The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    SSD Expresscard Made Bootable

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by watergun, Oct 14, 2007.

  1. watergun

    watergun Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    For those who has been exploring the possibility using Expresscard SSD instead of the real, but much pricier SSD as the bootable Windows XP drive, here come the good news and the bad news.

    The Good News
    It is indeed possible to make Expresscard SSD bootable. At least, it is the case for Sony VAIO SZ48GN. I am not sure the technically correct terms, but the single main reason why I successfully made Expresscard SSD bootable is that Sony SZ treats it as an USB storage device.

    How To:
    Just follow the guidelines for "How to boot Windows XP off USB" posted on ngine


    The Bad News
    Well, as the primary drive to run Windows, the Trancends Expresscard SSD 32GB is extremely, pathetically, painfully slow.
    1. Windows installation took 8 hours. Honestly there were times I was just about to give up.
    2. Boot time of a very fresh windows XP with no drivers installed at all for my system is 6m34s.
     
    watergun, Oct 14, 2007
    #1
  2. eyuras

    eyuras Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    157
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Owch, thats painfully slow
    is it any better when loaded into windows? (opening small files or large programs?)
     
    eyuras, Oct 14, 2007
    #2
  3. Hiker

    Hiker Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    448
    Messages:
    1,715
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Heh, heh... dig the sign.
     
    Hiker, Oct 14, 2007
    #3
  4. watergun

    watergun Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Any actions involve Reading only file seems to be barely acceptable but when writing is involved (which is very typical in Windows environment even if you think the system is doing nothing) it definitely feels slow.

    I personally think it's unbearable even after I followed the suggestion to prevent unnecessary writing by manually disabling Page File, Hibernation, AutoDefrag, NTFS last file access info and Prefetch.

    Lemme give you an example. On network config windows, changing the workgroup from "Workgroup" to "Home" then closing the windows by clicking the "OK" button took almost 3mins.
     
    watergun, Oct 14, 2007
    #4
  5. Lite

    Lite Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    342
    Messages:
    1,398
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    where did you get the expresscard ssd drive and how much was it , I want one.
     
    Lite, Oct 14, 2007
    #5
  6. watergun

    watergun Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Bought it from a local computer shop in Hong Kong for around $450 :D

    If you are in US, one of the places to get it from is dvnation
     
    watergun, Oct 14, 2007
    #6
  7. Lite

    Lite Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    342
    Messages:
    1,398
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    $450 !!!! I want one , but im gonna stick to my hard drive ,

    I can but a 2GB SD card for £7 , an a reader for £2 , Thats £9 x 16 = 144
    +1x 20 port usb hub = £170 :p

    Cheaper soloution , could even be faster if you manage to setup a raid type system , each sd getting 15MBPS (Possible) x by 16 = 192MBPS :) that will boot xp in secconds

    I dont understand the hudge price tag on these SSDs , memory prices have fallen so much , heck you can get 16gb ipod touch for $399 , that shows you how cheap it can be.... These 32 gb ssds should be in the $200 range , not the $700
     
    Lite, Oct 14, 2007
    #7