Just ordered a Samsung 850 EVO 250Gb

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Foebane72

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Jun 8, 2016
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I thought I'd try an SSD by itself for the first time, and so I ordered this model. I was also hoping to install Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit from scratch, rather than cloning my present 500Gb HDD (mostly empty).

How should I go about doing that? Install the SSD (in bracket) in place of the original HDD and then just try to install from there by choosing my external OD as the boot? Should I make any BIOS changes?

I'm also wondering how long this drive will last for? I will use it for Windows/Programs and the odd modern game, but a lot of retro platform stuff. I also have an external USB 3.0 HDD with my important files on it, so risk of data loss should be minimised.

Advice, please. :)
 
Solution
A
As I now have explained twice to you...if you upgraded to Win 10 during that period when free upgrades to the Win 10 OS were being granted to users of previous OSs such as your Win 7, MS ISSUED A DIGITALLY ACTIVATED LICENSE for your Win 10 OS. You don't have to KNOW the license #. So if you want to use your present SSD on which Win 7 is installed and install Win 10, go ahead and do so. It will be activated without any user input. Do you understand that?

As a precaution ensure you know your Win 7 Product ID in case you ever want to revert to that OS.
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Just put it in like you're installing a HDD. No BIOS changed. Also, the SSD will last you a long time. I used to have an old 120GB 840 EVO and it lasted 3 and a half years before I had to upgrade to a 850 EVO, and it was just for more storage. The 840 EVO still performs well to this day after very intense use.

As for Windows, I'd suggest upgrading to Windows 10, as there are some performance upgrades there.
 
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That's not possible, or safe. You can't go unplugging SATA drives or anything whilst the PC's on!

Or is that some sort of rhetorical, sarcastic question?
 
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That's what AHCI does if I'm not mistaken. Allows you do that.
 
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I suggest you research the term "AHCI" as it is quite obvious that you have no idea what it means or allows. You don't need to enable it for your OS drive by the way.
 
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To answer your question, No. I just thought those upgrading from HDD to SSD should select AHCI. I figured it would be optimised for SSD. I guess I don't really know that much about it.
 
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Well you do know enough about it to know that it's indeed preferable to set your BIOS SATA controller mode to AHCI, so do it before installing the SSD.

Presumably you're working with a licensed copy of Win 7 Ultimate and have the necessary Product ID. So ahead and fresh-install that OS if that's what you want. My preference - like voxic's - is to install the Win 10 OS. The truth of the matter is that Win 7 (in any version) is a dying OS, virtually unsupported by MS and will shortly be consigned to the dustbin of former OSs. On the other hand if it currently serves YOUR purposes, go with it.

I'm sure you're aware that when you do fresh-install the OS onto the SSD you will ensure at that time that the SSD is the ONLY drive installed in the PC. After you determine a successful install and satisfactory functioning of the system, only then should you reconnect the former 500 GB HDD in the system as a secondary drive.
 
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Thank you, ArtPog. I do have a few more questions:

1. So you mean set the BIOS to AHCI before I physically remove the old drive and put in the Samsung?

2. A year ago, I tried the free upgrade of Win10 and I ended up with nothing but problems, so I reverted. Is Win10 still filled with bugs, or has it improved massively?

I intend to swap out the old 3.5" HDD with the Samsung+bracket, so yes. And I am planning to convert the old HDD into a second external drive (in USB 3.0 enclosure).
 
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1. Given your situation it probably would be simpler to just power-on your system and access the BIOS to change the SATA controller mode from IDE to SATA. Ensure you save the setting change and power-down. Then install the SSD and proceed with the fresh-install of the Win 7 Ultimate OS.

2. I've been working with the Win 10 OS for a little more than a year and I would say it has substantially improved in usability. There is a learning curve - no doubt about it but it's surely not insurmountable. I find the OS quite stable. And we have to face facts; it's the OS of the future and the future is NOW.

Now I do recognize Win 10 is not everybody's cup 'o tea. Right now I'm upgrading one of my neighbors Win 7 PC. She's an elderly lady and uses the PC for virtually only email, Facebook, etc. communications and light-duty browsing. There's simply no reason to "upgrade" her PC system at this time to Win 10.

3. BTW, you mention that you previously took advantage of the free upgrade to Win 10 (with your current system) but later jettisoned the OS and regressed to Win 7. Presumably you would have a digitally activated Win 10 available. And this should be available to you even if you fresh-install the Win 10 OS onto a different HDD (or SSD). So you may want t consider that and purchase another HDD (or SSD) for installation of the Win 10 OS on that drive and install it in your PC resulting in a dual-boot configuration. This would give you some experience with that OS.
 
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Thank you, ArtPog, and your post raises even more questions:

1. So because I used Win10 for a short time on my present machine (currently Win7) that I have a valid key for it? So I could upgrade to Win10 and put it on the Samsung? Would it be a full version or just an upgrade? My Win7 is full version, but I've had it since 2010!

2. If I don't have a valid key, then what price is Win10 in the UK? I've been put off upgrading because I've seen an average price of £80, but now I'm seeing cheap keys everywhere on Amazon, etc. Has there been a price drop?

