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    Installing the OS on an SSD.

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by roastedpork, Mar 26, 2012.

  1. roastedpork

    roastedpork Notebook Deity

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    So I have just bought myself an Intel 320 120GB SSD, and want to put a new copy of Windows on it rather than a flash image of my current OS as I probably have loads of junk and virus' alike. Can I use the factory OS key to install a new OS onto the hardrive. I have the key which I used from Magical Jelly Bean. Is it possible to do? And since I don't have the OS disks, can I download it via torrent, USB it and then install it straight onto the drive that way?

    Thanks
     
    roastedpork, Mar 26, 2012
    #1
  2. Joel

    Joel coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

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    Joel, Mar 26, 2012
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  3. MoInSTL

    MoInSTL Notebook Consultant

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    + 1 for Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool. USB is faster too.
     
    MoInSTL, Mar 26, 2012
    #3
  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    This is kind of an understatement. The difference between disc and flash drive is staggering, even on a SSD.
     
    tijo, Mar 26, 2012
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  5. roastedpork

    roastedpork Notebook Deity

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    So I put the OS onto the USB, write down my OS key.
    Take out my old hardrive, put in the SSD.
    Then i'm assuming it will ask if i want to install an OS. I choose USB? then put in my key and perfecto? or not so?
     
    roastedpork, Mar 26, 2012
    #5
  6. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Yes pretty much.

    Set first USB as bootable device and since its an SSD, make sure you set the BIOS to AHCI mode prior to installing windows.
     
    flipfire, Mar 26, 2012
    #6
  7. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Yep, or you'll have to go through registry tweaks to fix that. AHCI is enabled by default on most recent laptops, but check before in any case.
     
    tijo, Mar 26, 2012
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  8. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Has anybody tried doing UEFI Windows 7 installs via USB? I've heard that the USB tool Microsoft supplies doesn't copy several files needed to boot the WinPE image via UEFI, but I can't confirm.
     
    Peon, Mar 27, 2012
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  9. roastedpork

    roastedpork Notebook Deity

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    Just thought I'd let you know all went well I love the new drive, very fast and very pleased. The dv6 apparently is automatically set to AHCI, as I couldn't find it in the BIOS. Installing a fresh windows copy was easy and now everyone is awesome! Thanks guys for the help.
     
    roastedpork, Mar 29, 2012
    #9
  10. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    I've had to load USB 3.0 drivers in order to boot/install off the USB 3.0 port. Otherwise never heard of an issue with UEFI and USB 2.0.
     
    HTWingNut, Mar 29, 2012
    #10