[GUIDE] UX32VD - How to install Windows 7 on the integrated 32GB SSD

Didn't work for me but in any case windows will only install on GPT disk if booted via EFI.

 

Hi all,

Just this message to say that i received my ux32vd yestarday at 7pm (France) and thanks to this excellent guide, it was running win7 home on the SSD part (the one that was installed before, that i took then put my product key) at 8pm

Thanks Dunces very much !!!

I did the installation with usb 8gb pny key. The only little problem i had was that the first time i had booted with UEFI mode and it seemed to prevent the system from seeing the USB3 drivers that was on the usb key. Booting in normal mode instantly solved it.

Cheers

 

Has anybody done this yet?

 

Hello there,

I've been spending the whole night on trying to get through this guide. It is very accurate and apart from minor problems with creating a bootable USB-stick (who has a usb cd/dvd drive at home ), I could manage to follow each step. So thank you very much for this guide.

However, I have one problem. I cannot get the network controller to work. It is listed in the "device manager" (sorry I use direct translation because my windows is in german) under "other devices" (the ones with a yellow warning sign). It is activated. But as soon as I try to install the "Atheros" driver, it tells me "Installer can't find Atheros AR81 Family ethernet controller on your system" and then it exits. Do you think I got the wrong driver? I downloaded it from the Asus webpage, but I have seen that the Touchpad driver doesn't work either (it is Synaptic on the Asus webpage, whereas I can see that you used an Elantech). So maybe Asus put the wrong driver on their webpage?

I guess it is because of the missing ethernet controller, that I can't install the WiFi driver as well? Here I get the error message "MSI file "Intel PROSet Wireless.msi" cannot be found. The setup application will exit."

I would be grateful for any help, since a Laptop without internet is of not much use . Thank you very much.

 

The aetheros is the wrong driver. The only network driver you should need is the Intel Wifi driver.
Elantech is the correct touchpad driver. If you downloaded the files listed in the guide you should have all the correct drivers.

 

Good to know, that the "Atheros" is not needed (wonder why Asus puts it on their web page). Now I need to figure out, why I can't install the Intel WiFi Driver. I was thinking that it is related to the "Atheros"-problem..

Last time I tried I got the error message

MSI file "Intel PROSet Wireless.msi" cannot be found​

I will try to restart this guide from zero, with using an english Windows7 ServicePack1 (I accidently installed the german version without ServicePack1). When doing this, I will try to install the Intel Chipset Driver directly during the Windows installation (as suggested by Pettza78 on page 8). Or do you not recommend this? I thought the Chipset is the first thing to be installed anyways.

Thanks for your help.

 

If you want to use the included usb to lan adapter you want to install asus/others " ASIX USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet Adapter" USBToFEA_ASIX_Win7_64_Z1020.zip

 

Thank you. I already tried. It is not about the adapter, but rather the network controller that does not work properly. For example, when I look at the "adapter-settings" in the Windows Network Centre, it only shows the Bluetooth-adapter but no LAN or Wireless.

 

So, finally got it to work (YEAY). What you want to do is install the Intel WiFi from the device manager (rather than using the setup.exe in the unzipped folder). Open the device manager, right click on the ethernet controller (with its yellow warning sign) and open the properties. Then update driver, browse your computer for driver software, direct to the unzipped Intel WiFi\Drivers folder and click on next. By this, I didn't get the error message and it worked perfectly. I don't know if this method should be done for the other drivers as well (for the others I always used the setup.exe).

So thank you for the hint, that the Atheros is of no use. Because at first I tried installing only this one from the device manager, but not the Intel WiFi (which I only tried by setup.exe).

Apart from that, I would like to know if you think it usefull to swap the users-folder, program files and program files (x86) to the HDD? I have found a guide, where this is suggested (you have to change every entry in the registry from C:\whatever to D:\whatever, supposing your HDD is drive D . I wonder if this is contraproductive to using the OS on SSD (because of the desktop or the like).

