Installing windows 10 on a new ssd

An SSD solid-state drive differs in its properties and method of operation from a hard HDD drive, but the process of installing Windows 10 on it will not be much different; there is a noticeable difference only in preparing the computer.

Preparing the disk and computer for installation

Owners of SSD drives know that in previous versions of the OS, for correct, durable and full-fledged operation of the drive, it was necessary to change the system settings manually: disable defragmentation, some functions, hibernation, built-in antiviruses, the page file and change a few other parameters. But in Windows 10, the developers took these shortcomings into account; the system now performs all disk settings itself.

You especially need to focus on defragmentation: before, it greatly harmed the disk, but in the new OS it works differently, not harming the SSD, but optimizing it, so you should not disable automatic defragmentation. It's the same with other functions - in Windows 10 you don't need to configure the system's work with the disk manually, everything is already done for you.

The only thing is that when dividing a disk into partitions, it is recommended to leave 10–15% of its total volume as unallocated space. This will not increase its performance, the recording speed will remain the same, but the service life may be slightly extended. But remember, most likely, the disk will last longer than you need even without additional settings. You can free up free interest both during the installation of Windows 10 (during the process in the instructions below), and after it using system utilities or third-party programs.

Preliminary PC setup

In order to install Windows on an SSD drive, you need to switch the computer to AHCI mode and make sure that the motherboard supports the SATA 3.0 interface. Information about whether SATA 3.0 is supported or not can be found on the official website of the company that developed your motherboard, or using third-party programs such as HWINFO (http://www.hwinfo.com/download32.html).

Switching to SATA mode

Turn off your computer.
As soon as the startup process begins, press the special key on the keyboard to go to the BIOS. Typically the Delete, F2 or other hotkeys are used. Which one will be used in your case will be written in a special footnote during the inclusion process.
The BIOS interface will differ in different motherboard models, but the principle of switching to AHCI mode on each of them is almost identical. First, go to the Settings section. To move through blocks and items, use the mouse or arrow keys with the Enter button.
Go to advanced BIOS settings.
Go to the “Built-in peripherals” sub-item.
In the “SATA Configuration” block, find the port to which your SSD is connected and press Enter on the keyboard.
Select AHCI operating mode. It may already be selected by default, but we needed to make sure of this. Save the settings made in the BIOS and exit it, boot the computer to proceed to preparing the media with the installation file.

Preparing installation media

If you already have a ready-made installation disk, you can skip this step and immediately begin installing the OS. If you don’t have one, then you will need a USB flash drive with at least 4 GB of memory. Creating an installation program on it will look like this:

We insert the USB flash drive into the port and wait until the computer recognizes it. Open the explorer.
First of all, it is important to format it. This is done for two reasons: the memory of the flash drive must be completely empty and divided in the format we need. While on the main page of Explorer, right-click on the flash drive and select “Format” from the menu that opens.
We select the NTFS format mode and begin the operation, which can last up to ten minutes. Please note that all data stored on the formatted media will be permanently erased.
Go to the official Windows 10 page (https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10) and download the installation tool.
Launch the downloaded program. Read and accept the license agreement.
Select the second option “Create installation media”, since this method of installing Windows is more reliable, because you can start all over again at any time, and also use the created installation media in the future to install the OS on other computers.
Select the system language, version and bit depth. You should take the version that suits you best. If you are an ordinary user, then you should not load the system with unnecessary functions that will never be useful to you; install Windows at home. The capacity depends on how many cores your processor has: one (32) or two (64). Information about the processor can be found in the computer properties or on the official website of the company that developed the processor.
In the media selection, select the USB device option.
Select the flash drive from which the installation media will be created.
We wait until the media creation process is completed.
Reboot the computer without removing the media.
During startup, enter the BIOS.
We change the boot order of the computer: your flash drive should be in first place, not the hard drive, so that when you turn on the computer, it starts booting from it and, accordingly, starts the Windows installation process.

Windows 10 installation process on SSD

Installation begins with choosing a language; set the Russian language in all lines.
Confirm that you want to start the installation.
Read and accept the license agreement.
You may be asked to enter a license key. If you have it, then enter it, if not, then skip this step for now and activate the system after installing it.
Proceed with manual installation as this method will allow you to configure the disk partitions.
A window will open with disk partition settings, click on the “Disk Settings” button.
If you are installing the system for the first time, then all the SSD disk memory will not be allocated. Otherwise, you need to select one of the partitions to install and format it. Divide unallocated memory or existing disks as follows: allocate more than 40 GB to the main disk on which the OS will be located, so as not to encounter it being clogged in the future, leave 10–15% of the total disk memory unallocated (if all the memory has already been allocated, delete the partitions and start forming them again), we allocate all the remaining memory for an additional partition (usually drive D) or partitions (drives E, F, G...). Don't forget to format the main partition allocated for the OS.
To begin installation, select the drive and click Next.
Wait until the system installs in automatic mode. The process may take more than ten minutes, do not interrupt it under any circumstances. After the procedure is completed, the creation of an account and installation of basic system parameters will begin; follow the instructions on the screen and select the settings for yourself.

