TRIM and Windows 7

[Freyz]

Hello everyone! I currently own an intel x25-m 2G 160GB SSD on a windows 7 home edition PC. I read that windows 7 supports TRIM, but does TRIM automatically happen every so often because I have windows 7, or should I use the Intel SSD toolbox utility to have the scheduler run TRIM every week or so? Thanks!

 

[corkyg]

Use the utility.

 

[hal2kilo]

Use the utility.

I have the 120gb version of the same drive. What does the utility do for you that TRIM doesn't do?

 

[thescreensavers]

Go to the Command Prompt and type:

fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)


To enable TRIM (if it's disabled), go to command prompt and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 0


To disable TRIM, to go command prompt and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 1

 

[capeconsultant]

Go to the Command Prompt and type:

fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)


To enable TRIM (if it's disabled), go to command prompt and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 0


To disable TRIM, to go command prompt and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 1

Good one thescreensavers! darn nice command.

 

[Zap]

What does the utility do for you that TRIM doesn't do?

It does the same thing that manually running Defrag on a spindle HDD does, versus letting Windows 7 run Defrag automatically. It basically gives impatient people a button to keep pressing.

Go to the Command Prompt and type:

In case this doesn't run for someone, try running Command Prompt as an admin.

 

[Old Hippie]

Good one thescreensavers! darn nice command.

That will tell you if TRIM is enabled in the OS but it doesn't mean that the drive is getting the TRIM command thru the controller.

IDK of any way that shows if the drive is receiving the TRIM command.

Is there a way?

 

[hdrive]

That will tell you if TRIM is enabled in the OS but it doesn't mean that the drive is getting the TRIM command thru the controller.

IDK of any way that shows if the drive is receiving the TRIM command.

Is there a way?

There is a tool available (called hIOmon) that can capture the extent to which the Windows operating system is actually issuing SSD TRIM commands.

The tool includes a "Windows Sidebar Gadget" that can display a subset of TRIM-related metrics during everyday, normal usage of your computer system.

Here's another screenshot of the gadget as posted within this forum.

 

[postmortemIA]

whenever I run intel utility on drives with windows 7, it runs for 1-2 seconds and says "disk is ready"

 

[Emulex]

it just makes a bunch of files to pressure the drive's garbage collection. it would seem redundant in win7 with trim enabled

 

[hal2kilo]

it just makes a bunch of files to pressure the drive's garbage collection. it would seem redundant in win7 with trim enabled

I think TRIM alone will do nicely then.

 

[taltamir]

TRIM happens instantly as soon as any file is deleted. You don't need to run anything or do anything with your SSD (because all intel G2 support trim) or OS (win7 has trim on by default, regardless of drive detected). The only question is, does your storage driver support trim. The generic MS AHCI driver supports trim, as well as various specific drivers (the intel AHCI&RAID drivers for example) and some specific IDE drivers also support trim. What mobo are you using?

 

[Old Hippie]

The tool includes a "Windows Sidebar Gadget" that can display a subset of TRIM-related metrics during everyday,

Ah Ha, I see how it works.

Thanks, I'll play with this for 30 days but 75.00 for a license is a little too rich for my blood.

 

[Jumpem]

Go to the Command Prompt and type:

fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)


To enable TRIM (if it's disabled), go to command prompt and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 0


To disable TRIM, to go command prompt and type:

fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 1

I try to run this and it says that I need administrative privileges.

Under Control Panel -> User Accounts, it shows "Administrator" under my user name.

 

[Linflas]

I try to run this and it says that I need administrative privileges.

Under Control Panel -> User Accounts, it shows "Administrator" under my user name.

Type CMD and hold CTRL+Shift and hit Enter. That will launch the elevated command window.

 

[Jumpem]

Type CMD and hold CTRL+Shift and hit Enter. That will launch the elevated command window.

Thanks.

 

[HeXen]

i just let windows do its thing. 7 was supposed to take care of SSd's on its own, if it doesnt then false advertiseing and poor MS coding on their part i guess.

 

[hal2kilo]

TRIM happens instantly as soon as any file is deleted. You don't need to run anything or do anything with your SSD (because all intel G2 support trim) or OS (win7 has trim on by default, regardless of drive detected). The only question is, does your storage driver support trim. The generic MS AHCI driver supports trim, as well as various specific drivers (the intel AHCI&RAID drivers for example) and some specific IDE drivers also support trim. What mobo are you using?

Its a Dell Vostro 1700 and all I know is that it uses the Mobile Express 965 chipset. From the Command Prompt I get a 0 as a response indicating that TRIM is enabled.

