DIY SSD HD in y460?

I'm going to pick up a y460 in the next few months and I was wondering if there are any problems with installing a SSD HD myself? What are the things I should be aware of? Thanks community!

 

Make sure you get a G2 (generation 2) SSD which supports TRIM. The Intel SSD's are highly recommended.

 

Are there any problems with software, partitions and the like if I install a new ssd?

Thanks for the heads up on Trim and Intel SSDs!

 

As stated make sure you get a SSD with TRIM and you should do a fresh install of the OS.(Lenovo gives you a folder of all the drivers and software.)

 

There is a folder with all the drivers and software? that's good to know!

Is there anything about the actual installation process I should know about? Like...um, physical size of HD? Does it need anything extra (hd bay/dock) or is it just plug and play? I'm a little naive about this so whatever information would be great! is there an article on installing SSD HDs? (i haven't found one yet)

 

Are you replacing the Harddrive that comes with it, or do you plan to have both of them in there at once?

 

Can you have both in there at the same time? I was originally going to just replace the main drive it came with.

 

You can, but you would lose your DVD drive. I know hardly anything about that though. Yes, you can simply take out your old one and the SSD pops right in.(As long as it is a 2.5) The only tricky part is the OS. Lenovo doesn't not include a Windows 7 disk, so you will have to make your own if you don't have a copy. This forum will help with this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/428068-legal-windows-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.htmlAnother option is to get a cloning software that does all the work for you and leaves everything 100% the same. But that requires extra money and a clean install sometimes helps with clutter of unnecessary programs that come with the laptop from the factory.

 

Thanks so much!! ^_^ Rep++

 

1) You need to have Win7 to support TRIM.
2) clone everything onto an external HHD, using the free and very fine cloning/imagining softare in Win7 (Vista also?)
3) replace the HDD with the new SSD
4) clone/image back onto SSD (it needs to be big enough to receive image. separate data files from OS and software, and just clone non-data. then replace data once imaged back to SSD. this all is much easier if you have 2 partitions - one for OS and software, one for data. Have at least 30% space free on both partitions at all times.)
5) Win 7 will detect the change to an SSD, and re-boot
6) adjust a few settings that suit an SSD rather than a HDD. google for suggestions. (eg. turn off system restore, turn off daily antivirus and spyware scans, ensure no part of defrag software is active, turn off file indexing, etc)

 

antskip,
does AHCI (enabling/disabling), raid, come into play at all?
Maybe I've just read too much regarding the whole subject from various different sources.

 

I have only installed a third party SSD once (a OCZ Summit 120GB with Samsung controller - now well over a year old now). I left AHCI enabled. No problems. When, months later, I did a firmware upgrade to have TRIM added to work with Win7 TRIM, the OCZ notes said to disable AHCI for upgrade, so I did that - and enabled it again afterwards. I do not have further knowledge on the issue than that.