Formatting an SSD?

[Zoom123]

I am building a new computer and I am planning to give my current one which is using an Intel X25-V G2 40GB SSD as the OS drive to my parents.

I am planning to re-install Windows XP Pro so I can give it to them in a clean state.

With a mechanical hard drive I would simply choose to format the drive during installation of the OS. Is the process with SSDs the same? Or there is a better way to erase everything from it and bring it to a clean state?

Thanks

 

[RU482]

If possible, format as a secondary drive on a Win7 machine. Then, plug it in to the computer you are giving your parents, and install XP to the partition you created.

This will insure that the OS is aligned properly.

 

[Zoom123]

Thanks. Now I remembered that when I first installed the drive I formated it with some vista recovery disk. (didn't have access to win7 back then)

Is there anything else I should do? Something about ACHI?

 

[Elixer]

What motherboard is this ?
What I did was make a slipstream CD of XP (use nlite, VERY easy) with all the drivers already included on the CD, and then install away. You can also make a small 1MB partition to align the SSD if you chose to go that route.
Then you can have video drivers + ACHI drivers + sound or whatever else you need, and you don't have to go hunting for them after install.

 

[razel]

You can also make a small 1MB partition to align the SSD if you chose to go that route.

Umm... it won't matter the size of the partition. What matters is where the partition starts.

Zoom, even you already have an aligned partition, just make sure that you do not delete the partition and create it in XP. It's ok if you reformat the partition. It will still be aligned.

The primary issue with Windows XP is it came from a 512 byte world while Vista and 7 like writing with 4k. If you're brave I remember running across a forum in OCZ, I think, YA... I KNOW OCZ. But it was a very helpful thread about the possibilty of adjusting XP to behave like Vista/7 and write with 4k, increasing small write performance GREATLY.

 

[Elixer]

Umm... it won't matter the size of the partition. What matters is where the partition starts.

Umm.. your missing the point, having a 1 MB partition is a good way to align it, so the next partition would be aligned.

 

[razel]

Umm.. your missing the point, having a 1 MB partition is a good way to align it, so the next partition would be aligned.

Nope... if you start misaligned. The following partitions will be misaligned. Unless you leave the right amount of space in between them. Of course, I'm just trying to help.

 

[Elixer]

... Starting off at 1MB *is* aligned.

 

[razel]

Now that I agree with... however your other statement isn't always true especially if done in XP.

 

[Elixer]

Now that I agree with... however your other statement isn't always true especially if done in XP.

Your confusing me, what statement do you speak of ?

In short, in ANY OS, you do:
[1MB partition][partition of whatever size] and that is now aligned correctly.

 

[razel]