Solid State Drives (SSDs) have many advantages over traditional mechanical hard disks (HDDs). Most are due to the fact that SSDs do not use a moving part in their architecture. Unlike mechanical hard drives, which have drive motors to accelerate the rotation of magnetic plates, as well as the head of the drive responsible for storing data on a solid state drive, made in the form of microcircuits. They provide faster data access, lower power requirements and higher reliability. Demand gives rise to proposals, so modern users have a need to know how to install Windows on an SSD drive.
SanDisk SSD
Historically, most computers use hard drives to permanently store data. Conceptually, they work like old-fashioned turntables and contain rotating parts. The drive moves a tiny lever that floats at a minimum distance above the surface of the disk plates. A magnetic read / write head reads binary data placed concentrically.
These discs rotate at a speed of thousands of revolutions per minute, many other moving parts are also located inside the device, which ultimately leads to wear, causes noise and consumes a lot of energy. In addition, they are more sensitive and prone to destruction if dropped.
Before you install an SSD drive, you must consider the speed fact. The biggest difference between hard drives and solid state drives is performance. Replacing a hard drive with an SSD is one of the best things you can do to significantly increase the efficiency of your old computer.
Choosing a New SSD
First you need to purchase a modern SSD. Before buying, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the SSD 2019 buying guide on the Internet. The good news is that in recent years, prices for solid state drives have dropped significantly - by about 30-40%. SSDs come in several sizes of form factor. For most older budget laptops, it's a 2.5-inch SSD. It is connected via the SATA III interface. Before you install an SSD drive, you need to determine the storage capacity, if you need to store large media files, choose 500 GB or higher. If not, then 250 GB will be enough.
In order to save files, you will need a USB-SATA adapter cable to transfer data from the hard drive to the solid state drive. Install the special software that comes with the SSD. Next you just follow the instructions.
Before you install an SSD, you need to do some physical hardware work - fortunately, this is a simple process. First of all, disconnect all cables from the laptop or PC and turn it off. On most machines, you need to find a rectangular or L-shaped panel with screws, find and disconnect the hard drive from the SATA connector. Finally, replace the hard drive with an SSD and assemble all parts and parts back into their original designs. If you need to reinstall Windows 10, you will need an installation disk.
PC desktop installation
Most people have everything on hand to install an SSD. Using a screwdriver and system manual, you can perform all assembly operations. Before installing an SSD, it is recommended that you use cloning software to transfer all files to new media.
Precautions - to protect the new media, do not touch the connectors on the disk and open the device. This will void the warranty.
Desktop Installation Instructions:
- Preliminary make sure that the work will be carried out in a statically safe environment. Remove all plastic bags and paper from the workplace.
- Turn off the system from the network and disconnect the power cable.
- Hold the button for 3-5 seconds to discharge residual electricity.
- Remove the case cover from the desktop in accordance with the instructions of the PC manufacturer.
Windows installation:
- Before installing 7 on the SSD drive, connect it to the computer.
- They turn on the computer and enter the BIOS settings. If no drive is detected, you may need to enable the SATA port.
- Enable SATA AHCI mode, if supported.
- Insert the Windows 7 installation DVD, make sure the BIOS is configured to boot from the DVD and boot the system.
- On the "Install Windows" page, select the location and language, click "Next" and then click "Install Now."
- In the place where you want to install the Windows screen, the installation wizard will request the partition of the disk on which you want to install Windows 7.
- Select SSD (most likely drive 0), click Next and continue the installation.
Statistical Damage Protection
Before installing an SSD drive in the system unit, to protect the drive and components from static damage, they touch any unpainted metal surface of the PC case. Or put on an antistatic bracelet before you start working with internal nodes.
Using the instructions, they find the drive bays for the computer’s disks and remember their sizes. To install a 2.5-inch solid-state drive in a 3.5-inch drive bay, attach the drive to the adapter bracket, which must be securely mounted in the open. If the desktop has a 2.5-inch storage bay, you do not need to use an adapter.
