One of the easiest ways to improve the performance of your PC is to install a larger HDD(HDD) or even look for a so-called solid state drive (SDD) to increase the performance of your computer to incredible heights. In this article we will consider with you the issue of choosing a disk and installing it.

Step one: select your new drive

The very first thing all users start with is choosing a drive. Currently, you can install HDD or SSD in your system. It would seem, take what is best - and rightly so. However, everything is not so simple here ...

Which drive to choose: HDD, SSD, or both?

Ask yourself this question: do you want more performance or free space?

Today's SSDs are mind-boggling - they are an unrivaled improvement for any existing system. By switching from a regular hard drive to a solid-state hard drive, you will see an incredible increase in the performance of your computer. Your PC will start up faster, load apps and large files faster, and last but not least, decrease load times in most modern video games. However, if you look for an SSD the size of, say, a terabyte, the price will scare you.

However, you can buy a classic hard drive for your system, which will provide you with a huge amount of free space for a relatively low price. In computer stores, you can easily find hard drives of four terabytes, which will surely satisfy the needs of any media amateur, within 6-8 thousand rubles, and possibly cheaper.

Among other things, no one forbids you to combine HDD and SSD in the system. If your computer is quite capable of working with two disks at the same time (and most PCs can do this), then you can install the operating system on SDD for faster access to various programs and system files, and use the HDD to store all kinds of files, for example, movies, music , some games and even working papers. If, for example, you already have a hard drive, buying an SSD becomes even more attractive: just move the operating system to the SSD, and use the old hard drive as storage.

If money is not a problem in your case - or you are limited to a single connection in a laptop - you can spend money on buying a multi-terabyte solid state drive, which completely solves your dilemma. However, most PC users still prefer to create combinations of HDD and SSD.

How big should my disk be?

Typically, hard drives come in two form factors: 2.5 ″ and 3.5 ″ (inches). The latter, i.e. 3.5 ″ is considered a full-size hard drive designed for a desktop computer. As a rule, almost every PC has a place in its system unit for one or even several HDDs of this size. The only exception is small form factor PCs such as some HTPCs, which can only hold 2.5 ″ hard drives internally.

The 2.5 ″ form factor is traditionally designed for laptops, however, it can be suitable for some PCs as well. For example, in some system units you can find places for installing HDD under 2.5 ″. If you decide to buy a 2.5 ″ HDD for your PC, but you do not have a place to install it in the system unit, you will have to buy installation brackets somewhere in a specialized store. It is worth noting that such brackets can be designed for installing SSD-drives, which, however, does not change anything, since many classic solid-state drives are made exclusively in the 2.5 ″ form factor.

Speaking of SSDs, there is another form factor for them - M.2. Solid-state drives of this format look completely different: a small and thin board that resembles a RAM bar. Instead of the usual connection to the motherboard via a SATA cable, it is connected to a special M.2 slot. It is worth noting that not all computers are capable of working with this type of SSD.

Let's look at something else. Most laptops still use a 2.5 ″ disk form factor, however, not all models provide their users with easy access to a SATA or M.2 connection. Accessing the drive connection is fairly straightforward on cheap, large, and business-class laptops. On other models, it may take a lot of sweat to get to the desired element of the device - especially on newer models that have switched to the M.2 standard. Changing the disk on such laptops will likely void the warranty and you will probably have to look at some more accurate guides for a particular model.

What kind of connection do I need?

All modern 3.5 ″ and 2.5 ″ drives use SATA connections for power and data transfer. If you're installing a drive for your PC, you'll need to find a 15-pin SATA cable on your PSU. If you only have an old 4-pin Molex on your PC, use an adapter that can be found at a computer electronics store.

You should definitely not worry about SATA support by your computer, since all modern PCs undoubtedly have support for this connection interface. You have something to worry about only if you are the owner of some really ancient monster, but then you need to think not about buying a working disk, but about changing your computer. However, let's not deviate from the topic.

Let's talk about SATA cables. In the picture below, you can get a good look at one of these cables. These are ordinary double-sided cables, one end of which connects to the motherboard and the other to the desired drive. Some plugs on SATA cables are L-shaped, but this is done only for ease of connection. However, there are cable variations with exceptionally straight plugs. You need to choose a cable based only on how little space in your system unit.

If you are installing a new drive into a laptop that has access to a SATA connector, then you won't even need cables. You can simply plug the required HDD or SSD directly into the appropriate slot, which already has a power and data output.

Let's talk a little more about SATA. At the moment latest version The SATA interface is SATA III. Most modern motherboards have SATA III support, so you should have no problem finding the right HDD or SSD. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that SATA interfaces are fully compatible with each other, for example, you can connect to the motherboard from a second HDD sat on SATA III - it will work fine, but in a limited mode.

For example, connecting a 550 / 520MB / s SSD over SATA II will limit sequential read and write speeds to about half. There is nothing wrong with connecting SATA III to SATA II, especially when your motherboard supports only SATA II, but if it supports SATA III, try to choose drives with the latest interface version for maximum performance. Use the exact same principle when purchasing SATA cables.

Among other things, at the moment there are even more modern SSD-drives connected via the M.2 interface. This connection interface can be found on many modern motherboards. This is how the M.2 interface looks like with the SSD already installed in it:

We'll talk more about these drives and their connection below.

Laptops. Laptops do not use SATA cables, and therefore you simply have to select one or another drive with a suitable SATA interface for it. It all depends on the model of a particular laptop, so you will have to find out on your own which SATA (or even M.2.) Your old drive is running on so that it can be replaced with a new one.

How much free space do I need?

Yes, sometimes, and such a question is asked. The price of a hard drive or solid-state drive is commensurate with the amount of free space that it offers to its user. The larger the medium, the higher the price for it. It's that simple. Be guided by your budget.

How fast should my drive be?