Also in this guide he suggest disabling the indexing for SSD (since its small anyways), as well as Prefetch and Superfetch (so that programs won't be constantly shifted on the SSD according to your usage, with this however USB-sticks cannot be used for ReadyBoost anymore). Furthermore he suggest checking if automatic defragmentation is deactivated. Last but not least he highly recommends installing the rapid storage technology driver to use TRIMing on the SSD.

What do you think about this suggestions? Are they useful? If anyone is interested, I can translate how the different steps are achieved (it is in german Thema: Leitfaden : Installation von Windows 7 auf SSD (1/1) - ASUSTreiber.de - Forum - ASUSTreiber.de - Ihre ASUS Treiber Seite im Internet).

Thanks again for the help and this useful guide.

 

Actually, if I recall correctly, the thing you need to do to install the Intel Wifi drivers is run the setup.exe that is located in the Install directory instead of the setup.exe thats in the root of the driver zip. If you check in the Install dir you will see that the Intel PROSet Wireless.msi file is in that dir.

The Intel Rapid Start drivers won't install since it requires a SSD for ram cache, or at least that was my conclusion since I couldn't get it to install. But it should be the Rapid Storage driver that is TRIM connected, not the start driver.
I did disable indexing, superfetch and defrag though.

 

Great guide!!

I am a newbie to this. so basic question. Is it possible to make the ISSD the D drive so windows boots there but make the HDD the C drive so that all programs that naturally install to C can be on the HDD?

 

There is a way by swapping your user, programme and programme(x86) folders from the SSD to the HDD. You have to manually edit every entry in the registry from C:\User\whatever to D:\User\whatever (where C: is SSD and D: is HDD) and a bunch of other stuff. I didn't really go through it yet since I had to send back my UX32VD (because of a malfunctioning "Y"-key on the keyboard...), but if you want, I can translate the guide that I found ( Thema: Leitfaden : Installation von Windows 7 auf SSD (1/1) - ASUSTreiber.de - Forum - ASUSTreiber.de - Ihre ASUS Treiber Seite im Internet) step by step as soon as I find the time (I wouldn't try what I just wrote, because there are some other steps that I didn't mention that seem to be important).

For that programs will be installed naturally on the HDD he suggests changing every folder in the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion from C:\ to D:\ (again supposing that C: is SSD and D: is HDD)

C:\Programme\Common Files ===> D:\Programme\Common Files
C:\Program Files\Common Files ===> D:\Program Files\Common Files
...​

I don't know if this works without the previous steps. So be carefull since it is the registry...

 

Thanks for the reply. But I think I did not state myself correctly. I am sulking about a new install, having wiped both issd and has drives. Now that you are loading os on cleaned issd, can you name it the d: drive for windows boot? Then name the he'd the C: drive?

 

Can't you just rename the issd in disk management to be the D: drive then tell boot sequence to start with D: drive? Then you can name your hdd the c drive and all programs will load there automatically. This prevents all programs trying to load on C: when it is the issd and has no room for all of that.

 

From a quick search in the internet, I haven't found any solution to rename the C: drive to any other letter. It was possible with Windows XP ( How to restore the system/boot drive letter in Windows) but I wouldn't try that for Windows 7 as I have read some users try and nothing worked anymore..

 

@DUNCES

Any solution for the fn+f2 problem that doesn't permit to turn on/off the wifi ?

I use it a lot when i'm going to use dj software to reduce latency by desactivating the wifi and it's easy like that instead of having to go into network option and disabling the wifi card

 

flashmp3: It works fine. Did you install the Intel Wifi and Bluetooth drivers, and the ASUS Wireless Switch (Wireless Console3) Utility and ATK package?

 

Did the conversion with OS onto the iSSD last night. Unfortunately, I had all the bad luck but persevered.

Had to use UEFI setting for the usb disk drive... odd but had to do it.

