[US] Newegg: Crucial M500 240GB SSD - $120 - Free Shipping

[Jetster]

I had to order one. And its still going and its past noon

 

[jed]

That's kind of what I was trying to suggest earlier. Save all of the data you want to another HDD, disconnect all HDD, then install Windows from your disc onto the SSD, then attach the "new" data drive you just made and voila, you've got a fresh OS on SSD that stores all the data in it's libraries on another HDD. Finally, if you still want to use the HDD you are using for OS right now, just format it after, and you will have another HDD available to you. Be aware, formatting will wipe it out, so make sure you've got all the data you want off it before doing that format.

If you've got SATA cables, you are all set. Each one will connect directly to the motherboard from each SSD/HDD separately. Just read your motherboard manual, and see which SATA ports on your motherboard are fastest, or preferred for the operating system (such as SATA1 or SATA2, e.g.

I was unable to get the software today due to a snowstorm, but I did get in and install the SSD. It hooked up fine and dandy. Currently I have the WD Green hooked up as normal, and the SSD hooked up with power and SATA into the MoBo. It installed the driver software but is not showing up under My Computer. Do I need to go into BIOS and 'detect' it or something?

 

[rtwjunkie]

I was unable to get the software today due to a snowstorm, but I did get in and install the SSD. It hooked up fine and dandy. Currently I have the WD Green hooked up as normal, and the SSD hooked up with power and SATA into the MoBo. It installed the driver software but is not showing up under My Computer. Do I need to go into BIOS and 'detect' it or something?

You still have the old HDD still in place? I'm not understanding. If you are just wanting to see it, then you can go into disk management under administrative tools, in System and Security in the control panel. Then you would need to format it. Once done, it will appear. Then, when you are ready, you need to have your SSD be the only drive attached when you are ready to install OS. It will need to be hooked up to SATA port 0 or 1.

 

[jed]

You still have the old HDD still in place? I'm not understanding. If you are just wanting to see it, then you can go into disk management under administrative tools, in System and Security in the control panel. Then you would need to format it. Once done, it will appear. Then, when you are ready, you need to have your SSD be the only drive attached when you are ready to install OS. It will need to be hooked up to SATA port 0 or 1.

Yes. I didn't have the OS software to actually do the whole process, so I just mounted the SSD and plugged it in. Figured it would show up but it didn't. That's what I was asking.

I just went into disk management and it asked me if I wanted to intitialize it with MBR or GPT. Should I choose to format it with GPT? Or is this something I need to do right before I unmount the HDD and prep to install the OS onto SSD?

 

[rtwjunkie]

Yes. I didn't have the OS software to actually do the whole process, so I just mounted the SSD and plugged it in. Figured it would show up but it didn't. That's what I was asking.

I just went into disk management and it asked me if I wanted to intitialize it with MBR or GPT. Should I choose to format it with GPT? Or is this something I need to do right before I unmount the HDD and prep to install the OS onto SSD?

Yes, you should do it beforehand, but you don't have to. When you install it will ask to format also, if it's not already. You said you're running W7, right? Since it's only 240GB, you can format it either MBR (the old way, which sees a maximum of 2TB, I believe), or GPT. Windows 8 series will automatically want to format GPT, unless you tell it otherwise. But if you want to format it now, to see if you have a dead SSD, you CAN. The fact that disk management did see it and asked about formatting means it's very likely ok. If there are bad sectors, formatting will reveal that if there are too many.

Once OS is installed (which will be fairly quick on SSD), you can rehook the HDD and point all the libraries to the data you put on the HDD.

 

[jed]

Yes, you should do it beforehand, but you don't have to. When you install it will ask to format also, if it's not already. You said you're running W7, right? Since it's only 240GB, you can format it either MBR (the old way, which sees a maximum of 2TB, I believe), or GPT. Windows 8 series will automatically want to format GPT, unless you tell it otherwise. But if you want to format it now, to see if you have a dead SSD, you CAN. The fact that disk management did see it and asked about formatting means it's very likely ok. If there are bad sectors, formatting will reveal that if there are too many.

Once OS is installed (which will be fairly quick on SSD), you can rehook the HDD and point all the libraries to the data you put on the HDD.

Well. I've done something royally wrong, it seems. I have managed to get my SSD up and running with Win 7 and drivers, etc. Everything is dandy with just the SSD plugged in.

Here's the issue. I got a spare HDD from my dad, a 1 TB Cuda 7400. I transfered everything I wanted from my HDD (WD Green 1 TB) onto the Cuda. The Green goes back to dad and I get to keep the Cuda. When I plug the Cuda into the MoBo, the boot screen boots up to where Windows begins to 'assemble' the flag icon, then it forces a reboot. If I switch the cables around it says 'MISSING BOOTMGR'. Now I'm lost. I got the SSD up and running, but now can't connect my Data HDD to the system, as Windows refuses to load up. Any ideas?