 

[taltamir]

From the Command Prompt I get a 0 as a response indicating that TRIM is enabled.

That will ALWAYS be the result you get in windows 7 unless you manually disabled it (or theoretically installed a program/virus that disabled it for you).
Windows 7 always has delete notification (TRIM) on by default. It does not tell you if the drive receives and understands it though.

Its a Dell Vostro 1700 and all I know is that it uses the Mobile Express 965 chipset.

I have no idea if the intel drivers for the mobile express 965 (IDE, AHCI, or RAID) support trim. A quick google search found no answer.
You can email intel support and ask, alternatively, you can run it in AHCI mode and make sure you use the generic MS Win7 AHCI drivers which is known to support TRIM.
You can also run some benchmarks and see if the results are indicative of having trim support or not.

 

[hal2kilo]

That will ALWAYS be the result you get in windows 7 unless you manually disabled it (or theoretically installed a program/virus that disabled it for you).
Windows 7 always has delete notification (TRIM) on by default. It does not tell you if the drive receives and understands it though.


I have no idea if the intel drivers for the mobile express 965 (IDE, AHCI, or RAID) support trim. A quick google search found no answer.
You can email intel support and ask, alternatively, you can run it in AHCI mode and make sure you use the generic MS Win7 AHCI drivers which is known to support TRIM.
You can also run some benchmarks and see if the results are indicative of having trim support or not.

I quick check of the drivers in Device Manager for the Intel SSD is

Microsoft drivers

Date: 6/21/2006

Version: 6.1.7600.16385

C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\disk.sys
C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\partmgr.sys

I'm pretty sure its set for AHCI as opposed to earlier advice when I had my 60gb OCZ Vertex i.e. IDE

 

[taltamir]

thats the drive's driver, IIRC its the controller's driver you should be checking.
You are in luck, the 965 is included in the latest intel RST drivers which has been confirmed by others to support TRIM.

you can get it here: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&ProdId=2529&lang=eng

 

[hal2kilo]

thats the drive's driver, IIRC its the controller's driver you should be checking

Oops! I should know better. It's Intel. So the Microsoft driver would ensure that TRIM will work? Makes sense I guess since Microsoft is who incorporated TRIM into the Win 7 software.

I guess I'll do a complete backup first then try the Microsoft drivers. Dell pretty much orphaned this laptop when it comes to Win 7. I still have a big issue with the Toshiba based Dell Bluetooth driver expiring. The guy who sold me this thing swears he's used the same Dell driver in other Vostros he's had and is not having the expiration issue but if you do a google it's a real problem. The Microsoft drivers work but they don't support very many of the what the 360 chip is capable of.

 

[taltamir]

you don't need to switch to the MS drivers, actually I'd use the intel driver's i linked. Intel RST 10 drivers are newer and better and also support TRIM.

And I meant the AHCI controller, not all the various chipset components. bluetooth drivers? and 360 chip (what is a 360 chip?)? leave those alone.
I was talking only about this driver: http://s1026.photobucket.com/albums/y325/taltamir/?action=view&current=AHCIdriver.png
yours will be a different name since you have an older chipset, but it should be similar, and found in the same location.

You don't need to revert any drivers, or perform any uninstalls or whatever.

Just go to the link http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&ProdId=2529&lang=eng and download and install the intel storage controller drivers.
PS. if you are wondering why there are two files there, the _enu ones are english only, half the size of the _cd one which is all languages.
You will have to reboot your OS twice after installing it. (after you reboot it the first time, it will update drive specific drivers too).

 

[hal2kilo]

you don't need to switch to the MS drivers, actually I'd use the intel driver's i linked. Intel RST 10 drivers are newer and better and also support TRIM.

And I meant the AHCI controller, not all the various chipset components. bluetooth drivers? and 360 chip (what is a 360 chip?)? leave those alone.
I was talking only about this driver: http://s1026.photobucket.com/albums/y325/taltamir/?action=view&current=AHCIdriver.png
yours will be a different name since you have an older chipset, but it should be similar, and found in the same location.

You don't need to revert any drivers, or perform any uninstalls or whatever.

Just go to the link http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&ProdId=2529&lang=eng and download and install the intel storage controller drivers.
PS. if you are wondering why there are two files there, the _enu ones are english only, half the size of the _cd one which is all languages.
You will have to reboot your OS twice after installing it. (after you reboot it the first time, it will update drive specific drivers too).

Hey thanks. I knew that the other driver had nothing to do with my Bluetooth issues, just padding the discussion and hoping someone might have an answer. Maybe I'll start a thread.

 

[taltamir]

I misunderstood you then.
Might be a good idea to start a thread specific to it, maybe someone knows