In fact, the faster your drive is, the better. For example, if you are swapping out your old hard drive for a new solid-state drive, your mouth will open wide at how much faster your PC is. And that's even considering that your SSD won't be the fastest on the market. Believe me, the difference between HDD and SSD in terms of read and write speed is simply colossal. However, like the price between them, which also cannot be ignored.

If you buy a classic hard drive for your computer, then the speed of such a device is usually expressed in RPM - the purity of the spindle rotations per minute. 5400 RPM is the typical speed of some inexpensive solutions (especially 2.5 ″ form factor). 7200 RPM is the most common speed for HDD, and we recommend using such HDDs on ordinary PCs. Among other things, you can also resort to the services of high-speed 10,000 RPM hard drives, however, for the price for which such devices are usually sold, you involuntarily look at much faster SSDs.

There is also a third option - hybrid drives, which combine an HDD and an SSD. These hybrids will not have the speed of a real SSD drive: you get a regular hard drive with a small flash storage cache at your disposal. Your HDD will not magically become much faster, but it will significantly increase the speed of file caching if you are constantly requesting access to the same programs and files. However, such drives are somewhat more expensive than conventional hard drives, which makes them extremely unpopular among computer users.

Step two: transfer the operating system to a new disk or perform a clean install

Once you have bought the disk you need for your system, nothing prevents you from opening the case of the laptop or system unit to install it. The next question we have to discuss is whether to transfer the operating system to a new disk or perform a clean installation. Of course, each of these actions has its own pros and cons.

Transferring the operating system to a new disk

Transferring an OS to another disk is an extremely lengthy, but important process for those users who do not want to part with an inhabited system in any way. Well, it's understandable: when installing new system you will have to re-configure everything and everything that not everyone wants.

Do we recommend doing a similar process? Only if your operating system is really important to you. Otherwise, we advise you to perform a clean install, so as not to waste your time on such a simple, but lengthy task. However, you should be aware that there are a number of software programs available to help you move your operating system to another drive.

If you are using a laptop, you will need to use a USB SATA adapter to transfer the operating system and all the necessary files. You can do the same with a stationary computer, but it's easier to just install a new disk in the system unit, transfer data, and then disconnect the old disk (or stop it there).

Performing a clean install

Installing a clean operating system on a new disk has a ton of benefits. One of the biggest benefits to this situation is that you literally start from scratch. Your OS will not be littered with old temporary files, forgotten programs and installation files of all kinds of updates. We are also confident that you will see a small performance boost when you upgrade to a pure OS.

The downside, of course, is that you have to set up a clean system: installing drivers for your PC hardware, installing the necessary programs, as well as games (which can be without them). Alternatively, you can make a copy of all important personal data for you in advance, for example, work documents or a collection of films, install a clean OS on a new disk, and then load all the copied files into the system. Actually, many users do this in order to get their hands on a clean system and the necessary data.

Step three: installing a new disk

The steps for installing a new drive may vary slightly due to differences between desktops and laptops, and SATA and M.2 drives.

Installing a new disk in a laptop

Different laptop models have different access to the place where the disk is connected. However, it should be noted that on some laptops it is extremely problematic to get access to the disk connection. Some business notebooks allow their users to remove the drive from the device case by removing just one screw. On other models, it may be necessary to completely disassemble the bottom of the machine or even remove the keyboard. Of course, you will have to find out on your own how to perform this procedure for your laptop model.

Let's take a drive replacement for ThinkPad T450s laptop model as an example. This laptop is already several years old, and in order to replace the drive in such a machine, you will have to completely remove the bottom of the case. It is worth noting that most often you will have to perform exactly the same procedure on other laptops, at least on models similar to the ThinkPad T450s.

To access the drive, you first need to remove the battery and eight screws from various locations on the case. Once you're done, you can remove the bottom of the laptop case. This laptop has a hard drive, which you can see in the upper right corner of the screenshot below.

To eject the drive itself, you need to unscrew another screw, lift the drive slightly, and then carefully remove it from the SATA connector built into the system. Next, you need to pull the old disc out of the aluminum mount with rubber shockproof bumpers. Then take your new drive and place it in this aluminum mount, after which you need to reverse the previous process: plug the drive into a SATA connector.

Now, let's take a quick walk through how to connect an M.2 SSD. So, the connection of such a small board is done as follows: we take the board, carefully insert it into the connector (on the right side in the previously shown screenshot), slowly bend the board in the connector to the screw hole, screw the board to the motherboard. As a result, an M.2 SSD literally does not take up space for a laptop, since it is pressed against the motherboard.

It is worth noting again that the process of changing a disk may differ from laptop to laptop. If you need step-by-step instructions on how to disassemble your particular laptop - Google search will help you. You will definitely find at least some material related to your laptop model.

Installing a new disk in a desktop computer

If you have never changed anything in your computer, but only, for example, cleaned it, then it must be said that the process of replacing a disk is exactly the same process in terms of complexity as replacing a disk in a laptop, which you might have learned about from the above information.

All you need to change a drive on a stationary PC is a screwdriver, a purchased drive and a SATA cable that fits it. You also need to connect power to the drive you are installing, but the correct cable must be included with your power supply. However, if there is no such cable, use an adapter.

So, unplug your computer first, as trying to replace something in a running computer is a very bad idea. Then remove, as a rule, the side cover from the case of the system unit (on the left side, when looking at the front side of the unit). Having exposed the insides of the car, take a good look around: the place you need to install the disk will be in the front of the case. If you are replacing a drive, then you should see it connected to the motherboard via a SATA cable. The power cable, in turn, will come from the side of the power supply.

The note: it is worth noting that in your system unit you can see both 2.5 ″ and 3.5 ″ disks. Among other things, it can be located in a completely different place. In some custom-made system units, disks can be placed completely behind the motherboard. Not finding the disk in its usual place, remove the second cover from the system unit and examine the bottom of the board.