 

[jed]

Yes, you should do it beforehand, but you don't have to. When you install it will ask to format also, if it's not already. You said you're running W7, right? Since it's only 240GB, you can format it either MBR (the old way, which sees a maximum of 2TB, I believe), or GPT. Windows 8 series will automatically want to format GPT, unless you tell it otherwise. But if you want to format it now, to see if you have a dead SSD, you CAN. The fact that disk management did see it and asked about formatting means it's very likely ok. If there are bad sectors, formatting will reveal that if there are too many.

Once OS is installed (which will be fairly quick on SSD), you can rehook the HDD and point all the libraries to the data you put on the HDD.

Also, I forgot to change the mode to AHCI before installing. Now, if I change it to AHCI, Windows won't boot up either. It seems to be stuck in Native IDE mode. Could this be the problem? Do I need to format and re-install Windows under AHCI mode?

EDIT: I did the registry tweak and am now running in AHCI mode. I have a feeling this won't fix my problem but I'll try tomorrow after work. I''ve had enough for tonight so it's time for bed.

 

[Jetster]

When Installing a windows 7 on a new drive. Disconnect all other drives or Windows puts the boot sector on the second drive. If that's when you did you can do a repair with your windows disk but I would just start over. Set the BIOS to AHCI or Raid first. And if the windows installs the set up it will partition the disk GPT. Which is correct. UEFI BIOS will not work on a MBR partition. This does not mean it will not work on a MBR partition. It will just use the latency BIOS

 

[jed]

When Installing a windows 7 on a new drive. Disconnect all other drives or Windows puts the boot sector on the second drive. If that's when you did you can do a repair with your windows disk but I would just start over. Set the BIOS to AHCI or Raid first. And if the windows installs the set up it will partition the disk GPT. Which is correct. UEFI BIOS will not work on a MBR partition. This does not mean it will not work on a MBR partition. It will just use the latency BIOS

Thanks Jet, but I did have everything disconnected. I transfered my data from 1 HDD to another, then disconnected them both. The only one hooked up was the SSD when I installed Windows. I am currently running off it now and everything is working great. It's just when I plug in that data HDD that everything goes to hell for some reason.

Also, I had formatted the drive via Windows in GPT mode before anything, so it was formatted correctly beforehand.

I should be sleeping (>-_-<)

 

[Devon68]

There is this promotion if anyone is interested:
http://hexus.net/tech/news/storage/65877-promo-win-one-ten-120gb-crucial-m500-ssds/
even thou I never received my £ 10 off voucher afterwards

 

[rtwjunkie]

Thanks Jet, but I did have everything disconnected. I transfered my data from 1 HDD to another, then disconnected them both. The only one hooked up was the SSD when I installed Windows. I am currently running off it now and everything is working great. It's just when I plug in that data HDD that everything goes to hell for some reason.

Also, I had formatted the drive via Windows in GPT mode before anything, so it was formatted correctly beforehand.

I should be sleeping (>-_-<)

Jed....does that HDD by chance have an OS on it? Also, can you co in the BIOS and make your SSD first on the boot list?

 

[jed]

Jed....does that HDD by chance have an OS on it? Also, can you co in the BIOS and make your SSD first on the boot list?

Hey mate. Dad said no OS on it, just a pure data drive. When I had both drives connected, I went into the boot menu and selected the Crucial SSD as primary boot. It still gave the same issues. Are you saying there's an option somewhere inside the BIOS that I need to switch?

 

[rtwjunkie]

I'm scratching my head, Jed. Unfortunately, I'm fairly busy at work so I can't give the attention it deserves at this moment. But I will get back to you. Frankly, I hope a few more members stop by and give a hand too. When you say "into the boot menu", do you mean in BIOS, or in Windows?, or just the pre-windows menu?

 

[jed]

I'm scratching my head, Jed. Unfortunately, I'm fairly busy at work so I can't give the attention it deserves at this moment. But I will get back to you. Frankly, I hope a few more members stop by and give a hand too. When you say "into the boot menu", do you mean in BIOS, or in Windows?, or just the pre-windows menu?

I mean I press F12 upon startup to go into "Boot Menu" ( I think it's called ) and select to run from the Crucial.

 

[jed]

I'm scratching my head, Jed. Unfortunately, I'm fairly busy at work so I can't give the attention it deserves at this moment. But I will get back to you. Frankly, I hope a few more members stop by and give a hand too. When you say "into the boot menu", do you mean in BIOS, or in Windows?, or just the pre-windows menu?

That was strange. I got home from work and decided to hook it up and double check BIOS. I hooked it up, went into BIOS, and double checked. SSD was primary boot (0) while HDD was secondary (1) and both in the correct slots. Save it anyways and boot up, and viola, works like a dream. The only difference was the initial chunk of Windows Updates from last night. Could that have been it?