SSD Installation for Laptop

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kevlee89

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Hi all, I just recently bought ASUS Q550LF-BBI7T07 laptop and also bought a Crucial MX100 SSD for it. I was wondering how I ought to go about installing the SSD. Should I simply disconnect the HDD that came with the laptop, install the SSD into it, and do my own clean re-install of Windows 7? Just want to make sure what it is that I exactly need to do or my other options here...thank you!
 
Yes.

Depending on the size of the HDD and size of the SSD, if you use a Recovery DVD that came with the laptop, some will partition the SSD in a way that it will give an error. This may or may not happen, and generally occurs with moving from a larger HDD to a smaller SSD. I always use a like-version of an actual MS Win7 DVD ie - Home Premium DVD for a laptop equipped with a Home premium sticker) and partition manually, then use the COA of the laptop to activate.
 
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The preferred/recommended method is to install the ssd and do a clean install of the OS. You could also attach the ssd to the system and then clone the hdd directly to the ssd using software such as Macrium Reflect. Once the cloning is complete, remove hdd, install ssd and boot. Since often hdds and ssds are different sizes, it may be necessary to alter partition sizes before or after the cloning.

If you decide to go the clean install route, make sure you locate all the drivers you will need and put them on a thumb drive or something like that so they will be ready to install.
 
Got it. Another question. The laptop came with pre-installed Windows 8. I want to do a clean install of Windows 7 on the SSD. Would there be any problems with doing this? When I go to download drivers off the official Asus website, it asks me to select the OS, and Windows 7 is not given as a option. Does it matter if I simply download the drivers for Windows 8 (for things like, wireless, sound, graphics, bios, etc) when I'm planning on installing W7? Thank you!
 
You will need to use a unused legitimate key to activate windows 7. We can help you find and install windows 7 drivers after you install the OS. I wouldn't activate it yet until we know for sure all drivers have installed properly.
 
So I've decide to actually just install Windows 8 as installing W7 seems it would be too much trouble. Now my question is how I go about installing W8 on my SSD. Windows 8 came pre-installed on the HDD. Can I simply install Windows 8 using USB stick with the Windows installer ISO into the SSD? Read a bit online and I'm not entirely sure the best way about things are. Thanks again for your help guys!
 
Most OEM computers will allow you to create recovery cd's in case of hard drive crashing. Put the hard drive back in and create them. Then put the SSD 8 and boot to the first recovery dc and it will start the process.
 
Installing W8 takes the same amount of effort as W7. Actually maybe more-so since you can't install it without a key.
 
kevlee89 said:
So I've decide to actually just install Windows 8 as installing W7 seems it would be too much trouble. Now my question is how I go about installing W8 on my SSD. Windows 8 came pre-installed on the HDD. Can I simply install Windows 8 using USB stick with the Windows installer ISO into the SSD? Read a bit online and I'm not entirely sure the best way about things are. Thanks again for your help guys!
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Yes you can.
 
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