Formatting a boot SSD-- Cluster Size? GPT or MBR?

Hello. I just got a Crucial M4 256GB mSATA SSD, which I installed on my new Lenovo X230 notebook. (Which also has a 500GB HDD, currently the boot drive.)

I intend to make the SSD the boot drive though, and do a clean install dual-boot installation of both Win8 and Win7 on it. (Currently it has win8 pro pre-installed.)

Right after installing the SSD, I was asked to format it. I was offered the option of GPT or MBR, and also a choice of cluster sizes. Not knowing which might be best, I went with the default cluster size, I think 4kb. However, I am wondering if a larger cluster size (I think the max is 64gb) might provide better performance (even if slightly less storage space due to more slack).? Would it?

I googled MBR or GPT, and saw more recommendations for MBR for a boot drive, more compatible, etc. So I chose MBR, although GPT was the default. I have read afterwards though, that GPT is the kind of partition used by UEFI, and this is a UEFI computer.

I could reformat the drive before installed the OSes on it, for instance larger cluster size, GPT, etc. Your recommendation?

Or is that all moot? Will the first OS installed reformat the drive in any case, to the way it wants it? Or if it does re-format, might it still ask me about cluster size, GPT or MBR, etc.?

 

Any ideas on this?

 

Good choice with the M4 SSD.

I've zero experience with Win8. Which O/S are you going to install 1st???

My own Lenovo laptops run in what I call dual mode (w/legacy 1st), and not exclusively UEFI.

I plan to continue with MBR formatting with BIOS set to legacy 1st.

For BIOS choice of SATA use AHCI and not compatibility; or even RAID (don't actually do a RAID setup, just choose it in the BIOS as you won't have to reinstall O/S if/when you add a 2nd SSD) if there's any chance of you adding a 2nd SSD to the machine.

I plan to use the free gparted program to do the actual partitioning; while this offers more options, it is also more confusing for newbies. Which can be found for d/l at: GParted -- About

With regard to "choice of cluster size" for your new SSD, I'd go with default size if one is offered.

Hope this helps; at a minimum maybe it'll prompt someone else to say something useful?

 

A couple more things to think about...

Odds are that the manufacturer of your laptop will provide service, without extra charge, so long as you have working Windows O/S software that boots the machine and is not part of whatever reason you need service for.

If you're going to keep that original HDD in the machine, and then try for a dual boot with both Win7 and Win8, what are you going to do with the partition(s) and data on the HDD?

For myself I plan to remove the original HDD (before mucking with the working s/w) as a kind of cheap warranty insurance policy.

 

I failed to note that you own a new Lenovo X230!

Yikes!

Anyway and FWIW I got going today and fresh installed Win7 to a 256GB M4 mSATA SSD on my very recent refurb Lenovo X220, which is very similar to your X230.

Meaning I pulled out the factory installed 320GB HDD on my X220 (slow 5400rpm, now set aside for the next year as my "extra warranty policy" in case any warranty issue comes up, I can pull out the new boot mSATA, and put back in the known to be working boot HDD).

Cold start timing dropped from ~1.4 minutes to ~12 seconds.

But it remains to be seen what it'll total to, after I've used this new mSATA boot SSD (w/Win7) for several months.

Seems pointless to me.

If you're gonna go to the trouble of setting up a dual boot, do it with Win7 and some flavor of Linux. That way you might learn something useful.

Meaning it won't be clear if Win8 will be another Win Vista for at least another 18 months. If the sales numbers stay poor, M$ will 1st hurry up with release of SP1, and if they stay poor then do something like come out with Win9 (or another name, as maybe Win9 is too obvious).

Your X230 is likely very like my new T530, which is a mixed UEFI setup, with legacy 1st.

Use gparted for partitioning.

What was it that brought up the issue of cluster size?

Meaning it's hard for me to believe that fresh install of Win7 brought that question up.

Use MBR (aka msdos in gparted) and forget about GPT!

What were you doing/using that prompted you for cluster size???

FWIW pulling out the HDD and leaving it out (of my Lenovo X220), lowers the X220 weight by slightly over 4oz; 120gm net difference, weighed on an Ohaus triple beam balance; I forgot about the weight of the rubber rails and weight of the metal "sled" that the HDD sits in.

 

No, I am not pulling out the 500GB 7200 HDD. Plan to use it as a data drive. No, not partitioning first with gparted. I don't think Windows likes that. For the Win 8 install (first), I will do it on the unpartitioned SSD. Then in Win 8 I can create another partition for Win7 on the SSD.

Why did I ask about cluster size? Larger cluster size is supposed to give better performance, I think, while slightly less storage space, depending on the size and amount of files. However, I don't know if that makes any difference, whether the Windows installation will format it how it wants to.

 

I used gparted to partition my 256GB Crucial M4 mSATA SSD with a single NTFS partition, and it worked fine.

Meaning that the Win7 install disk saw the NTFS partition that I'd just set up using gparted, and allowed me to use it as the boot partition for Win7.

My post in another current thread on using gparted: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...sd-setup-bootup-error-help-3.html#post9075884

Before you start changing your working HDD with Windows on it, I suggest doing a clone backup (HDD to HDD) booting from no older than Acronis True Image Home 2011 CD.

Once booted you choose clone, then manual, then as is (meaning don't change partition sizes).

BTW the gparted program permits you to easily turn off the boot flag on a working Windows HDD partition. But do a clone backup before you start trying stuff like this. The partitions are left intact, only the boot flag is altered.

What are you using to set cluster size?

I'm pretty sure that the Windows install disc (either Win8 or Win7) does not offer cluster size choice.