Noob installing new SSD and clean install of Windows 7 question?

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necyht

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Feb 11, 2013
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hey everyone, hopefully I will be getting an SSD this Christmas and I wanted to ask a few precautionary questions before hand so I don't screw myself over when doing this since I'm new to installing computer components.

I will be installing Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium OEM btw (the company that built my PC used and gave me the OEM version with the case and product key and stuff).

So what I'm getting from installing the SSD is:
1) remove and disconnect the current HDD
2) Mount SSD (my case has some holes on the bottom for 2.5 inch drives cus the bays only support 3.5) and attach SATA and power cables to the motherboard and SSD
3) Insert Windows 7 and have the PC boot from the CD Drive
4) wait for Windows 7 to install and follow the easy set up
5) install any drivers
6) set bios to only boot off of SSD and remount HDD for storage purposes
*I was also told to activate windows 7 after I make sure everything is up and running, does it matter when I activate it as long as I eventually do it?

are those steps listed above correct or am I missing something important?

I want to only use the SSD to run windows off of and keep my HDD for games, movies, pictures, applications, etc. Would I loose any data off of my HDD by performing a clean install of Windows 7 on to the SSD? Since I previously had Windows 7 on my HDD, would there be conflict between the two drives even though I have my bios set to boot off of my SSD?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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1. What size SSD? This has implications on other questions.

2. Activation - you have 30 days. After that, it will start screaming.

3. You will need to reinstall all your old applications. Where? See #1.

4. Old OS install. Ideally, you want to wipe that old drive, and then use it for whatever. The old Windows install is just taking up space.
 
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andyt683

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Dec 17, 2014
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After mounting the SSD, but before inserting the Windows 7 disc, go into the BIOS, and select the SSD, and confirm that the mode is AHCI, not IDE. Some motherboards call it different things, so be aware.

You'll also want to check if there is a firmware update for your SSD. Firmware isn't a huge deal with regular HDDs, but when I upgraded, I bought a Crucial M4, which had a huge issue after 5200 hours powered on.
 
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necyht

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Feb 11, 2013
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the ssd will be 120gb. It is the Samsung 840 EVO to be specific.


 
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necyht

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Feb 11, 2013
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I have to do a clean install cus i swear my windows 7 was messed up when the people who built my pc first installed it. but there's no way to only clone the programs and not the OS right?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Right. You cannot clone the applications into a new OS install. Can't do it.
 
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necyht

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Feb 11, 2013
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Another quick question, will I have to reformat the hdd after I backing up my stuff? Or can I leave it be
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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It is preferable. Start with a clean slate on that drive.
 
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