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    Safest way to install an SSD?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by ctopha, Aug 5, 2011.

  1. ctopha

    ctopha Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok, I've looked through all the guides, and I think I've figured out the "safest" way to install my SSD. I know it'll be alot of extra work, but it shouldn't take that long to switch the Drives out.

    1. DL alienrespawn to a FlashDrive
    2. Replace my factory HDD with the SSD
    3. Using any of the 1000 guides, do a clean reinstall of Win7+Alienrespawn
    4. Make sure ALL of my factory Alienware programs are working, there are no problem with regular programs, and do around 10 practice boots with the SSD.
    4. Remove the SSD and replace it with the factory HDD
    5. Wipe the factory HDD Clean of Programs+Win7 so there is no booting confliction
    6. Replace the factory HDD with the SSD containing Win7+Alienrespawn
    7. Replace the optical Drive with the HDD using the (very helpful) guide on the forums.
    8. Sit back and enjoy my new preformance boost, then Overclock the GPU and memory, and download the beta drivers for the Nvidia card.

    Yes, I know that this is switching the drives out alot when I really don't have to, but I'm willing to spend a little extra time changing out hardware than a lot of extra time trying to figure out why some of my programs aren't functioning properly.
     
    ctopha, Aug 5, 2011
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  2. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    ...why do you want to wipe the HDD clean before you install the SSD? I would honestly just do that after you install the SSD. Use a USB-to-SATA cable for that and do a format through the cable.

    I don't think it actually works to tell your computer to "format c:"
     
    /Drakk_, Aug 5, 2011
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  3. ctopha

    ctopha Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'd wipe the HDD clean after I installed the SSD, sorry if that was unclear in any way. The entire plan there is (in order) format SSD, wipe HDD clear, then install both into the computer.
     
    ctopha, Aug 5, 2011
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  4. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    How are you wiping the HDD clean? From what I gather, you plan to install the HDD into your m14x and kill it from there...a process I'm not sure how you plan to accomplish, because as I said I don't think it works to just tell your computer to format C.

    As I said, it's probably easier to get a SATA-USB cable, then, when your SSD is installed and working properly, connect the HDD to the m14x with the cable and wipe the HDD then.
     
    /Drakk_, Aug 5, 2011
    #4