I should point out the issues I had with the free upgrade was that when it went to Win10, I was suddenly not able to access a lot of my programs and software, like I didn't have permission, etc. - this was the main reason I downgraded again. I figured that if I was to go for a full version, then I could install from scratch and I wouldn't have that problem, especially with my User folder.
 
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My current HDD is Sata III.
 
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Insofar as my suggestion re reinstalling Win 10...since you apparently ran into a plethora of problems with that OS when you initially installed it...then forget about it now if you don't want to give it another go. It was just a suggestion. You seem to be wedded to Win 7 so keep it that way as long as you'll be more comfortable with that OS.

Glad to hear your HDD is a SATA III drive. So what? Whether it's a SATA II or a SATA III drive it's irrelevant as to the SATA controller mode.
 
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How do I give the full version of Win10 another go if I've already had it before on my PC? That's really what I was asking. I wouldn't mind trying it again, just from scratch rather than an existing install.

I just checked the BIOS and it seems I'm already on AHCI, so that's fine.

Are we at cross-purposes? I think you've misunderstood me and taken offence.
 
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Did you/Can you make a note of your Win 10 Product key? If you can you can re install win10 legit with that key.

Also, I too detect some crossed wires somewhere......seems a little hostile in here :)

Foebane72, I just wanted to say welcome to SSD-World.
First time you boot up your OS from an SSD you'll be like......."Whaaaaaaaaat?!?!?!"

 
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Unfortunately, I never did. I've reinstalled Windows 7 since, recently.
 
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No, I haven't taken offense. But please, you must read my responses/suggestions.
Here is what I stated a couple of posts before this one...

"BTW, you mention that you previously took advantage of the free upgrade to Win 10 (with your current system) but later jettisoned the OS and regressed to Win 7. Presumably you would have a digitally activated Win 10 available. And this should be available to you even if you fresh-install the Win 10 OS onto a different HDD (or SSD). So you may want to consider that and purchase another HDD (or SSD) for installation of the Win 10 OS on that drive and install it in your PC resulting in a dual-boot configuration. This would give you some experience with that OS."

Have I not made it clear that you might want to fresh-install the Win 10 OS on another HDD (or SSD) that would be installed in your PC so that you could work with two different OSs, i.e., your present Win 7 OS on the SSD and the Win 10 OS on the other drive - commonly known as a multi-boot system? The likelihood is that because MS had presumably issued a digitally activated license for the Win 10 OS when you upgraded to that OS, that license will still be in effect. At least we've experienced this situation. If for some reason the newly-installed Win 10 OS is not activated by MS then you could simply not work with that OS if you don't choose to. I honestly don't know how I could make this more clearer. What precisely don't you understand?
 
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Sorry, didn't realise you were talking about a second storage device with Win10 in addition to the Win7 device. I would just rather take the plunge with Win10 (if possible) on the Samsung by itself, and learn it as I go along. However, as Leigh76 asked, I did not make a note of my Win10 key (I didn't even know about it being different).
 
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As I now have explained twice to you...if you upgraded to Win 10 during that period when free upgrades to the Win 10 OS were being granted to users of previous OSs such as your Win 7, MS ISSUED A DIGITALLY ACTIVATED LICENSE for your Win 10 OS. You don't have to KNOW the license #. So if you want to use your present SSD on which Win 7 is installed and install Win 10, go ahead and do so. It will be activated without any user input. Do you understand that?

As a precaution ensure you know your Win 7 Product ID in case you ever want to revert to that OS.
 
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Solution
You're not dense. I sometimes forget how complicated - even bewildering - all this PC "stuff" can be to all of us. And I certainly did not intend to offend you in any way, but if I did please forgive me.

I still think you may want to reconsider your current objective to work solely with the Win 10 OS in view of the advantage you currently have in that both your current Win 7 OS and the Win 10 OS that you will install will be ACTIVATED without any additional cost to you. By having one of those OSs on one drive and the other OS on another drive, in a sense you'll have the best of all possible worlds since it will give you an opportunity to work with the two different OSs to determine which one is more suitable for your specific needs. Most likely you'll choose Win 10 for the reasons I previously mentioned but this will give you a personal opportunity to make the comparison at no cost (excepting of course the cost of a HDD or SSD for one or the other OS).

I realize my previous recommendation was to go with Win 10 but since you have this opportunity to work with both OSs why not avail yourself of it? You can think of it as a good learning experience as well.

But if your ultimate decision is to go exclusively with Win 10 (as I think you will) so be it. In any event, good luck.
 
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I've been thinking of trying Win10 again on my current HDD - it'll be a fair while before the Samsung is delivered and so I would like to try Win10 again to make sure it runs more smoothly before I install it on the Samsung and find out only then if I still have Win10 issues. I'm willing to go ahead today, in fact - my data is already backed up.

Do I need a specific version of Win10 for my version of Win7? I have Win7 Ultimate 64-bit. Where can I get the corresponding Win10 version from?
 
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