How to Install an SSD on a PC – Tutorial

Would you like to learn how install a SSD in the PCStartups are lightning fast, app launches are super fast, and today's systems are generally more responsive.

That's why it's good to have an SSD. But before you can enjoy all the advantages your SSD has to offer, you still need to know how to install it on your computer. For this we have prepared a small tutorial for you to learn how to install it. install an SSD in your PC.

Before you start installing an SSD in your PC

If you want to transfer the contents of your original hard drive to your SSD, you must do it upstream. This requires a cloning kit, which includes a cable to connect to the port USB from your desktop PC, as well as a transfer CD.

The SSD capacity must be greater than the space occupied on the HDD. On the workstation, a simple right click on the hard drive icon allows you to view the space used, via the tab «Properties».

If this represents more than 85% of the SSD's capacity, you need to free up the extra space. Either by deleting unnecessary files (thanks to disk cleanup), or by storing certain data (photos, music, videos) on a USB key or an external hard drive. The cloning procedure is quite simple by following the steps prescribed by the transfer CD:

Here you can learn about: Fix: Hard Drive Not Showing On Mac

Copying the contents of the original HDD to the SSD is a matter of a few clicks and then several minutes of transfer, depending on the volume of files to be transferred.

The advantages of AHCI mode

We recommend setting the SATA port to AHCI instead of IDE in BIOS. This setting makes full use of the SATA interface functionality - it will improve the computer's boot speed by 10-20% after installing the SSD.

Installation: Fix and connect

Unlike an external hard drive, an SSD is installed in the heart of the central unit. To perform the installation correctly, it is necessary to follow several steps:

• Step 1:: Turn off the computer and unplug the power.
• Step 2:: Remove the panel (side or top) from the PC chassis by unscrewing and/or sliding it.
• Step 3:: Screw the SSD to the rails of the 2.5″ to 3.5″ adapter.
• Step 4:: Place the SSD into a 3,5″ drive bay (instead of the previous HDD or into another available bay)
• Step 5:: Connect the SSD to the old HDD's SATA cable, connected to the SATA interface connector on the motherboard (or the computer's SATA adapter). It must be connected to SATA port 0 or 1 for optimal performance.
• Step 6:: Connect the SSD to the power cable of the old HDD.
• Step 7:: Close the main unit by screwing the panel onto the chassis of your desktop PC.
• Step 8:: Reconnect the power and turn on the computer.

After installation: optimization settings

If you haven't cloned the contents of the old hard drive, it is necessary to install a new operating system on your SSD. If the latter is a perfect copy of the original hard drive, you won't notice any changes! Apart from the loading speed, of course...

To optimize the performance and lifespan of an SSD, several settings must be made:

1. Make sure the TRIM command is enabled. It allows the SSD to recognize the free data blocks from the used blocks, so that it can rewrite to these locations. Windows, the activation of the TRIM command is automatic from version Seven operating systemThis means that it must be activated manually on Vista or XP in particular, via the CD included in the cloning kit for example.
2. Disable scheduled defragmentation, because an SSD should simply never be defragmented! This operation, beneficial with an HDD, wears out the cells of an SSD.
3. Optionally, disable system restore and hibernation if you want to free up space. However, for safety reasons, perform a system image backup at regular intervals.
4. You can recover data temporarily backed up to a USB flash drive or external hard drive to your SSD. However, taking into account the limits of the maximum capacity

SSD + HDD, the right compromise

Instead of getting rid of your old hard drive, turn it into your new SSD. Use the latter as a system disk, placing the operating system and main programs on it. Your old HDD will prove to be a great addition to store your data (photos, videos, etc.) as well as the swap file and the Temporary files, For example.

Another method to install SSD in PC?

Now, let's look at another safe method to install an SSD on the PC. This procedure must be followed rigorously so as not to cause installation errors:

Backup your system and data

Before installing your SSD, you must first create a backup of your operating system. To do this, you can create a disk image of your HDD using a native solution integrated into your system (from Windows 7 onwards) or by using specialized software such as.

You can also make a Back up all your data to a space of storage (external hard drive, for example) and then completely reinstall your system directly onto your SSD. To do this, first make sure you have the installation CDs for your operating system.

The most logical thing to do then is to install your operating system on your SSD to take full advantage of its power. Then, you will keep your hard drive to store all the large data, such as movies, music, etc.

Mounting the SSD in your computer

So how can you install an SSD in your PC? With your SSD in your hands, navigate to your computer's settings (in other words, your computer's components). The physical installation of the SSD hardware consists of 3 simple steps:

• Step 1:: Location in a 2.5″ bay, most SSDs are in this format. If you do not have a bay of this type, you will need a 3.5″ to 2.5″ bay adapter. Then, you simply need to connect your SSD to the bay using the provided screws and slide it into the dedicated slot inside your PC case.
• Step 2:: Connect the SSD to your computer's power supply, on the one hand, using the appropriate cable.
• Step 3:: Connect the SATA socket (we identify the SATA III sockets by their blue color) to your motherboard using a SATA cable. We recommend that you make this connection to the first port (indicated “0” or “1”).