Video tutorial: how to install Windows 10 on an SSD

Installing Windows 10 on an SSD is no different from the same process with an HDD drive. Most importantly, do not forget to enable ACHI mode in the BIOS settings. After installing the system, there is no need to configure the disk; the system will do it for you.

With the advent of solid-state drives, many questions arise, as they have become more numerous with the release of Window’s 10, and the most discussed is: is it necessary to configure the SSD for the top ten? The fact is that Microsoft fully supports the operation policy of the above drives and therefore claims that making changes to the system settings yourself can lead to a decrease in the service life of the ssd drive in Windows 10. Let's take everything in order and figure out whether it is really worth relying on an authoritarian developer's decision.

What is given?

Before we do anything, let’s take a closer look at the default Windows 10 settings for ssd.

Defragmentation is completely disabled

The fact is that defragmentation as such is not required for ssd drives, it is associated with its architecture, so if the HDD contains clusters that periodically require rewriting by shifting data from cell to cell, then the ssd drive only needs the trim command on Windows 10, you need to check if it works, if not, then read how to enable it.

“Explorer” → “This_PC” → right-click “C:” → “Properties”

“Tools” tab → “Optimization_and_defragmentation_disk” → “Optimize”

We see that the system disk is a solid-state drive, at the bottom of the window it is indicated that ssd optimization occurs in Windows 10 according to a schedule - we are talking specifically about TRIM technology - in short, it reports the presence of non-existent blocks in the file system that can be deleted. So, if the function is disabled, then go to “Change_parameters” and set the graph, follow below to optimize the settings for the ssd drive on windows 10.

There are always reservations, since defragmentation is necessary and is performed automatically by the system in the case when system protection is active - we are talking about creating restore points, again Microsoft claims that the algorithm differs from the usual defragmentation for a familiar hdd.

ReadyBoot, Superfetch/Prefetch and power

To address the most popular question - whether it is necessary to configure an ssd on Windows 10, let's talk about functionality that is very familiar from previous versions, but causes heated debate in Windows 10.

So, ReadyBoot is immediately disabled - a function that analyzes paths and files that are frequently requested over the last 5 loads and caches space in RAM for faster access to them the next time you work.

Superfetch / Prefetch also raises a lot of debate - they are used, but do not need to be disabled, this is what Intel manufacturers say, but Samsung thinks otherwise. The question arises, how then to optimize the ssd-disk in window’s 10, if opinions differ, here I would like to note that with versions 7 and 8.1 - the above functions have also evolved, but for peace of mind, consult the advice of the hardware developer.

And an important aspect is that the operating system automatically optimizes the power supply of your SSD drive.

Swap file

Speaking, the correct setup of the Windows 10 system is for a solid-state ssd drive, often we are talking about disabling the page file, but is this true? Everyone forgets why this is needed, so if we are talking about optimizing services in the background, then of course this is not required, but there is software that can throw an error if the page file is disabled - often used Adobe Photoshop, for example, and others products of this family, and by the way, this is how we save the reserves of our SSD. Therefore, it would be correct to go into the settings and check the boxes we need.

“Control_Panel” → “Advanced_System_Settings” → “Advanced” → “Settings” → “Advanced” tab → “Change” → the “Automatically_select_swap_file_size” checkbox should be checked → OK.

Are we saving the battery or the ssd?

As you already understand, we will also talk about how this is related to setting up an ssd disk for Windows 10 OS, the process is generally obvious, when we send our laptop, all the data is saved and, of course, the data is written to memory and endless process - which has a bad effect on the durability of the solid-state drive. It turns out that laptop owners have a choice between saving the battery or the screw? It's actually not that bad! Hibernation is intended for equipment with a HDD, since the speed of loading the OS and accessing files is much longer, and it is easier for users to put the machine to sleep and then wake it up for work without first launching programs and applications - wasting time on this. In the situation with ssd’s, this is not required, since their main feature is speed - have you paid attention to how many seconds it takes your PC to turn on? We conclude that hibernation is not necessary if you have an ssd.

Indexing

Another tool can be sacrificed, we are talking about Windows indexing, the fact is that when the process is executed, it saves information about the location of files, thereby providing a quick search - which accordingly takes up space and constantly overwrites data - as you move them. Solid-state drive technology provides fast access on its own, so feel free to disable it - the method is below.

Right-click on the drive, in this case selecting “C:”

“Properties” → “General” tab → uncheck “Allow file_contents to be indexed…” → ok

In the window that appears, select “To the C:\ drive and all attached files and folders” → ok

All that remains is to wait for completion and close the window.

Optimization in a few clicks!

I’m afraid that now they will throw stones at me, since they didn’t talk about a program for optimizing ssd on Windows 10 before - yes, it exists and, not only for dozens, it worked and works on earlier versions. Meet SSD Mini Tweaker, which weighs a little more than 1.5 Mb, is absolutely free and in Russian.