Had to do the secure erase using Parted Magic and this worked well.

Absolutely love the speed of boot. I cant decide however if I should reformat the Hitachi or leave it as is. What are the benefits and risks of leaving it vs reformating and getting the 25Gig back from a recovery disk.

It appears the keypad/touchpad software where it deactivates the touch pad when typing isnt working. Could someone guide me to the driver and or a fix please?

 

Hi Pettza,

I might not have installed the Asus Wireless Switch i'll check tonight thanks for the advice

Regards,

flashmp3

 

I did the guide you referenced right after the install. Then reread it before asking the question. But it looks like I wasn't paying enough attention, because somehow I thought I had to apply that to the SSD, not to the HDD. Now applied it to the HDD as well, and it works just fine. Thank you for your kind help!

 

Remember that you will need the same version as the notebook is shipped with.(Quote first post)

My comp is shipped with a norwegian W7 Home Premium 64-bit. Do I have to have a norwegian ISO or will the English-ISO work?

 

Phalanxz: There are only English HP64 isos I think. You should be able to use that and then select Norwegian language at a later stage of the install if you setup using Norwegian keyboard and such.

I really recommend using the ABR utility mentioned on the first page to backup the activation from the first install and then restore it, saves you having to phone Microsoft to activate the code on the power supply.

 

Ahh, good stuff, can't get rid of this bloatware fast enough.

Alright, I'll use the ABR-utility, thanks for the pointers and quick reply!

Just waiting for my new USB flash drive (only had small capacity usb drives available) and then I'll do the whole procedure.

 

Hi,

Great work on the guide, but it is little excessive for experienced users. Here's a shorter one:

1: Format your SSD from Disk Management, then right click the disk icon and choose 'Convert to MBR' disk.
2: Install Windows, format the whole HDD, and change boot priorities.
3: Install the drivers you need in whichever order you want.
4: Boot into safemode and create symlinks to the HDD for your Windows\Installer folder and your Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. You can do this with Junction (google it if you need to know more). These are files used for rollbacks of updates and are not access on a regular basis, moving them will not slow down the performance of your system. This should reclaim/save 4GB+ when you've installed all updates.
5: Disable pagefile and hibernation. This should reclaim/save about 7BG.

I have win7x64 pro with -all- updates, microsoft office, java sdk, eclipse, adobe photoshop, adobe fireworks, windows essentials, skype, and a bunch of other small applications installed, and I still have 8GB of free space.

The SDD scored 7.4 on the windows experience index, not too bad at all.

Good luck

Edit: Typos

 

Phalanx: I recommend not formating the mechanical hd at all, or at least not until after the ssd install is complete. Also you should put all Asus drivers on the mech hd before you install on the ssd in case the usb won't work after install which happened to me.

 

Win7 HP 64-bit installed and all drivers installed as well. I'll adjust pagefile, hibernation and so forth and then format the former OS-drive as I have no use for that now.

It's quite a lot quicker, though I reckon it would be even faster with a "proper" SSD-drive.

Btw, what is Asus PWR Option, and should I keep it?

And now that I formatted the original OS is there any point in keeping the recovery partition as it is instead of merging it with a larger partition?

 

Were you able to select Norwegian as language during a later part of the install as I thought but wasn't 100% sure about?
I would install the Asus PWR options, it is some power setting profiles that you can switch between using the fn key plus spacebar.

 

Hi,

In fact i hadn't installed the Asus Wireless Switch. It solved the problem. Thank you very much

 

Thanks for the guide!

I'm having trouble with the fn + f9 function for disabling/enabling the touchpad though. What do I need for this to work? I used the Smart Gesture drivers on the ASUS page. The elantech drivers are not there...

 

Yes I was able to select norwegian as keyboard language etc but not as OS language. So I'm running an English W7 HP, but that's really no problem.

