X200 SSD upgrade

I'm looking to upgrade my 2009 x200 to a 60 gb ocz SSD

how do I go about installing Windows vista in it and getting up and running again?

Will vista automatically install all the drivers for me?

Where can I get that vista cd key?

Help this noob!

 

First, burn recovery CD/DVDs. Swap hdd->sdd. Reinstall it from the recovery disks.

You won't need to enter a key to activate. If for some reason that fails, call Microsoft and give them the key thats on the sticker on the bottom.

 

When installing from the recovery discs, can I do a fresh install?

 

it'll be as fresh as it was when it originally arrived... but no, you don't get any choices in what you want to re-install and what not.

 

Have you guys checked out this comparison chart? Looks like there's a new contender on the scene, the Crucial RealSSD C300 from Micron. However you tweak the chart, the C300 is at or near the top. Add to that the fact that we can get 256GB at those speeds.

I just checked Crucial's site, and for a $100 more (for their 128GB and 256GB models), the (sequential) read speeds advertised are over 355MB/s! Whoa.

I'd definitely consider these alongside the Intel drives. Do we know if Intel will be coming out with Generation 3 of its drives, or maybe something totally new?

 

Intel will be coming out with new SSDs...at some time in 2010. Intel has supposedly really optimized its firmware and architecture but I don't know when we're suppose to expect them.

 

Wait 100$ more? The OP probably meant the OCZ Vertex 60GB drive, which newegg currently sells for 199$. Where do you get the Crucial RealSSD for 299$? I want to order one, too The newegg price is $479, thats quite a bit more.

 

No, I meant the Crucial C300's 128GB and 256GB models that have the 355MB/s read speeds (CTFDDAC256MAG-1G1) cost $100 more than its 128/256 models that run at 250MB/s (model CT256M225).

Here are both models in the two capacities, so you can check out the respective detailed specs. Crucial says the extra-speedy drives are brand new, so I wonder if the ones used in AnandTech's benchmark tests were the "slower" ones.

 

Crucial are claiming 50,000 and 60,000 READ IOPS (4KB) at Q=32. That converts to 200MB/s and 240MB/s. Intel does around 160MB/s. That's impressive performance.

 

So vista will automatically get the drivers for the video and wireless and everything else?

 

CrunchDude: The "RealSSD" label is reserved for the newer crucial drive, and this is what anantech tested. Its undoubtedly very fast, but that occasional >1s write latency glitch is weird. Though it seems to happen only very seldomly, so it probably won't matter in real life.

louisssss: Yes all drivers will be installed when you restore from the restore disks.

 

Bump, does the x200 bios support ahci?

 

Yes. I take it you have not accessed the bios.

 

Anyone install a SSd in their x200 yet? Walk me through it pls

 

It's not rocket science. Consult the Hardware Maintenance Manual if you get stuck. There's a link in the sticky. I'd suggest making your recovery discs and copy of your SWTools folder before doing anything.

 

here you go.   spoon-feeding at its finest.

Hard disk drive removal movie - ThinkPad X200

Hard disk drive installation movie - ThinkPad X200

Hard disk drive (HDD) cover, HDD, and HDD rubber rails or solid state drive (SSD) and storage converter removal and installation - ThinkPad X200

the only thing i can't provide is the spoon.   you're on your own there.

 

Notebookreview.com at its finest. This is why this is one of the best boards around.

On most other forums the OP would not have received this level of help, considering the somewhat lazy and non-appreciative approach. No offense.

 

it's a thankless job.   comic relief definitely helps.   that spoon made my day.

ha... i just wrote a haiku there.

 

1. Make sure you have recovery dvds (mine came with dvds 1, 2, 3, if yours did not have DVDs you can make them from the hard drive partition on your x200)
2. take old HDD out and put in new SSD (a total of 5 screws)
3a. good to make sure you can boot from an external dvd drive in the BIOS setup
3b. hook up an external dvd drive and start computer with recovery disc 1 in the dvd drive
4. follow lenovo recovery program and you should be ok (this took me a while, like 1 hour+)
5. after finishing you can go into the BIOS and change to AHCI
6. you can also turn off disk defrag

I did this with Vista Business and eveything is fine

 

ok that is good info. I also watched the video on it and it looks really easy, much easier than some other HDD I replaced in the past. Just hope the rubber side bits fit around every 2.5 inch drive properly. Will be running XP Pro. Any Europeans know of some cheap 128 SSD here ?

 

http://www.ballicom.co.uk/hard-driv...lid-state-drive--160-gb--sata300.p469437.html

this seems to be cheapest I can find OUCH. May I ask what is a better brand of Express Card SSD? I need a 32 GB module just to do daily back ups of most important files. I want to set it on automatic to an Express Card.

Also can I make a recovery of the whole OS on an Express Card instead of DVD. Had a case of losing it all whilst travelling and being stuck without OS.

 

How does the ocz agility compare to the intel ssds and to the ocz vertex??
Looking to get one fo my laptop

 

I have the Vertex in my Macbook Pro and it has been excellent. About 27 seconds to a complete boot and everything you click on opens within a second or so. Most applications open as I click on them.

 

Yep just ordered, hope I get the operating system back up without trouble

 

I have an OCZ Solid2 in my T61. Good drive!

Save yourself some headaches here: Do what you need to do to get the original drive in your system to under 60GB in size (used capacity). Uninstall unneeded programs, delete unneeded old data you've worked on, etc.

Get an external SATA to USB adapter, remove your internal drive and put it in the external adapter.

Install the new SSD into the laptop.

Use a program like Driveimage XML to copy your old drive over to the new SSD:

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

I use Acronis TrueImage, but Driveimage will accomplish the same thing (and it's free).

If you do everything right you won't have to re-install anything. It'll just work. On first boot the system will detect the new drive and may ask you to reboot to finish adding the new hardware. Reboot and you're done.

 

Thanks for advice ... I am waiting for a cheap 128 SSD in the UK. As long as the cost more than a netbook well it's too much !

 

In the bios, all I do is turn on ahci right, what else I gotta do?

 

thanks for this, Do i need some sort of installation bracket to put the ssd in to install? the 3rd link shows a bracket for installing SSD's

 

It's just the bracket that Lenovo has for units ordered with SSDs, rubber braces from a regular SSD works fine.

 

My old Stock Sata drive was already operating in AHCI mode in the Bios.

and gotcha about the physical drive installation rails, installing W7 at the moment.

Stay Posted!

 

update:

looks like i got W7 HP 64 up and running

i'm installing my basic programs now, other than the basic, what programs/tweaks should i do? does the Lenovo System Update program do all the installing for me?

 

can someone chime in here and tell me what exact is "alignment" and how do i do it?

 

It's not something you have to worry about in Windows 7, it takes care of it for you

 

these numbers normal for a 60gb agility?