Installation process algorithm:
- To install the SSD as the primary drive, delete the existing drive and connected cables to the new SSD.
- Install and secure the SSD in an open compartment.
- Install the housing cover on the desktop and connect the power cable.
- Turn on the computer.
- If necessary, install the operating system, drivers, utilities and applications that should be at hand before installing Windows 7 on an SSD drive.
Desktop Setup
After installation, check the new SSD drive. After loading, Windows goes to “My Computer” by clicking “Windows” in the lower left corner of the screen, and then selecting the icon in the menu. A new disk should appear, available for use among other partitions that were previously installed. Now you can insert and install programs on a new drive to improve performance.
A clean installation is an installation that formats a disk and then decompresses Windows through the media: CD, DVD, or USB drive. It allows you to get rid of any accumulated unwanted, old and temporary files and programs, as well as most errors and viruses from the current system. From this point of view, a clean installation provides better performance compared to disk cloning and OS migration.
First, make a backup copy of important files stored on drive C, you need to copy personal files to the desktop. Before a clean installation, make a list of all the necessary applications that will help to unpack the programs one after another.
Installation sequence:
- Prepare a bootable Windows media (CD, DVD or USB stick) and insert it into the computer.
- Set the media as the first boot device in the BIOS, if Windows is used in UEFI + GPT mode, skip this step.
- When the computer boots from bootable media, choose the language to install, the desired time and currency format, as well as the keyboard and input method.
- Click "Install Now", accept the license terms and select "Custom" - install only Windows.
- Select a new SSD to install Windows and follow the wizard to complete.
- If you reinstall Windows on the old disk, select the original system partitions, delete them one by one to turn into unallocated space, then select and click “Next” to clear the Windows installation on the SSD.
- After installing Windows on the SSD, some hardware drivers must be manually reinstalled. In newer operating systems, such as Windows 10, most drivers will do this automatically.
Cloning a system drive
Disk cloning is the process of copying the entire contents of one computer’s hard drive to another drive, including Windows, installed system updates, programs, personal files, and other data. Keep in mind that cloning a drive requires a second hard drive, large enough to accommodate the entire contents of the original drive. In addition, unnecessary files, programs, and other useless files will also be cloned to a new disk. If Windows installed on the old drive is slow or has other problems, the system cloned to the new drive will have the same.
To clone an HDD into an SSD, you need a third-party program. MiniTool ShadowMaker is a good choice for this job as it simplifies the process. You can download and install a 30-day free trial. If you are using a Windows server operating system, we recommend that you purchase the business version,
Windows Migration to SSD
To migrate the system, copy all the current partitions necessary for booting Windows from the old one to a new disk that contains the operating system, all installed programs and data stored in the user folder. Like copying media, a second is required to migrate Windows to a new one. Before you install Windows on an SSD drive, you need to choose its size correctly. Since only the operating system is copied, the new medium does not have to be large. If you need to move Windows and installed programs from C to a new SSD, system migration is the best choice.
Moreover, if the source data has only one partition, this means that the operating system will be saved, as well as all personal files in one partition, they will be copied to a new disk, even if the user decides to transfer the system, rather than clone the entire disk. To migrate the OS, you can use the professional tool - MiniTool Partition Wizard.
Migration process:
- Launch the MiniTool Partition Wizard to get the main interface.
- Select "Migrate OS to SSD / HD" on the "Migrate OS to SSD / HD" toolbar.
- In the pop-up window, select “Option B”, copy only the system partitions and click “Next and option B” only for OS migration.
- Select a new disk as the target disk, all content on it will be deleted and click Next and SSD as the target disk.
- Make the changes that are necessary on the target disk, copy settings and click "Next". Use the GUID partition table for the target drive - this is a paid option available in Pro and more advanced versions.
- Confirm or change copy settings.
- Get acquainted with the note about “how to boot from the target disk” and click “Finish”.