If you're not going to leave the old drive as a spare, then it's time to take it out. Depending on the situation, you can also leave the power cable and SATA cable to complete the connection of the new drive. So, first you need to disconnect a couple of cables from the old drive: power and data transmission. CAREFULLY: these cables are often equipped with special clips.

If the old disk is placed in a special mount, remove it from there using a screwdriver. As soon as you are sure that the disk has been detached from the system unit, take it out and put it aside. As a reminder, things like discs are extremely delicate devices, so be careful with them. All that is left for you to do is to repeat the entire process described above, but only with a new disk: fix it in the system unit and connect the power and data cables.

M.2 SSD drives - everything is done in the same way as in the case of laptops: inserts the board at an angle into the M.2 slot, bend it up to the screw hole and screw it to the motherboard. The advantage of these drives is that you can easily combine them with SATA drives, but they will not take up extra space.

That's all. You may have to tinker with a bunch of screws, but the rest is pretty straightforward. Once you're done, take another look at your work: check connections, count screws, and more. After replacing the old or installing a new disk, close the system unit, and then try to start your PC. If you did everything correctly, you can start installing the new OS or enter the previously transferred one.

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Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs do not have any mechanical parts to access data, so switching the boot drive to the SSD reduces read times. The physical installation of an SSD is no different from installing a regular HDD, but to optimize SSD performance, you must configure your operating system and computer firmware.

Replacing old equipment

    When replacing an HDD with an SSD, you can either transfer the existing OS from the old disk by cloning it or install a new copy of the OS. Cloning a disk requires assigning a partition at least as large as the source, and SSD drives are usually smaller than hard drives, so you need to back up and delete unneeded files from the source.

    On your computer, plug the SSD into the SATA slot, leaving your HDD connected. Also, replace the HDD with an SSD and then connect the HDD to your computer as an external drive. The USB stick converts the SATA connector of the drive to USB so you can use it as a removable media. Boot from the external drive, select “Temporary boot options” or similar selection in BIOS on the splash screen, and then select the external USB hard drive in boot options.

Cloning the boot partition

    Before cloning your hard drive, defrag it using the Disk Defragmenter and Optimize Tool. Select the partition, then click the Analyze and Optimize button and defragment the disk if necessary. Next, you need to shrink the partition to fit the new drive using the Disk Management utility; press the “Windows” key, type “diskmgmt.msc” (without quotes) and press the “Enter” key to open it. Click right click mouse on the partition, select “Shrink Volume” and then, in the “Enter the Amount of Space to Shrink in MB,” field, enter the number of megabytes to remove all unnecessary from this partition, so that it would be suitable for an SSD. Transfer files to your new SSD using disk cloning software such as Clonezilla, EaseUS Todo Backup or Acronis. Each of these programs works differently, but they all contain an option that allows you to directly transfer files from the old drive to the new one. Select this option from the main menu and then select the source and destination drives when prompted.

Installing and tweaking the OS

    When you don't have a lot of applications installed on your HDD, installing a fresh version of the OS is a little easier than cloning as it doesn't require any additional software. Installing an OS on an SSD is no different than installing on a hard drive, but when using an SSD as a boot drive, some minor tweaks are required. Enable the Advanced Host Controller Interface for SSD by opening Regedit and choosing the following directory:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ services

    Click the msahci button, then double-click the Start button and make sure the DWORD value is 0. Confirm the same Start DWORD parameter in the pciide directory. Restart your computer and go to BIOS, then select “Storage” or similar in BIOS. In your SSD storage options, select “AHCI” so that Windows recognizes the drive as an SSD. Before exiting BIOS, open the boot options menu and follow the instructions on the screen in - boot order from devices to install the SSD first.

Optimizing your system

    After Windows boot on an SSD, open Defragment and Optimize Your Disks, and then select your SSD from the menu. The applet displays the SSD next to the drive letter because Windows recognizes it as an AHCI device. Windows doesn't know whether to defragment it or not, which shortens the disk's lifespan by unnecessary writes and byte erasure. Instead, Windows automatically enables the Trim feature to optimize SSD performance. Trim are special commands that the OS sends to your SSD to compensate for the difference in how the SSD and HDD handle data. SSD data is instantly processed, excluding a few seconds or minutes, the HDD needs time to move its mechanical head to search for data blocks that become fragmented as the disk spins. The disadvantage of using it as a bootable SSD is that after writing and deleting data, 10,000 to 100,000 times, the flash memory degrades and no longer stores data. To extend the life of your SSD drive, store documents, media and other files on a HDD with more storage capacity.

To install and configure an SSD storage drive, you need to study the features of this type of drive that may affect these processes. One of its main characteristics is the limited number of cycles, both writing and reading, performed simultaneously. This is a fundamental difference from HDD that you need to know if you want to extend its lifespan. Therefore, before answering the question of how to connect an SSD, you should think about ways to optimize those operating systems that support this type of drive - Windows 7 and Windows 8. Using these methods, you can reduce the number of operations that are associated with writing and, as a result use your SSD for much longer.

Installation and testing

To install the drive, take it out of the box and remove the side panel from the system unit.
To avoid erasing the other drive, unplug any installed media. After that, connect the SSD to the motherboard parallel to the side cover.
Then refit the panel and turn on the computer.

To prevent problems with the OS boot or disk operation, you should perform some operations before installing the OS. The first is to check the firmware version of your drive. Programs such as AIDA64 or SSDLife can help you do this. However, before doing this, go to BIOS and switch to AHCI mode. After this change, you can go to the manufacturer's website and check for a newer version, which will need to be installed if necessary.

For Windows settings to work with SSD, you must also disable unnecessary services. This can be done by temporarily disconnecting the hard drives.