 

Can it be, that Asus decided to only mount approx. 22.2 GB of SSD for the newest UX32VD? I just got a new one (because the "Y"-key of the former one didn't work correctly) and I see only 22 GB instead of 30 GB SSD... or did i miss something?

 

Should be 30gb if they use the same ssd-chip.

 

I was just wondering, to those of you who have done this (install W7 on the iSSD), what kind of boot times are you getting?

I'm getting about 18 seconds from the press of power button to logins screen and about 28 seconds total for when it's actually ready for use. (e.g. opening Opera)

I installed almost all of the drivers in the first post and in addition to the software started by those (Nvidia settings, Intel graphics etc) I only installed Avast which boots on startup.

 

Wait so what is faster the iSSD or the Crucial m4 256gb ssd I will be putting in? Because I want windows to boot the fastest. I believe the Crucial is faster because the iSSD is sandisk?

 

I've tried to install Windows 8 x64 direct on the SSD from a USB key: no problems, no special things to do, just plug the key and boot on it, format the ssd and install in 10minutes.

Windows start the first time without problems. But it wasn't be able to restart... blue and green screen flashing after the normal POST messages
I think that come from the installation of intel graphic driver. Is somebody able to confirm?

 

Yup seems very similar to mine.

 

Enjoy:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/678994-asus-ux32vd-upgrade-parts-purchase.html#post8732812

 

Ok finally it's really simple.

Windows 8 is really easier to install with a simple USB key. No drivers required everything is automated...

...excepted with the graphic driver: the windows update must be disabled during the Windows 8 installation then install the Windows 7 x64 NVIDIA driver from ASUS website and finally after restart it is possible to turn on the automatic updates in Windows Update.


Plus: the touchpad driver from ASUS website allow special movements dedicated to the Metro environment. Really good! (A tutorial is available when the driver application is launched)

 

About the same here. Roughly 17 seconds to login screen using a stop watch. I don't have that much boot up time even with more apps though at startup though. As soon as the desktop comes up it's ready. Chrome opens in less then half a second.

 

Could please explain how to use this junction-stuff? I downloaded the software from the page mentioned above, unzipped it and double-clicked on it. A shell opens up, does something and closes again. But in my cmd I don't get any junction command.

Moreover, I don't see any Installer folder in my C:\Windows folder, only the SoftwareDistribution folder.

I'd be happy for any help, since my (apparently only) 22GB of SSD are quickly running out (only 3 GB left). I struggled alot in moving my .pst files that outlook uses for your email profile (I use IMAP and apparently this is not so easy), to gain several hundreds of MB. Are there any other folders, that should be moved to the HDD?

 

1. Download Junction and place EXE file into C:\WINDOWS\system32
2. Copy OR move C:\windows\installer to X:\installer
3. Delete all the files in C:\windows\installer
4. Close all your Explorer windows
5. Start > Run > cmd - Right-click and run as admin
6. type junction C:\WINDOWS\Installer X:\installer

 

It's hidden by default, you have to enable viewing OS files in folder options.

Get a program like WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics to see where you're wasting your space. The nvidia folder keeps install files too, you can just go ahead and delete those if you haven't already.

The other guy already explained how to use junction, so follow his post

 

As for boot times it's about 17-18 seconds to the login screen and if I open f. ex. "My computer" it opens in an instant, but not all programs are loaded by that time, so I reckon it to be fully booted up by about 28 seconds.

I got 10gb left on the SSD, do you think that will last? I installed most of my programs and games go on the HDD. Pagefile currently on but set to max 1gb, will turn it entirely off when I've upgraded the PC with more RAM.

And secondly, how can you erase the recovery partition? As I've formatted the original OS-drive I'm guessing that there is no point in keeping it. My only option for the recovery partition in Windows Disk Management is "Help" and not "format".

 

You should install all the programs you use often to the SSD, but not store anything there. Your space should never "run out", cause you're not supposed to be filling it up. Pretty much everything you donwload should go to the HDD.

