Windows 7 install-time configurations

Hi,

So I recently purchased a SSD and someone in another thread recommended that I do a fresh install of Win7 rather than transferring my boot drive from HDD to SSD because Windows supposely can recognize the SSD during install process and adjust certain config settings to run better in SSD compared to HDD. I dont know how true this is, but assuming it is true.. have a follow up question:

I will be adding more RAM in the very near future and I wanted to know if there's any reason to wait and install Win7 after I have all my RAM installed? I mean does Win7 set configurations like Paging File Size or other memory related settings during install-time based on how much RAM a computer has? What happens when user upgrades to more RAM? Do those settings still stay the same? or is Windows smart enough to know and adjust the settings appropriately?

sorry if this is in the wrong thread as it is more of a Windows question than a Sager/Clevo, but this is really the only forum I check on NBR

 

Windows will set the page file to the amount of RAM you have installed +300MB. This can easily be changed once Windows is installed. I wouldn't let that determine when you add the RAM though. Just install Windows when you're ready to and install the RAM when you're ready to.

 

RAM is an upgrade that you don't have to do any configuration for. Just install the new RAM and be done with it. Windows will manage it by default. You will notice however that the paging file will increase automatically with more RAM, which may be a downside if you have a small SSD. You can also set the paging file size manually though (10% of your RAM is a decent amount).

Reinstalling Windows 7 on a new SSD is the best option not only for the tweaks, but also because it guarantees the best performance. If you clone an image over you could potentially shorten lifespan or make it less efficient than a clean install (which would use the ideal sectors on the SSD).

 

In a pinch, if you must clone, make sure the partition on your SSD is aligned properly.

There are some additional tweak utilities out there, but from what I've read, those may not be as necessary as they were with earlier SSD designs.

 

Can't you remove the paging file altogether, though? I have ordered my notebook with 16gb, for example. I was thinking about removing it altogether, if possible.

 

I dont know if you can actually remove it but you can set it to 0

 

You can set it to 0, but that can introduce problems for some things. For example, some games check for the paging file and won't boot without it. I can only think of older examples though, so they may no longer do this anymore. Also, if you happen to have a BSoD or crash, the system won't be able to save crash dumps without a paging file.

 

I've run into the issue with programs complaining about the size of my Page File as well. Although I do run some older games so it might have been those. Very annoying if using a smaller SSD as the boot drive.

 

It does all depend on the program/game etc. I have had mine set to 0 for almost a year and never had any "complaints" It is a good idea to set some size to it as Anthony mentioned for crash info. I dont worry too much about that info so keep it at 0

 

Look up for "Sean's Windows 7 Install & Optimization Guide for SSDs/HDDs", he recommends an alignment of 4KB along other tips:

quote:
Boot from the Windows 7 DVD/USB
After booting you see the Install Windows 7 screen, press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt.
At the command prompt, Type diskpart, press Enter
Type lis dis, press Enter
Type sel dis X (where X is the number your drive shows up as), press Enter
Type cle, press Enter
Type cre par pri align=4096 (1024 is default), press Enter
Note: If you are using multiple drives in RAID 0 use 1024 for the alignment instead of 4096 for best performance.
Type for quick fs=ntfs, press Enter
Type act, press Enter
Type exi, press Enter
Close the Command Window, and click the Install button.
Proceed to install Windows 7 and perform a normal installation using the "Custom (advanced)" type of installation. Do not format it the partitions again during the installation.