Configuring Boot Options

In BIOS downloads, find Hard Disc Drives and select your SSD first in the list.
In the Boot Device Priority parameter under number 1, put the CD / DVD drive. Then insert a bootable disk such as Acronis BootCD and press the F10 button to save the settings and restart the computer. When turning on the PC, select Acronis Disk Director
highlight the desired SSD and initialize it with "MBR" and base type. Select it again and create a volume with the following parameters:

  • size - default;
  • unallocated space before / after the volume - 0 bytes and 1 MB, respectively;
  • file system - NTFS;
  • automatic cluster size;
  • label - C (nothing);
  • type - active / main.

Features of SSD settings

You need to disable services such as Prefetch and Superfetch. If your drive is correctly recognized by the computer, this may happen automatically.

However, it is best to be sure of this. To do this, open the registry editor by clicking "Start" - "Run" - regedit. You will see the line "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Control Session Manager Memory Management PrefetchParameters" for which you need to set "EnablePrefetcher = dword: 00000000" and "EnableSuperfetch = dword: 0000000".

After that, you should turn off the automatic defragmentation of the hard drive, which reduces the life of your SSD. This is accomplished by opening Disk Defragmenter. Click "Start" and then select "All Programs", "Accessories", "System Tools" and "Disk Defragmenter". A window will open in which you need to disable scheduled disk defragmentation.

After installation, return to BIOS and select the drive as the primary boot device. After that, you can use your computer at full power and thanks to the use of an SSD, its technical resources will significantly increase.

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How to install SSD on laptop and PC? Several reliable ways

It has recently begun to install solid-state drives on laptops and computers by default, and a device purchased just 1-2 years ago most likely comes with a regular SATA HDD. This option is also not bad - especially if the SATA III interface is used, but ordinary hard drives are unable to provide maximum performance.

A user who wants to speed up access to information will need:

    • purchase an SSD with a suitable size and price (a 60–128 GB device is enough to work with documents and basic programs; for more resource-intensive tasks, you should think about buying a 500–1000 GB device);
    • enable AHCI mode to work with high-speed drives (if it has not been done before);
    Read more about how to do this in the article "I can not install windows 7: how to solve basic errors"
    • disassemble the computer and install the solid state drive. For a laptop, in this case, you may need to remove the old HDD (for further installation using an adapter and a CD-ROM drive). Stationary PCs usually have enough space for an SSD.

    As a result, the user gets:

  1. Increasing the speed of working with data;
  2. Reduced power consumption and weight (important for laptops);
  3. No need to defragment the disk.
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The standard size for a solid state drive is 2.5 inches. 3.5-inch versions were also produced, however, due to the fact that they were most often installed on laptops, only the smallest drives remained (including 1.8-inch and M2 formats). This means that for installation on a PC, an SSD requires the use of so-called sleds, or rails - devices for securing the disk inside the bays designed for standard HDDs and drives. And, although, due to the light weight of the solid-state drive, it weighs a little and can only be mounted on one side of the case of the system unit, you should not do this - it is safer to purchase a small adapter from 3.5 to 2.5 inches.

Fig. 2. Solid State Drive Sled for PC Installation

Disk installation is carried out in several stages:

  1. The computer is de-energized;
  2. The power supply is turned off using a button on the back of the system unit;
  3. The power button is pressed and held for several seconds. In this case, a de-energized computer, of course, will not start, however, static electricity will be removed from the motherboard and other parts;
  4. The PC case is disassembled (usually only one panel is removed for this, most often the left one, but sometimes you have to disassemble the system unit almost completely;
  5. The SSD is installed in place (for a PC, it is not necessary to remove the HHD that was already there) using an adapter slide and secured with screws. The hardware is included with the device;
  6. The installed disk is connected to the motherboard via a SATA cable and the corresponding slot on the "motherboard";

Fig. 3. Slots for connecting cables from SATA drives

  1. The disk and the computer's power supply are connected;
  2. Assemble the system unit and configure the SSD.

As a rule, the maximum speed of the drive will be ensured only when it is connected to a SATA 3.0 or higher connector at a speed of up to 6 GB / s. On the board, it usually differs from others in black color and markings. In the absence of any designations for SATA 3.0, you should familiarize yourself with the documentation for the "motherboard".

It is worth noting that SSD drives do not tolerate high temperatures well. Therefore, when adding a new drive, it is worth taking care of improving the cooling system. For this, you can provide, for example, an additional 80 × 80 or 120 × 120 cooler in the side of the system unit. Such a fan will perfectly cool not only a solid-state drive, but also a regular drive.

Fig. 4. Powerful cooler for cooling the inside of the system unit

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After installing the disk, first of all, you need to configure the media for its optimal performance and increase its service life:

  1. Go to BIOS (or UEFI) using one of the methods available in your operating system. The easiest way to do this for Windows 7 is by pressing the function key during reboot (different manufacturers of the motherboard or laptop use different letters);
Read more about setting up a boot disk in our material: How to reset Windows 7 password - Instructions.
  1. Install the SSD drive first in the list of devices (if it is not the only drive);

Fig. 5. Installing an SSD as the first drive on the UEFI list

  1. Save changes and restart your computer.

Now you can either transfer the system to a solid state drive in order not to reinstall. Or leave the old OS if the SSD will not be used as a system drive. When choosing the first option, either the built-in Windows tools(they are available in systems starting from version 7 and higher), or applications such as Acronis True Image. In the second case, when the system remains on the HDD, the same hard disk should be left first in the boot list in the BIOS.

Back to menu

Installing solid state drives on a laptop is slightly different. First of all, due to the fact that there is less space inside the case of a laptop and, most likely, to connect a second disk, the user will have to remove the first. But after installation, the laptop will work faster, and the battery life will hardly decrease, even if you reconnect the old HDD.