Installing an SSD in a laptop

That's it, in less time than it takes to say it, In the case of computers portable, installation may depend on the model of computer you have. However, your SSD installation instructions should usually detail the mounting steps.

• NOTE: : For laptops, be sure to check the storage disk format compatible with your model. This information should of course be found in the user manual of the laptop.

In fact, it would be a shame to buy a 2,5″ SSD when your machine only accepts 1,8″ formats.

Configure your system

Once your SSD is installed in your PC or MAC, you still need to configure it. To do this, you have two options available:

1. Install an existing disk image of your system to disk.
2. Reinstall your operating system directly to your SSD from the installation CDs. If you have the possibility, choose this solution «safer» than the first.

You will also need to change the mode of your storage controller to AHCI or RAID on place of mode IDE.

This is done from your computer's BIOS, accessible by repeatedly pressing a key on the keyboard as soon as the system boots up. The key is specific to each brand/model and is usually a key "F" located at the top of your keyboard (F1, F2, F3, etc. refer to your user manual to determine the correct key).

Once in BIOS:

• Step 1:: Use the arrows to select the option «storage settings» and then press the key "ENTER".
• Step 2: Then, you need to go to the option «Configure SATA as IDE» and validate with the key «ENTER«.
• Step 3: Select the option «AHCI«, then press the « keyENTER«. Then, this is how AHCI mode will be activated.
• Step 4: Press the key F10and confirm with OK to save the changes. Your computer will restart. Once in Windows, the AHCI drivers for your disks are installed. All you have to do is restart your computer to get AHCI mode operational for your storage disks.
• Step 5: While you are in the BIOS, take the opportunity to change the options of Boot. Choose to boot from the media containing the system backup (USB key or CD drive).
• Step 6: Then restart your computer, which will automatically start the installation program from the chosen media.

NOTE: : From there, you just need to follow the instructions to install (or reinstall from the disk image) your system. When this part of the installation is complete, the computer should reboot. During this reboot, you should be sure to access the BIOS again to change the boot parameters: from your USB key or CD drive, naturally changing it to your SSD..

• Step 7:: The system will complete the installation. When it is finished, turn off your computer.
• Step 8:: Reconnect your hard drive (which will accommodate your large files) and then reboot your machine.
• Step 9:: Return to the BIOS using the same procedure as mentioned above, verify that the boot was performed on the SSD and then reboot once more.

At this point, your system should have been successfully migrated to your SSD. Now, there are two more steps you can take to make the most of your new storage space.

Optimize your SSD for optimal performance

If you've installed your SSD correctly, you should already see a speed difference compared to your hard drive. This doesn't stop you from making the following two adjustments to get the most out of your drive.

Activate TRIM

What exactly is it? TRIM? This is a command for an operating system to tell the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use and can be freed up. Specifically, it prevents your SSD from being unnecessarily cluttered and runs more efficiently. And if you've read this guide carefully, you now know that the more full the memory cells are, the more it limits the performance and lifespan of your hardware.

The TRIM command can be accessed from Windows 7 onwards. It is normally enabled by default on this operating system, but checking is free, just follow these steps:

• Step 1:: To access it, you must first open «Symbol of the system»To do this, you need to go to the start menu: in the search bar, at the bottom and type “CMD” or “command” (without the quotes).

• Step 2:: When the link appears, right click on «symbol of the system»And select«execute as an administrator«.

• Step 3:: In the black command window that appears, type this command line:
  • Fsutil DisableDeleteNotify Behavior Query

• Step 4:: A number will then appear, either 0 or 1. A zero means TRIM is already enabled, a 1 means the opposite. If TRIM is disabled, simply type the following line to enable it:
  • Fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0

Now let's move on to the second step of this optimization that is necessary after installing an SSD in the PC.

Don't defragment your SSD!

When data is stored on a hard drive, it is usually divided into several parts placed in different locations on the disk. This is called data fragmentation.

This fragmentation slows down hard drives because the disk head has to move from one place to another to read all the small pieces of information.

This can be solved by a process called defragmentation, which is built into recent versions of Windows (7 and above) and OS X.

This process is of no interest to an SSD, as you can quickly access data no matter where you are. Therefore, defragmenting an SSD is not only useless, but it is also bad for it. SSDs have a limited lifespan determined by their frequency of use (data writing/erasing).

Where the problem lies, defragmenting a disk is precisely about reading and writing data. Both OS X and Windows usually know when you are using an SSD and automatically disable defragmentation. However, it is important to remember that you should not manually defragment your SSD, as you can shorten its useful life.

You may also be interested in reading about: 10 Best Programs to Format Hard Drive

As you can see, installing an SSD in your PC is simple, you just need to carefully follow the steps we have just outlined. If you still feel unsure, we recommend that you find a specialized technician to help you install your SSD. We hope we have helped you.