How to Optimize an SSD / HDD - 13 March 2011 - Gurus Blogs

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Home » 2011 » March » 13 » How to Optimize an SSD / HDD

7:44 PM

How to Optimize an SSD / HDD

How to Optimize an SSD / HDD When You're Ready to Reinstall the Operating System

Step One

Boot To DISKPART

If need be, learn more on how to boot DISKPART at PC startup before you proceed.

An SSD mean solid-state drive or solid-state disk and HDD mean hard Disk

1) In the command window that opens type diskpart then hit the <enter> key then type list disk <enter> if you have more than one SSD / HDD in the machine it'll list them all.

2) Now in the command window type select disk # (# = target disk number) then <enter>, you will get "Disk # is now the selected disk".

3) Now type clean all <enter> you will get a blinking cursor telling you that clean all is working like in the second snip down, just relax and let it work.

4) Running the "clean all" command on a SSD / HDD takes a good bit of time, remember it's writing zeroes ( 0's ) to the entire drive, I've done quite a few of these, here's some examples a 500GB HDD took just at 2 hours, my 80GB SSD takes around 20 minutes and the "virtual" 20GB drive in a VM takes about 7 minutes to complete.

When it finishes you'll get "DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk" in the command window.

To leave diskpart at any time and return to the Windows 7 installer type exit two (2) separate times and hit <enter> after each and you will be returned to the installer to continue the installation process.

Step Two

Create a Partition

1) Create a single partition of the entire HDD / SSD

Still in the same command window, to create a partition of the entire HDD / SSD, it is suggested if you are using one of the larger, 1 - 2TB HDDs that you use the outline in #2 below to create a single 100GB partition to do the installation to or #3 below if you would like to include the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition, as we're now seeing serious issues with some trying to install to such large partitions.

Do not format the created partition(s) with the installer if you create them using this process as the installer will delete all this info, the second snip shows how to select "where to install" during the installation process, click to highlight/select the "Windows 7" partition and click next.

Now skip down to #5 below to start the installation.

2) Create a specific size partition

If you wanted to create a specific size partition, say 100GB you would add the size you want to create in MBs like in the command below.

create partition primary size=102400 <enter>

1024MB = 1GB - 1024x100 = 102400, you can use/create any size you like.

You can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

Do not format the created partition(s) with the installer if you create them using this process as the installer will delete all this info, the second snip shows how to select "where to install" during the installation process, click to highlight/select the "Windows 7" partition and click next.

Now skip down to #5 below to start the installation.
3) Create the System Reserved partition

If you should want to add the "System Reserved" partition back after the clean all, see this snip; of course you would have to select to install Windows 7 to the partition labeled as "Windows 7" during the install and do not format either partition with the installer.

The reason for suggesting to create the System Reserved at 200MB instead of the new default of 100MB is an attempt to curb some of the issues we're now seeing with the partition being too small when dual/multi booting and it also being needed for use with the Windows 7 Backup and Restore and BitLocker programs.

You can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

The second snip shows how to select "where to install" during the installation process, click to highlight/select the "Windows 7" partition and click next.

4) See this tutorial for the "align" argument

Align a Solid State Drive for Windows Installation 5) That's it, you're now done with the command window, type exit <enter> to leave diskpart and exit

For those using a created repair CD or a Vista installer type exit <enter> to leave diskpart and exit <enter> again to close the command window; at the System Recovery Options dialog box that's still open click Restart to finish the process.
Enjoy!