For installation, the user will need a standard SSD and a floppy drive adapter. The main installation steps include:

  1. Power off the laptop (by removing the battery);
  2. Opening the back cover and carefully removing the HDD. This turns off the loop and the power wire;

Fig. 6. Removing HDD

  1. Replacing the hard drive with an SSD with a ribbon cable connected;
  2. HDD installation using an adapter;
  3. Replacing the laptop cover;
  4. Turning on the laptop and setting up the system.
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It is advisable to install the hard disk back in cases where the system remains on it. Or, if the size of the SSD is not enough to accommodate all the necessary information there, and the solid-state drive itself is used to store only system files and the operating system. At the same time, the data transfer rate of the optical drive is quite sufficient to support the operation of the HDD. And to ensure the efficient use of SSD in this way will no longer work. Therefore, it is the standard hard disk of the laptop that is inserted into the adapter, and the disk drive is removed - especially since it is practically not used today.

The adapter for connecting the HDD is selected according to the thickness of the drive, which can be equal to either 12.7 or 9.5 mm. Further, in turn, the following actions are performed:

  1. The drive is installed inside the adapter;
  2. The optical drive is removable from the laptop (in most models it is held by one screw). To do this, you need to open the drive (usually it is enough to press a button with a thin needle inside a special hole on the panel in front of the button;

Fig. 7. Hole to open the drive

  1. The panel is removed from the drive tray and installed on the adapter so that replacement does not affect appearance devices;
  2. The hard drive in the adapter is put in place of the drive;
  3. The screw is twisted, which is now attached to the HDD.
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After replacing the hard drive and installing the solid state, the system should automatically detect the type of the new device and install all the software necessary for it. Another utility like Migrate OS to SSD may be needed if you need to move the operating system to a new one from the old disk. Now you can proceed to the main steps to optimize the system. These include:

  • enabling the TRIM function;
  • disabling automatic disk defragmentation;
  • prohibition of indexing of files and permission of their caching.

The TRIM function, which is necessary in order to detect the space left after deleting files in time, is included in Windows starting with the 7th version. If disabled, disk performance degrades over time.

Fig. 8. Checking TRIM on Windows

To test the function, open a command prompt as administrator and enter the fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify command. If the result is 1, then TRIM is not working. You can enable it by calling the line again and entering fsutil behavior query | set DisableDeleteNotify = 0.

Disable defragmentation

Defragmentation is a completely redundant feature for SSD drives. Moreover, in some cases, frequent execution of the process can even reduce the resource of the drive. To prevent this from happening, defragmentation is disabled using the Run menu (Win + R) and the dfrgui command. Scheduled optimization is disabled in the window that opens.

Fig. 9. Disable defragmentation

Disable indexing

To disable indexing, you should:

  1. Open the "My Computer" window;
  2. Right-click on the disc name and select "Properties";
  3. Uncheck the box to allow indexing of file contents.

Fig. 10. Disable indexing

Caching

You can enable caching, which allows the disk to process files faster, by typing devmgmt.msc on the Run menu. This will open the Device Manager, where you can open the properties of the desired drive and enable file caching on the policy tab.

Fig. 11. Enabling caching

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After installing a new disk, the improvement in system parameters can be seen immediately after booting. Especially if the SSD is selected as the primary drive and the system boots from it. First of all, the boot time decreases, and secondly, the disk performance index rises almost to its maximum value.

However, in order for the disc to last as long as possible, you should adhere to certain rules for its use:

  • to increase the resource on the SSD, it is worth leaving at least 10-15% of free space;
  • during use, it is worth making sure that the system has the latest drivers for the drive. They are usually found on the manufacturer's website. Most often, with each new firmware, the number of drive capabilities is updated and its service life increases;
  • do not exceed the recommended amount of information rewritten in one cycle. For different SSD models, this volume reaches from 10 to 33% of the total;
  • to check the disk resource, you should periodically run programs to detect errors and the number of hours already worked - such as SSD Life.

Read our other articles on SSD drives:

What is SSD - advantages and disadvantages

Configuring SSD for Windows 10: Complete step-by-step instructions

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How to install SSD on laptop and computer

Installation of SSD began to be installed on PCs and Laptops not so long ago, already 1-2 years ago, the purchased device is most often equipped with a SATA HDD. This is not a bad option, especially if you are using the latest CATA 3 interface, but to ensure the best system performance, the disks are not suitable.

1. What you need to install an SSD-Disk

If the user wants to speed up access to information, he will need to: - buy an SSD of the required size and reasonable price, in order to work with programs the device needs 60 or more GB of memory. If other, more capacious tasks are used, then you can think about a device up to 500 GB or more.
- turn on AHCI mode to be able to work with such drives, if you have not already done so; - disassemble your PC and install a "solid-state" drive in it. For a laptop, you will need to remove the old HDD when there is enough stationary space for an SSD. As a result, we will get: - Increased data processing speed; - Significant reduction in weight and power consumption (an important point for laptops); - Disk defragmentation in the past.

2. Install the SSD on the computer

Typically, such a disk is about 2.5 inches in size. There are also 3.5 inches, but they were installed only on laptops. Today, there are still 1.8-inch SSDs. Therefore, when installing them on a PC, you need to use various rails and sleds - special devices for securing drives inside special bays, which are needed for conventional drives and HDDs.
Installing the disk: 1. Power off the computer completely; 2. The power supply should be turned off from the button on the back; 3. The shutdown button is either snapped out or held in place for some time. Thus, all static voltage will be removed from the motherboard and other parts; 4. Disassemble the PC case, you can remove one panel and continue disassembling; 5. The SSD drive is installed in the right place, it is not necessary to remove the HDD on the PC, you can resort to using sleds and adapters, and also fix it with screws. The hardware usually comes with the disc. 6. The drive should be connected to the motherboard via a SATA cable by "sticking" it into the desired layer on the motherboard.
7. Now we connect the disk and the power supply; 8. We assemble the system unit and configure the operation of the SSD drive. You will only be able to achieve maximum performance if the drive is connected to a special SATA 3.0 connector. On the motherboard, such a connector differs from others in its color and markings. SSDs are temperature sensitive. Therefore, for the correct operation and safety of such drives, it is best to take additional care of the cooling system. To do this, initially you need to know what kind of cooler you need, with a size of 80x80, or more. The fan, as in the picture, will do an excellent job of cooling a solid-state, and even a regular drive.