But this is not the only program for easily and quickly setting up an ssd for Windows 10 OS; we offer a small list:

“Tweak-SSD” - in English, paid with an available demo version, will help you configure and improve disk performance.
“SSDLife Pro” is a paid, Russified, also available demo version, keeps you informed of the “health” of the screw and works in the background.
“SSD Tweaker” - free license, supports Russian language, less than 1 Mb, a good assistant in optimization.

All the above instructions will help if the ssd works slowly in windows 10, I would also like to answer other most frequently asked questions right away, so.

How much ssd space is needed for Windows 10 to fully operate is a rather ambiguous formulation, but in short, Windows itself needs at least 20 Gb, then based on needs. Office / multimedia PC – from 120 to 128 Gb; for mid-range gamers – from 240 to 256 Gb; for profi and high-level games from 480 to 512 Gb. In the situation with SD’s, the more free disk space, the better for the life of the disk and the performance of the computer.
Some time after installing clean Windows, the system takes a long time to load - you need to analyze the loading time and look at the event codes, so often the problem is related to updates - disable automatic and switch to manual, another reason may be that you did not switch from IDE to ACHI.
Users are wondering which partition type to choose mbr or gpt for windows 10 with ssd - the answer is simple, you need to check what version of the pre-program is installed: the good old BIOS or modern UEFI. So, GPT only works with the UEFI interface, MBR supports both versions.

You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions with instructions in the articles on our website.

Preparing the disk and computer for installation

Preliminary PC setup

In order to install Windows on an SSD drive, you need to switch the computer to ACHI mode and make sure that the motherboard supports the SATA 3.0 interface. Information about whether SATA 3.0 is supported or not can be found on the official website of the company that developed your motherboard, or using third-party programs such as HWINFO (http://www.hwinfo.com/download32.html).

Switching to SATA mode

Turn off your computer.
As soon as the startup process begins, press the special key on the keyboard to go to the BIOS. Typically the Delete, F2 or other hotkeys are used. Which one will be used in your case will be written in a special footnote during the inclusion process.
The BIOS interface will differ in different motherboard models, but the principle of switching to ACHI mode on each of them is almost identical. First, go to the Settings section. To move through blocks and items, use the mouse or arrow keys with the Enter button.
Go to advanced BIOS settings.
Go to the “Built-in peripherals” sub-item.
In the “SATA Configuration” block, find the port to which your SSD is connected and press Enter on the keyboard.
Select ACHI operating mode. It may already be selected by default, but we needed to make sure of this. Save the settings made in the BIOS and exit it, boot the computer to proceed to preparing the media with the installation file.

Preparing installation media

We insert the USB flash drive into the port and wait until the computer recognizes it. Open the explorer.
First of all, it is important to format it. This is done for two reasons: the memory of the flash drive must be completely empty and divided in the format we need. While on the main page of Explorer, right-click on the flash drive and select “Format” from the menu that opens.
We select the NTFS format mode and begin the operation, which can last up to ten minutes. Please note that all data stored on the formatted media will be permanently erased.
Go to the official Windows 10 page (https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10) and download the installation tool.
Launch the downloaded program. Read and accept the license agreement.
Select the second option “Create installation media”, since this method of installing Windows is more reliable, because you can start all over again at any time, and also use the created installation media in the future to install the OS on other computers.
Select the system language, version and bit depth. You should take the version that suits you best. If you are an ordinary user, then you should not load the system with unnecessary functions that will never be useful to you; install Windows at home. The capacity depends on how many cores your processor has: one (32) or two (64). Information about the processor can be found in the computer properties or on the official website of the company that developed the processor.
In the media selection, select the USB device option.
Select the flash drive from which the installation media will be created.
We wait until the media creation process is completed.
Reboot the computer without removing the media.
During startup, enter the BIOS.
We change the boot order of the computer: your flash drive should be in first place, not the hard drive, so that when you turn on the computer, it starts booting from it and, accordingly, starts the Windows installation process.

Windows 10 installation process on SSD

Installation begins with choosing a language; set the Russian language in all lines.
Confirm that you want to start the installation.
Read and accept the license agreement.
You may be asked to enter a license key. If you have it, then enter it, if not, then skip this step for now and activate the system after installing it.
Proceed with manual installation as this method will allow you to configure the disk partitions.
A window will open with disk partition settings, click on the “Disk Settings” button.
If you are installing the system for the first time, then all the SSD disk memory will not be allocated. Otherwise, you need to select one of the partitions to install and format it. Divide unallocated memory or existing disks as follows: allocate more than 40 GB to the main disk on which the OS will be located, so as not to encounter it being clogged in the future, leave 10–15% of the total disk memory unallocated (if all the memory has already been allocated, delete the partitions and start forming them again), we allocate all the remaining memory for an additional partition (usually drive D) or partitions (drives E, F, G...). Don't forget to format the main partition allocated for the OS.
To begin installation, select the drive and click Next.
Wait until the system installs in automatic mode. The process may take more than ten minutes, do not interrupt it under any circumstances. After the procedure is completed, the creation of an account and installation of basic system parameters will begin; follow the instructions on the screen and select the settings for yourself.