If you keep programs you use often on the SSD you're kinda missing the point of having an SSD, you don't boot your computer that often after all (at least I don't).

 

Does anyone else have a 24GB iSSD? Mine is officially called "SanDisk SSD i100 24GB", and I'm seeing 22,37GB max for a partition. I was originally counting on dual-booting Ubuntu and Windows on the SSD (I almost never use Windows, so I don't need a lot of space), but now that's starting to feel a little tight. Did I miss something here? Or did I get screwed, with an inferior version? I bought it in Europe, if that helps.

 

Thanks so much for this precise description. Didn't know that you had to put the junction.exe in system32 folder (which of course makes sense now). I could manage to save 5 GB on my SSD and I'm a bit less worried as to how long my SSD space will last. So thank you very much.

Thanks for the hint. Without, I couldn't have saved 5 GB today . I also installed WinDirStat to see what's eating up my diskspace. I see only one large folder that I don't know what it really is - the winsx folder. Is it worth, putting on the HDD with junction? Or does this counterplay the purpose of the fast SSD for OS?

I have the exact same amount of GB for my SSD. Apparently ASUS uses less SSD for their newest versions of the UX32VD. The first one I got had the full 30 GB, but unfortunatelly the "Y"-key wasn't functioning porperly, which made it a pain to write on (you had to hit the key in the center directly from above..). When I got it replaced, I saw that I only got 22.37 GB of SSD right now. I have 7.5 GB left on my SSD with Windows 7 installed (fully updated) and only very few, very often used programs. I hope that this will last until I can purchase a full SSD for my system (for this, is it possible to just copy the whole HDD to a new SSD, mount it with the same drive name and everything runs as before?).

 

Thanks for confirming. Sad news for me I'm afraid, I'm not going to return it for such a small problem - particularly if I'm not sure I'll get a 32GB system anyway.

 

Hmm, that's strange.

But I do see that Asus Norway has listed the UX32VD with a 24 GB SSD, which is kind of strange as I have one with 32GB SSD. Even said that it was the UX32VD with 500GB HDD + 24GB SSD on my order confirmation, but I got the 32. Anyhow, I'm quite pleased with that.

Davidace: Hmm, I don't think I follow. I will of course not store huge programs or games, movies etc on the SSD, but at the moment I'm installing my programs to the SSD. Is that wrong? I normally boot down, haven't gotten used to this put to sleep/hibernate stuff yet.

 

It depends on what kind of user you are I guess: When I get a new computer I install everything I need in a day or two, it's very rare that I discover new programs that I have to install later.

You should install all the programs you use on a regular basis to the SSD, this includes big programs like PhotoShop. You don't HAVE to of course, but that's the point of the SSD, isn't it, to speed up your day to day tasks?

What I meant was after you're done installing the programs you use on a regular basis, you shouldn't worry about running out of space, since you shouldn't really be adding too much else.

I don't think I've ever atually shut down any of my computers the past five years, except for when I'm travelling

Mine was also listed as 24GB, but I too got the 32GB version

I wouldn't mess with the winsxs folder. The Winsxs Folder Explained.

 

You're very welcome. I have to admit at first it wasn't too obivious to me but I figured it out. I'm glad the instructions were clear enough to use. I used the utility and saved myself several GB of data. I also created other junctions for other things I know I can store there (not windows related, just apps I use).

To all who are wondering about this SSD issue. The final word is THIS:

ALL UX32VDS will be advertised with a 24gig SSD. This is because by DEFAULT it is that size, and the rest of the SSD is used as a recovery partition (among other things). This eats up roughly 8 gigs.

ALL UX32VDS will come with a 32gig SSD. The "usable" space will NEVER be 32gigs just like how the usable space of the 500gig HDD will never be 500gig(only shows 465gigs).

This is normal. All HDDs/SSDs are like this.