- Click “Apply” on the MiniTool Partition Wizard toolbar to restart, a reboot is required.
- Click Apply on the toolbar.
Replacing an optical drive
Replacing an optical drive with a second hard drive or solid-state drive can be done using the drive bay, using an SSD with a maximum height of 9.5 mm.
Connection Procedure:
- Turn on the power to the laptop and press the eject button on the optical drive to extend the optical drive tray.
- Leave the optical drive tray open.
- Turn off the laptop and turn it over to access the bottom.
- Refer to your laptop manual for instructions on how to remove an optical DVD drive. For most, it is held by one screw at the bottom of the device.
- Loosen and remove the screw. For some machines, you need to remove the bottom cover to gain access to the screw that holds the drive.
- Take out the optical drive.
- Remove the front panel from the drive with a screwdriver.
- Start with a light click on the "Tab", as soon as the tab on the right opens, you can remove the remaining front panel. You need to be careful not to break the tabs.
- Attach the front panel of the optical drive to its body. The tabs snap into place and attach to the drive.
- Remove the small metal bracket attached to the back of the drive and attach it to the chassis.
- Insert the SSD into the drive. SATA connector first, until the drive snaps into place.
- Secure the drive to the bottom of the chassis using the four supplied screws.
- Insert the drive into the optical drive bay and secure it to the laptop.
- Installation completed.
Install Windows 10 on SSD
Regardless of whether you plan to install the old Windows system on an SSD, and then upgrade your computer to Windows 10 or transfer a new partition after a successful upgrade of Windows 10, you will need a partition manager. The EaseUS Partitioner is one that can easily install Windows 10 on an SSD.
Algorithm:
- Before installing Windows 10 on the SSD drive, launch the EaseUS Partition Master, select “Transfer OS” in the top menu.
- Choose: "Migrate OS."
- Select SSD as the target drive. A warning message indicates that the data on the target disk will be deleted. Click “OK” to continue.
- Select the target disk and check the box "Check parameter, if it is a solid state drive." Then click OK. A pending OS migration to SSD will be added.
- Perform the operation and click "Apply."
- Reboot the computer and press F2 or F8 to enter the BIOS settings.
- In the Boot option, select the new HDD / SSD as the new boot disk and save all changes.
- They exit the BIOS and restart the computer, you can see that Windows 10 works on the new disk without problems.
Advanced User Recommendations
If the 2nd disk is not recognized, you need to update the PC BIOS to the latest version from the manufacturer’s website. If a new disk is installed, you need to format and split the disk in the "Managing Windows Disks" section and remember that such actions will delete all data.
You can attach the front panel that comes with the kit to the optical drive for use as an external drive using an optional USB cable. The Legacy BIOS installs the new drive as the first boot device, otherwise Windows installed on the old drive will start by default.
Solutions useful for many cases:
- Before installing the SSD hard drive, if there is a desktop, remove the old media from the laptop. Then connect both the hard drive and the solid-state drive to the desktop via SATA. And then they clone the disk or transfer the system to a solid state drive.
- If the laptop is configured with a unique SATA interface, remove the drive, connect the SSD via SATA, the hard drive via USB using the SATA-USB adapter, and then clone the drive or transfer the system from the MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable CD.
- Check the laptop to see if there is another SATA or mSATA interface. Most laptops are configured with SATA for the CD driver, and some with mSATA. If there is, they connect the SSD via interfaces, and then perform disk cloning or system migration.
- For laptop users, after disk cloning or system migration, you can get non-bootable Windows. Check if the SATA SSD interface is connected via the laptop's USB ports. It is better to connect an SSD through the SATA interface when cloning a disk or migrating a system from HDD to SSD, because this will help create a bootable Windows.
Solid state drives over the past few years have become an excellent alternative to a traditional hard drive, as they provide a much higher speed. Many IT professionals consider them a model of performance and recommend to anyone who wants to take their computer to the next level.