SSD and HDD trouble in my PC!

bfox23_

Commendable
Nov 26, 2016
11
0
1,510
I have a PC with a 1TB Hard Drive. I just purchased a 128GB Solid State Drive. I plan to use both, but I am really struggling with how it all works.

I want to have my SSD hold the operating system(fast boot times) and make it hold a few games and launchers. I want to use my HDD for any other storage I have. I went into BIOS and chose the SSD as the #1 boot drive, but when I go into Disk Management or This PC, I do not see my SSD anywhere. Can someone please walk me through this? I have knowledge on most computer stuff, but have never played around with storage.
 
Solution
128 GB is going to leave you w/ frequent maintenance where the drive gets full and you have to clean things out ... not a big deal but does require an understanding of Windows underlying rules and haw to keep things trimmed down.

To start ... disconnect the data cable to your HD.

1. Prepare for Windows installation with USB tool
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

2. Connect boot drive data cable to lowest numbered SATA port .... but don't connect:
-Ethernet cable
-SATA Data Cable for any other drives

3. Install Windows to boot drive

4. Turn off Windows ability to install Hardware drivers
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48277-enable-disable-driver-updates-windows-update-windows-10-a.html...
128 GB is going to leave you w/ frequent maintenance where the drive gets full and you have to clean things out ... not a big deal but does require an understanding of Windows underlying rules and haw to keep things trimmed down.

To start ... disconnect the data cable to your HD.

1. Prepare for Windows installation with USB tool
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

2. Connect boot drive data cable to lowest numbered SATA port .... but don't connect:
-Ethernet cable
-SATA Data Cable for any other drives

3. Install Windows to boot drive

4. Turn off Windows ability to install Hardware drivers
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48277-enable-disable-driver-updates-windows-update-windows-10-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

5. Install all hardware drivers from original media in boxes See Item 7 below

6. Connect ethernet cable and run Windows Update till it stops doing anything

7. Install latest drivers for ALL hardware from manufacturers web sites. The reason we didn't do this in step 5 is 3 fold:
-Sometimes MoBo CD comes with licensed utilities with product key embedded and these are not on web site versions
-Its advisable to establish a working out of box conditions
-Sometimes newer drivers require latest Windows Updates

If you have a 2nd drive ....

8. Shut down and connect HD data cable to 2nd lowest numbered SATA port.

9. Boot to BIOS and make sure that SSD is the 1st boot device, if not fix it

10. Boot to Windows
 
Solution

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
MERGED QUESTION
Question from bfox23_ : "Help with SSD and HDD in my PC."



 

bfox23_

Commendable
Nov 26, 2016
11
0
1,510


Thank you for the reply, I will try this right now.
 

bfox23_

Commendable
Nov 26, 2016
11
0
1,510


Thank you for your help. It took me awhile. After I did it all I still could not see my drive on the Disk Management page, however I fixed this by switching the SATA port that my HDD cable was going into. After I switched the port, it appeared and now it works well!

Thanks again!