3. Setting up work

After the disk is installed, initially you need to configure your disk for the best, optimal performance and further increase in its service life: - Go to BIOS. This is done in the same standard ways, by pressing the button from F2 to F12, Delete and so on. - Make the SSD drive on the device first if there are additional drives;
- Save changes, reboot PC. Now the whole system can be transferred to the solid state drive. Or leave the old system if the SSD is not the system drive. When choosing "system transfer", use the special built-in Windows transfer tools for this, or do it using the "Acronis True Image" utilities. In the second case, the system will remain on the HDD, this disk should be the first in the BIOS boot list.

4. Installing SSD on a laptop

Installing such disks on a laptop is significantly different from installing them on a PC. The first is different cases for a laptop, the second is a complete replacement of the old disk to install a new one. But thanks to such a replacement, the laptop will work several times faster, and the battery time will not be changed, even if the HDD is reconnected back. To install, the user needs to get a special SSD and an adapter for the floppy drive.

Basic steps for installation:

Complete power off the laptop, removing the battery; - Removing the HDD. The power wire and the loop are disconnected;
- Replacing the old hard drive, another SSD drive by connecting a loop to it; - Installing the HDD using the same adapter; - Assembling the laptop; - Setting up the laptop system after turning on.

5. Installing HDD

Back the hard drive on the laptop must be installed in the case when it still has a system, or the size of the SSD is not so large in order to contain all the necessary information, and the SSD itself is used to store the system data. Thus, the transfer rate from the drive can easily support the operation of the HDD. But to ensure the operation of an SSD in the same way will not work. - HDD It is installed inside the adapter; - The drive should be removed from the laptop (most often it is held by only one screw). To do this, you need to open the drive (this is done by pressing a special button through the hole in the drive).
- You need to remove the panel from the drive and install it on the adapter so that the replacement does not make its own "adjustments" to the appearance of the device; - The hard drive is installed in place of the drive in the adapter itself; - We fasten the HDD with a screw.

6. System setup

After the HDD is returned and the SSD is installed, the system will automatically detect the type of device and install all the necessary software on it. You may need to use the Migrate OS to SSd utility if you need to transfer the OS from an old HDD to an SSD drive. Let's move on to the main steps to improve the system's performance: - enable TRIM; - disable auto-defragmentation of the disk; - disable indexing of files and enable their caching. The THREE function is needed in order to find the files left after deletion at the right time. If TRIM is disabled, the performance of the hard drive decreases.
To check if TRIM is working, you need to enter fsutil behavior query disablelenotify at the command line. If the value is 1, trim is disabled. It is still enabled through the command line, but with a different command: fsutil behavior query | set DisableDeleteNotify = 0

Disable defragmentation

Defragmentation - Not needed for SSD drives. It also reduces the speed of the resource. To prevent this from happening, it must be disabled using the standard Run program, and the introduction of the dfrgui command into it.
Disable indexing - Open "My Computer"; - Right-click on the disk and select its "Properties"; - Uncheck the box that allows indexing.
Caching Enabling caching will enable the disk to process files and information faster. This is done using the special Run menu, by entering the devmgmt.msc command into it. After that, the Device Manager will open, where the properties of the preferred drive can be opened and the ability to enable it permission to cache files.

7. Prevention of disk operation

After a new disk has been installed and configured, an improvement in performance parameters can be seen immediately after the first boot. If an SSD is selected as the "primary" drive, the system will boot from it many times faster. First, the boot time will change, and secondly, the disk performance will increase to almost 100%.

But in order for such an SSD drive to work for a long time, you need to adhere to the rules:

Leave less than 15% of free space on the drive; - in the process, it is worth checking if the drivers for the drive are updated. This is usually easy to do through the developer's site; - do not exceed the amount of rewritable information in one cycle. This volume for SSD drives reaches 33% of the total;

Systematically check the dick for errors and the number of hours worked using the SSD Life software.

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First installation and configuration of an SSD drive in a PC

For the initial setup procedure, I use an Acronis BootCD with Acronis Disk Director. Therefore, I advise you to first download and record it from this topic. You can use any other utility, but all screenshots and descriptions in this article will be based on Acronis Disk Director.

Let's say you've just purchased a brand new, fast drive for your pet (computer). The first advice is to try not to damage the packaging (in the worst case, it may come in handy). Second tip - If you came from a frost, let the drive (HDD) warm up to at least positive temperature before turning on the power. Next, I will focus only on the SSD, but I will note that the process of setting it up is absolutely no different from a regular HDD.

We take the drive out of the box, open the side panel of the system unit. If this is the first time you install a hard drive or SSD into a computer, I advise you to disconnect the power from all installed storage media, except for the DVD drive (so that you do not accidentally erase another drive during the setup process). We connect the SATA cable and power from the PSU to the motherboard and SSD. Often a 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch adapter can be supplied with a drive (for installation in an HDD bay in a system unit). I never use an adapter, because in my old case it is very inconvenient to remove the drive from the HDD 3.5 "shaft. Therefore, I simply fix the SSD in parallel with the side cover of the system unit (This is not a hard drive, there are no parts moving at high speed, it does not heats up and therefore for an SSD it is absolutely on the drum, in which place and position it will be installed).

We close the side cover, turn on the power of the computer and enter the BIOS settings (usually by pressing the DEL key after a short beep). // The following labels and parameters may differ from mine, depending on the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. If you do not find an exact match, look for inscriptions that are identical in meaning.

  • In the Boot section, find the Hard Disk Drives parameter
  • Under the number "1" we select our SSD
  • There should be a second parameter Boot Device Priority next to it
  • Choose the CD / DVD drive in the first place.
  • Insert our bootable Acronis BootCD
  • Press "F10" to save settings and reboot

After rebooting, you will see a boot disk window with a choice of programs to work with. We need Acronis Disk Director (Screenshot 1).

