AS SSD it reflected that the driver was msahci - This surprised me. I booted to the BIOS and it was still set to IDE mode, so I changed it to ahci, saved and booted to the OS. I did boot to OS and gave a message "found new hardware, installing driver” Been working ever since.
NOTE: The reason I switch SSDs is that I could NOT take a change of messing up the original drive - It was in a $100,000+ system used to control a satellite Instrument.

PS I instal a Older SSD in to an OLD core dual (about 4->5 year old) Laptop and HAD NO problems.

Thanks for fast reply.
I think I will just open my SSD and try install. If it end up with IDE setting, I will try to fix it. If I fail, I guess I will stick with IDE mode. I hate the stupid Sony BIOS but my other components are still running and I don't plan to buy a new laptop any time soon (I built a desktop few months back).

RetiredChief · Apr 18, 2013

I hear you.
I normally do not buy sony products. But the limited laptop bios is not unique to sony, Most laptops BIOS's have limited functionality.
I was ticked off at Toshibia. Bought a laptop (15.6") that had two HDD bays. However; they did NOT place a buck two ninty-five Sata HDD connector on the 2nd bay. The stupid pins are there, just no connector. Often thought about solder on a connector - BUT then the question, would the stupid bios reconize the 2nd drive!!!

lastsd · Apr 18, 2013

RetiredChief :

Things companies do save a few buck.
Anyway I will try tomorrow and probably come back with millions of questions

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