New build w/ Intel X25-M 80GB G2 SSD - any prep work beforehand?

[endervalentine]

I'm picking up the Intel X25-M 80GB G2 SSD, I'm still pretty new to this and was wondering if there was anything I need to do to install Win7 on it?

The main question I had was how to update the firmware w/ the new drive since I don't have a floppy drive.

Also, anything else I need to do aside from -
1. Turned off Disk Defragmenter.
2 Turned off Indexing.

Thanks!

 

[taltamir]

What floppy? the intel firmware uses a bootable CD: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363
You CAN'T use a floppy even if you wanted to, only a CDROM.

To prepare for an SSD you need the following:
1. Enable AHCI in your motherboard BIOS
2. Install windows 7

thats it.

Also, anything else I need to do aside from -
1. Turned off Disk Defragmenter.
2 Turned off Indexing.

1. Windows 7 does automatically.
2. Not true, indexing should only be turned off on horrible random write drives like first generation jmicrons. The intel G2 does not need it. (I think windows 7 does that anyways though; which is a shame)

 

[taltamir]

What floppy? the intel firmware uses a bootable CD http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363
You CAN'T use a floppy even if you wanted to, only a CDROM.

To prepare for an SSD you need the following:
0. update the firmware on your SSD (do so before installing windows)
1. Enable AHCI in your motherboard BIOS
2. Install windows 7

thats it.

Also, anything else I need to do aside from -
1. Turned off Disk Defragmenter.
2 Turned off Indexing.

1. Windows 7 does automatically.
2. Not true, indexing should only be turned off on horrible random write drives like first generation jmicrons. The intel G2 does not need it. (I think windows 7 does that anyways though; which is a shame)

 

[Hacp]

Poor floppy, RIP.

 

[Voo]

What floppy? the intel firmware uses a bootable CD http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363
You CAN'T use a floppy even if you wanted to, only a CDROM.

What? Are you sure? I agree that a CD or a bootable USB stick is more convenient, but why shouldn't you be able to use a floppy? After all Intel uses FreeDos and that should work with a floppy as well as long as the MB recognizes it.

On the other side I haven't used one for a really long time, so who knows? Not really usefull anyhow 😉

 

[endervalentine]

What floppy? the intel firmware uses a bootable CD http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18363
You CAN'T use a floppy even if you wanted to, only a CDROM.

To prepare for an SSD you need the following:
0. update the firmware on your SSD (do so before installing windows)
1. Enable AHCI in your motherboard BIOS
2. Install windows 7

thats it.


1. Windows 7 does automatically.
2. Not true, indexing should only be turned off on horrible random write drives like first generation jmicrons. The intel G2 does not need it. (I think windows 7 does that anyways though; which is a shame)

Thanks for the replies guys.

gotcha, thanks! I was planning on doing the win7 install w/ a bootable usb using one of the guides from google. Is there a way to put the intel ssd f/w on the usb as well and have it boot from either one?

 

[Jd007]

I'm in the exact situation as OP. Just bought an Intel X25-M 80GB G2 SSD, plan to install Win7 on it. I was wondering if it is crucial to update the firmware to the latest on these G2 drives. I heard they have TRIM support built-in, and flashing the firmware is always a bit risky, so I'm not sure whether I should update. Any tips/suggestions?

Also, if I have other mechanical HDDs, does enabling AHCI screw them up?

Oh and a tip for endervalentine: make sure you enable AHCI before you install Windows 7, as people are having problems when they do it afterwards.

 

[Voo]

If you've got one of the FW versions that support TRIM you don't have any reason to update, because well there's only one newer version and that was to fix the problems with the first version and to give owners of the 160gb version some sequential write boost.

And no enabling AHCI shouldn't screw the harddrives up as long as they are a) only data storage drives or b) have a OS with AHCI drivers already installed (otherwise you'll get a BSOD if you boot into the OS, but you can still access the data just fine)