[atmywitsend]

I have a 120 GB Crucial SDD hard drive running my computer, I was looking to get a larger hard drive as i am starting
to run out of space (something like 240GB)I know you can run SDD drives in differant RAID configurations and was wondering
if I could buy another 120 GB drive and run it in a configeration where the two drives combined would make a 240 GB drive
and once i run out of room on the first drive it would just go over to the second hard drive with out any problems.
As i say I don't know a lot about SDD configurations and I'm realy just trying to save money !

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Hi atmywitsend, welcome back.

Info, http://www.freeraidr...at-is-raid.aspx
Extensive, with diagrams, a bit technical, http://en.wikipedia....ki/RAID

RAID 0 is not reccomended for the Boot drive, Hardware of software failure means the loss of all DATA and the OS.

Consider installing a second, large HDD with three partitions. Programs, DATA storage, backups including images of the boot drive.

[iammykyl]

Hi atmywitsend, welcome back.

Info, http://www.freeraidr...at-is-raid.aspx
Extensive, with diagrams, a bit technical, http://en.wikipedia....ki/RAID

RAID 0 is not reccomended for the Boot drive, Hardware of software failure means the loss of all DATA and the OS.

Consider installing a second, large HDD with three partitions. Programs, DATA storage, backups including images of the boot drive.

[Tim_the_WIzard]

Hi atmywitsend, welcome back.

Info, http://www.freeraidr...at-is-raid.aspx
Extensive, with diagrams, a bit technical, http://en.wikipedia....ki/RAID

RAID 0 is not reccomended for the Boot drive, Hardware of software failure means the loss of all DATA and the OS.

Consider installing a second, large HDD with three partitions. Programs, DATA storage, backups including images of the boot drive.

I agree with the poster above. I have a 60GB SSD in my win7 machine and I just use the SSD for Windows and very few applications. I use a secondary installed 500GB HDD (something like this for $84) for games, documents, backups, and all future installed programs. You wont notice any speed differences as the boot drive is still the SSD and Temp files are still loaded on that drive.

[iammykyl]

A more bang for your buck way of purchasing storage is to go for a larger HDD. This drive at $109 is faster, 7200 RPM, twice the capacity, 1TB, 4 times the cache, 64MB.
AS a HDD gets filled it becomes slower in operation so when it reaches about 70% full, time to do some housekeeping or get more storage.


http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822148840

[atmywitsend]

hi iammykyl,
thank you for your responce, I actualy have two HDD drives in my computer one 750GB the other 500GB both running at 7200rpm I was thinking of partitioning the 750GB to take all my stuff off the 500GB leaving it empty
and then using it to put my photo programs on and more important my games that seem to take up all the storage space on my SDD drive, the $64.000 question is where can i get a free partition program from that is
compatable with Windows 7 64 bit and how do i get my games to run on the 500GB hard drive and transfer any other large programs running on the SDD drive and having no effect on the performance ?
Hope you can help, and can you make the answer for me idiot proof and not to tech please,
Thank you,
Atmywitsend.

[Tim_the_WIzard]

Why not use the built in utility for Win7 to partition shrink the drive and create a new partition on the same drive/

Start > Right Click on Computer > Manage > Disk Management > Select partition and shrink volume

[iammykyl]

Why not use the built in utility for Win7

Yes, that will do the job OK and save having to install another program.

*************

Atmywitsend.

1. Do you have similar things on both HDDs? or is there something special on one?
2. Is you OS a recent install?
3. Have you performed a firmware update on the SSD.?

[atmywitsend]

I use the 750GB to back up my photo's (I use RAW & TIFF files)
My OS is upto date and was installed about 14 months ago.
I have not performed a firmware update yet on my SSD

I was actualy thinking of doing a firmware update but again i was not sure if I would lose all of my installed
programs on the SDD drive. I am now thinking of going back to square one and staring over by formatting the SDD
installing the updated firmware from Crucial, installing the programs i need and then using the remaining 500GB
to run my games and photo software, but again it's knowing how to.

[iammykyl]

I think a clean install of the OS and set up of the HDDs is the best option. A firmware update can corrupt data, depending on the SSD model.You will need to do some preparation before you start, if that's OK?

Create s folder on the Desktop, name, W7. Create another folder inside W7, name, Software.

GO, .http://forums.tweakt...-ssd-drive.html Read and then download to W7. from that site there is a link for Parted Magic, download to W7 Software.

GO, > http://www.crucial.c...t/firmware.aspx Chose your product, downland any guides to W7. then the latest firmware update to W7 Software. Some users have reported problems using USB, but no problems using CD/DVD/
Help for creating a CD/DVD or USB installer, > http://www.storagere...l_ssd_firmware dowlad to W7.

Burn any required media.

[atmywitsend]

Hi, I have done what you said and have now partitioned my 750GB hard drive and formatted the 500GB
now all there is left to do is install the firmware updates for my SDD drive.
My firmware is 0001 at the moment, i went onto the crucial website and downloaded 0002, 0006,0007 as you know i will have to install these in order
Once that is done i will then reinstall my OS to the SDD hard drive and then put a mirror image onto the 500 GB hard drive and then install
the rest of my programs and games onto the 500GB drive, if this is wrong just let me know before i start, thank you,

[iammykyl]

if this is wrong just let me know before i start,

Not wholly correct, there are more steps to be taken. Please do not make any other alteration to your computer at the moment.


What have you put on the new partition you created on the 750GB drive.
What is the Model of your SSD?
When you start the OS installation, will you have access to the internet, say through a laptop?

[iammykyl]

We need a little more information on your system. Use the full editor for your reply.

To find your systems details useSpeccyhttp://www.piriform.com/speccy

then post a screenshot of the results;

To capture and post a screenshot;

Click on the ALT key + PRT SCR key..its on the top row..right hand side..now click on start...all programs...accessories...paint....left click in the white area ...press CTRL + V...click on file...click on save...save it to your desktop...name it something related to the screen your capturing... BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A .JPG ...otherwise it may be to big to upload...

then after typing in any response you have... click on browse...desktop...find the screenshot..select it and click on the upload button...then on the lower left...after it says upload successful...click on add reply like you normally would.

Screenshot instructions courtesy of

happyrock

Edited by iammykyl, 13 April 2012 - 05:49 AM.

[atmywitsend]

Hi,
here's the screenshot you require,

[atmywitsend]

I forgot to tell you it's a crucial SDD drive.

[iammykyl]

Thanbks for the update.

I forgot to tell you it's a crucial SDD drive.

That's OK. The actual model is shown on the Speccy page, 300- CTFDDAC128-MAG. When you downloaded the firmware, did you have the correct model showing in the select window > http://www.crucial.c...t/firmware.aspx Crucial RealSSD C300 2.5-inch ? If you are not 100% sure, download the 3 firmware updates again and burn them to disc.Do this now.

You are correct that you have to perform 3 progressive updates. Just note that on the first update, all DATA on the drive will be erased. If there is anything on the drive you wish to keep? use windows to create an image and save it to your 750GB drive. If you have not already done so, you need to create a recovery disc using windows. Do this now.

do not make any other alterations at the moment.

*************

Here are the instructions for updating the firmware, Note that you will have to check the BIOS, and possible make alteration. If you have any questions or are unsure of anything regarding this step, let us know. http://edge.crucial....rmware_5-10.pdf

1. When you start the upgrade, will you still have access to the internet?
2..What browser do you use?
3. What firewall do you use?
4. What email client do you use?
5. Do you need any more instructions with OS installation and driver updates?

Edited by rshaffer61, 15 April 2012 - 07:58 AM.