After loading, the main window of the program will open, in which we will see our SSD with the inscription "Not initialized" (Screenshot 2). Select it and the "Initialize" item will appear on the left side of the window. Click on it and the "Disk Initialization" window will open (Screenshot 3). Select the "MBR" partition scheme and the "Basic" type. Click OK.

Next, select our disk again and the "Create volume" item will appear on the left (Screenshot 4). // If your drive has already been used before and has not gone through the Secure Erase procedure, you will not be able to initialize it. In this case, select the disk and select the "Delete volume" item on the left and return to the fourth screenshot.

After clicking on the "Create volume" section, you will see a series of windows for configuring its parameters (Screenshots 5, 6, 7). I will focus on the seventh:

  • Volume size - the default will be the maximum size allowed
  • Unallocated space before volume - select 0 bytes
  • Unallocated space after volume - set minimum (1 MB)
  • File system - NTFS
  • Cluster size - Auto (or 4Kb)
  • Volume label - C, or nothing
  • Volume type - Primary / Active (if you are installing your SSD as a system drive)

After clicking the "Finish" button, we will return to the main window of the program (Screenshot 8). Select our created section and at the top you will need to click on the "Apply pending operations" button to save all changes. The "Pending Operations" window will open (Screenshot 9), which will describe step by step the plan for performing all the settings we have specified. We carefully read each line, whether everything corresponds to our requests, after which we press the "Continue" button. After completing the procedure, close the program window and restart the computer to install the operating system.

At Windows installation no need to format the disk. Just select the (Volume) section we just created for installation. For more information on installing Windows 7 on an SSD drive, see the following link. After installing the system, do not forget to go back to BIOS settings and select your SSD as the main bootable medium (in the Boot Device Priority section). Well, connecting back the rest of the drives would also not hurt :-)

Thank you for your attention, I will be glad to hear all your comments in the comments, ICQ or e-mail.

rapidsoft.org

How to install an SSD drive in a computer and laptop: step-by-step instructions

Solid state drives, popularly called SSD drives, are gaining more and more popularity every year. Their production becomes cheaper, more and more affordable models appear in the store for customers, and the number of users who decide to install them is increasing.

Installing in a desktop or laptop SSD is a great solution if you want to speed up your operating system. It doesn't really matter how fast you buy a solid-state drive, even the slowest SSD is ten times faster than a standard HDD.

Having bought an SSD drive, it is important to install it correctly. In this article, we will consider how to install the drive in a computer or laptop.

Please note: To see the performance improvement from installing an SSD in your computer, you need to have an operating system on it.

How to install an SSD disk in a computer system unit

The procedure for installing an SSD drive in a stationary computer is almost identical to how an HDD drive is installed, with the exception of minor nuances. The main nuance is that a regular HDD for a stationary computer has a size of 3.5 inches, while the size of an SSD drive is 2.5 inches, respectively, a special adapter is required to install the disk, which can be purchased inexpensively at any computer store.

In general, the process of installing an SSD disk into the system unit of a computer is as follows:

When all the steps described above are completed, you can proceed to setting up the SSD drive. To do this, go to BIOS and select AHCI mode for the installed SSD drive. If you plan to use an SSD drive for the operating system, install it first in the list of disks to boot and install the operating system (or transfer Windows from the old disk to the new one).

How to install an SSD drive in a laptop

Installing a solid state drive in a laptop is an extremely simple procedure that takes less than 10 minutes if done correctly. The fact is that 2.5-inch disks are initially installed in laptops, so no additional effort is required to properly fix the disk. All you need to do to install an SSD in your laptop is:


After the SSD is in place of the HDD, you will need to install the operating system. This can be done from a flash drive or disk.

Please note: If your laptop has a CD / DVD drive that is not in use, you can remove it from the computer and replace it with a special mount for the SSD drive to use it without removing the main hard drive.

Modern technologies do not stand still. More modern devices are constantly appearing, which are distinguished by a larger set of capabilities, better quality and higher performance. One such device is a solid state hard drive. In this regard, the question often arises, how to install an SSD in a computer?

But before moving on to the installation, let's take a look at what it is, and why do we need this device?

What is SSD

SSD stands for Solid-State Drive, which roughly means a solid-state hard drive in Russian. But why is it needed? This is a new type of hard disks that are characterized by high speed of reading and writing information. In other words, when comparing SSDs to older HDDs, the former have much higher data transfer rates.

This, in turn, increases the performance of the PC and shortens the boot time of the operating system. But there is also a drawback. Such drives have certain restrictions on the number of recording and deleting files. In other words, if you constantly copy and delete various files on an SSD, it will fail after a while, which cannot be said about HDD disks.

But still, even with such limitations, the life of the drive is quite long. And the performance gain, even in games, is quite noticeable. It should be noted that modern HDD disks have the same interface for connection as a solid-state analogue, so that installing an SDD disk into a computer is easy and quick, without any special costs and difficulties.

Windows 8 Hot Keys: Video

How to choose a solid state hard drive

So we got to the question of how to install an SSD in a computer. In principle, everything is simple. First, let's look at what interfaces can be for connecting a hard drive. There are several of them:

  • ATA (the so-called IDE) is an outdated interface that has not been used for a long time. In this case, the data transfer speed is low, and if you have an outdated computer model that uses such a connector, there is simply no point in buying an SDD.
  • SATA is a newer interface that replaces the previous one. It has a higher data transfer rate. In turn, SATA is subdivided into three types:
    • SATA 1.
    • SATA 2.
    • SATA 3.

These types also differ in the data exchange rate. For example, SATA 2 is faster than SATA 1, and SATA 3 is the most modern and fastest interface.

Thus, before buying a solid state drive, you should find out which connector is available in your PC. For example, it makes no sense to take an SSD with a speed of 600 MB / s if it is connected to SATA 1, since the connection itself will limit the speed to 150 MB / s.

