First Time With SSD

I am getting my desktop back from CP today(finally). I had the P67 motherboard replaced due to bad sata2 ports. I have decided this was a good time to add an SSD drive as my boot drive. I got a Plextor 128M2S. This is my first venture with SSD and have found the manual Plextor sends to be extremely lacking. I have a couple questions and hope someone here on the forum can help.

I do not need to clone anything over. So this will be just like it is a first build. Am I better off using Windows 7 for the initial setup or the Acronis disk that came with the SSD? Also, are there any changes I need to make to the bios for SSD (running a Gigabyte UD4 B3)? How do I update the firmware if the SSD drive will be the operating system drive? Is this something I should do before installing Windows? If so, how?

Unless Acronis can create alignment, do not clone

You would get a much better result if you did a clean Windows 7 install, because Win 7 will know it's a SSD and disable defrag and such.

In BIOS, set SATA to AHCI, save and exit

Install Windows 7, when complete - go get "SSD Tweak" (Google) and auto settings

Run WEI and you are good to go

Thanks for the info. A couple of n00b questions though. Should I change the bios settings before installing windows? What does SSD Tweak do and is WEI part of SSD Tweak>

thanks

When you are ready to install your SSD and Windows 7, shut down pc, remove all other harddrives - connect SSD and power it up.

Enter BIOS, change SATA to AHCI

SSD Tweak will set all needed tweaks in Windows 7

http://elpamsoft.com/Downloads.aspx?Name=SSD Tweaker

WEI is Windows Experience Index and is part of Windows 7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/What-is-the-Windows-Experience-Index

When Windows 7 is up and running, you can connect old harddrives again, make sure to check in BIOS that boot device is your SSD

Nittenti said:

When you are ready to install your SSD and Windows 7, shut down pc, remove all other harddrives - connect SSD and power it up.

Enter BIOS, change SATA to AHCI

SSD Tweak will set all needed tweaks in Windows 7

http://elpamsoft.com/Downloads.aspx?Name=SSD Tweaker

WEI is Windows Experience Index and is part of Windows 7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/What-is-the-Windows-Experience-Index

When Windows 7 is up and running, you can connect old harddrives again, make sure to check in BIOS that boot device is your SSD

Click to expand...

Thanks. You have been a big help.

if you are going to update the firmware on the drive you should do it before installing windows. Depending on the model and update method there is a chance of data loss so best to not chance it.

the manufacturer should tell you how to update the firmware onthe diet where you download the update from

tachi1247 said:

if you are going to update the firmware on the drive you should do it before installing windows. Depending on the model and update method there is a chance of data loss so best to not chance it.

the manufacturer should tell you how to update the firmware onthe diet where you download the update from

Click to expand...

Fortunately the 128m2s I bought is already at firmware version 1.03. So, I do not need to update it.