It should be noted that all SATA interfaces are interchangeable. This means that if the motherboard is equipped with SATA 2, then a SATA 3 or 1 cable can be connected to it.

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How to install SDD

So, we decided on the choice. Now you can move on to the question of how to install SDD into your computer. What is required for this? The first step is to make sure that the interface controller is operating in AHCI mode. This can be done in the BIOS, in the SATA Mode item. ...

If your computer provides the ability to use additional hard drives, then you just have to disassemble the system unit and connect the SSD to one of the SATA interfaces. Most likely, Windows will ask you to format the new drive. This is necessary because during the formatting process Windows writes file system to the drive for further work with it.

In this case, you can load the operating system and copy all the necessary data to a new hard drive. However, due to the fact that SDD has the above disadvantage, it is not recommended to use it for storing files. Typically, it is used to install the operating system. In this case, in order not to reinstall Windows after replacing the hard drive, you can install it already on a solid-state analog.

Thus, you can use your familiar and customized system, but already on a new, faster and quieter SDD drive. If your computer does not provide for the ability to use several hard drives at the same time, as, for example, in most laptops, then you will have to follow certain steps.

In the case of a laptop, you will have to disconnect the old hard drive from the computer interface. We see that the device is housed in a special case. We need to remove it and rearrange it to a new solid state analog. As a rule, the body is secured with 4 bolts. After reinstalling the case, insert the hard drive back, in the same way as you disassembled, only in the reverse order.

This completes the installation of the SSD disk. No special drivers are required. The operating system already contains all the necessary software. After the first boot, Windows will detect the new device and automatically install the driver. After that, the system will ask you to restart the PC.

How to install an SSD hard drive in a computer: Video

How to connect an SSD to a computer as a worthy alternative to a classic hard drive and increase the speed of data reading, as well as reduce power consumption. Solid state drives (literal translation from the English abbreviation SSD) are capable of increasing the operating life of a device many times over. Their affordable, today, cost, compact size and simplicity of the device allow you to upgrade your stationary computer or laptop yourself at home.

Preparing a Site for Drive Installation

As with any work related to upgrading an electronic device, installing an SSD requires some preparation. It consists of the following features and depends on the type of gadget:

  1. Laptops already have a standard 2.5-inch slot, which matches the format of most types of solid-state drives and there are no problems with installation on them. Many models are equipped with a separate hard drive bay, which greatly simplifies the installation procedure.
  2. Stationary computers are equipped with 3.5-inch disks and mounting an SSD requires preparing a certain place for it. To do this, you must purchase a special adapter in advance, which will ensure a reliable connection and fixation.

A user who decides to carry out the SSD installation procedure on his own must have the knowledge and skills of reinstalling (installing a new) operating system, using third-party software for this, which will help to quickly launch Windows on new hardware.

Installation procedure

Due to the fact that the SSD device has no moving parts, which means it does not create vibrations and noise, its installation is allowed almost anywhere in the system unit. The only condition is a reliable fixation, which is necessary in case of transportation (rearrangement) of the computer. If it hangs freely on the connection wires, it can touch and damage other parts.

The classic and most convenient mounting option is a standard 3.5-inch hard drive bay. Therefore, we first prepare (purchase if it is not included in the kit) a special adapter (slide). The editing algorithm will look like this:

  • The device is disconnected from the mains and the back or top cover is removed from it.
  • The SSD is pre-attached to the adapter (sled) using the four screws included in the kit (the fit should be tight, the screws should be tightened without much effort).
  • The solid state drive sled fits into the 3.5-inch drive bay and is secured with screws.
  • The cable connection of the SSD device to the computer is done in the same way as the connection of a standard hard drive, using 2 SATA cables (with wide and narrow adapters for connection). In this case, the wide one is connected to the power supply unit of the system unit, and the narrow one to its motherboard. It should be borne in mind that the SSD is connected to the motherboard through the SATA 3.0 port, which has a corresponding designation or stands out from SATA 2.0 in a different color.

Connecting to the motherboard's SATA 3.0 port will maximize the operating potential of the solid-state drive and provide up to 600 Mbps. Do not be afraid of a wrong connection, all connectors have individual dimensions and you cannot mix them up, even if you wish.

This completes the installation and connection procedure. Check again the reliability of the drive and the quality of the wires, after which you can install the cover on the system unit, and then connect the power supply with all the necessary equipment.

Initial start-up and preparation for work

The initialization of new hardware (solid-state drive), if there is an installed operating system on the device, will take place in automatic mode immediately after switching on. After that, you need to carry out a number of actions:

  • Using the "Disk Management" settings (opened by pressing the WIN + X key combination and entering diskmgmt.msc in the window that opens), format the installed drive.

  • Divide the disk into several parts (if necessary).
  • Resize the letter or cluster of the new disk.

The procedure can be carried out using the device settings menu. You can log in by right-clicking on the "My Computer" icon and going to the "Disk Management" section.

After that, you should reboot the device. Uninterrupted normal switching on will mean that the disk is ready for work and it can be filled with the information necessary for the user to the fullest extent of its capabilities.

Preparing and using as a boot disk

Installing a new or reinstalling an existing operating system after installing a drive is carried out through the BIOS. The procedure is simple and looks like this:

  • After starting the computer, you must press the Esc or F1 key.
  • In the settings, indicate the loading of the SSD.

In case of difficulties related to the need to use the instructions for the motherboard or laptop.

You can navigate to the Boot menu using the arrow buttons on your keyboard. In the Boot Device Priority item, you must indicate the boot of the solid-state drive. To simplify the procedure, the necessary explanations about the algorithm of actions will be placed in the right column of the BIOS, indicating the keys that will need to be pressed.

After completing the installation procedure, press the F10 button and reboot the device.

This method will help many users to perform a fairly effective upgrade of their computer or laptop and even give new life to a hopelessly outdated device.