Hey Folks,

after getting back into flight simulation some days ago I feel I´ve got to change something related to my HDD: I run my PC with an single 1 TB Seagate Barracuda HDD with two partititions: one smaller for the System and the rest for FSX and everything else.

 

But as the HDD is now about 70% full and the speed has derceased a lot so that it´s a pain to open an programm (even if it´s Word), not to imagine several open programms running at the same time. So I thought it´s time for an change. My plan is the following: I get a dedicated 100 or 120 GB SSD for the system (as my system´s partitition is about 150 GB with 86 GB used) and for the rest a reasonable priced and fast normal HDD with 1 TB (maybe with an seperate partitition for FSX).

 

So my question here is

 

1. Can you guys tell me some good and reasonably pricy SSD´s and HDD´s I could watch for?

 

2. I guess I should setup WIndows again but I´ve got some things (espcially FSX which I don´t want to setup again (I had some problems with the activation of FSX). So is it possible to copy these things from my "old" HDD to the new one with keeping it working?

1. Can you guys tell me some good and reasonably pricy SSD´s and HDD´s I could watch for?

 

I can vouch for Crucial M4. Size: whatever you can afford. Superfast for both FSX and Windows.

 

2. I guess I should setup WIndows again but I´ve got some things (espcially FSX which I don´t want to setup again (I had some problems with the activation of FSX). So is it possible to copy these things from my "old" HDD to the new one with keeping it working?

 

Not at all. Copy won't do it. Either you do it manually, there was a tutorial I found in internet on how to, or simply pay some 20 bucks for a software, for example this, and let it do the job for you. Is what I did.

You can however copy FSX.

Bear in mind that many addons will need reactivations due to copy on a new disk. Not a problem though.

I can vouch for Crucial M4. Size: whatever you can afford. Superfast for both FSX and Windows.

 

Ok, I´ll check these out. YOu mean a SSD for both, FSX and Windows? Because that isn´t what I want/can afford. Just a small SSD for speeding up the system and a larger HDD (maybe a WD?) for the rest. I don´t want pay more than 150 - 200€ for this.

 

 

Not at all. Copy won't do it. Either you do it manually, there was a tutorial I found in internet on how to, or simply pay some 20 bucks for a software, for example this, and let it do the job for you. Is what I did.

You can however copy FSX.

 

Thanks for the link, that´s definitely something to consider. I won´t copy everything to the new SSD/HDD´s, just FSX (with fixing the regsitry). I hope that installing windows again won´t be too complicated for an noob like me.

 

Tomorrow I´ll check out my local hardawre store (where I bought this PC) what they say or if they can do that for me cause I was never good at messing arround with software. Hardware is no problem though.

Yes, you can probably squeeze an SSD and WD HDD for FSX. Same as my config. Definitely nice for Windows. 128GB SSD + WD for FSX.

 

If you do everything right, you don't need any fixing! I don't get it why you want to install windows new...other maybe if it's faulty or not working right.

 

You don't trust yourself enough! ^_^

I guess I was a bit foolish wen I did this plan with changing all the HDD´s. My new plan is the following: I will install an SSD, preferably this one and swap my C: (System) partitition on that one and use my current HDD for the rest. That should at least give me a lot faster OS at least.

 

One aditional thing: The SSD has an Serial ATA/600 connector and my current HDD has as SATA typ SATA-II 3.0 GB/s. will that work together? And what will/can I do with the remaining(and swapped) Partitition on my HDD as it will be empty (or not)?

I will install an SSD, preferably this oneand swap my C: (System) partitition on that one and use my current HDD for the rest. That should at least give me a lot faster OS at least.

Yes, this is how I did it. Installed SSD along my HDD, ported the OS onto it and made it active, went to BIOS and switched from where the OS is booting (M4). Good choice on the SSD also

 

The SSD has an Serial ATA/600 connector and my current HDD has as SATA typ SATA-II 3.0 GB/s. will that work together?

 

Of course, though the performance of the SSD won't be optimal. But if you don't have SATA6, nothing else you can do, eh?

 

And what will/can I do with the remaining(and swapped) Partitition on my HDD as it will be empty (or not)?

 

Ummm, a bit question. Check your current partitioning. Do you have a small, tiny partition at the beginning of the drive? Some 100MB or so?

Of course, though the performance of the SSD won't be optimal. But if you don't have SATA6, nothing else you can do, eh?

 

 

I just checked the MOBO again and yes, I do have SATA 6 connectors available. But I won´t be able to get the Cruical M4 as my local hardawre store hasn´t them in stock and also the internet store I´m often using (altermate.de) won´t let me pay via creditcard, so I guess it´s gonna be a OCZ Agility. But let´s see what they tell me when I vistit them this afternoon.

 

Check your current partitioning. Do you have a small, tiny partition at the beginning of the drive? Some 100MB or so?

 

Yes, I do have one. I guess the pic will make it all clear.

 

I was at the store and they tried to sell me some over expensive Plextor M5 Pro drives. But tomorrow they´ll have much more cheaper Samsung S830 Series drives in stock, so I´ll get one of them.

I just upgraded to an 830 256Gb last week for both the OS (Win8) as FSX installation. My FSX install won't be very big so enough room for both. Lovin' the speed of an SSD so far, it's amazing how fast FSX starts.

Hi Word Not Allowed,

 

What is that 100 MB partition for? I heard that before, but never quite understood it's purpose.

I'm running Win 7 x64 and never had one of those.

 

Thanx for your reply.

The intention of the partition is to save the encryption data if you decide to lock your drive with the Bitlocker. It's basically the place for it and the bootdata. Otherwise windows would be unable to boot, if you encrypted your bootsector.

Usually if you delete all partitions on the HDD, and tell windows to create a partition, in the setup, it will usually create the 100mb + rest partitions, and automatically install the 100mb partition for the bitlocker.

Thanx for ur quick reply.

So it's safe to say if you don't use Bitlocker you most likely won't have this partition, might that be a correct assumption?

No, the windows is going to create it if you partition with the windows installer (w7), none the less. You have to make it so that it doesn't get created - only way is basically partition with any other tool than windows installer, for example prior to installation, and then just tell windows to install there.

Ok, folks, I´ve now changed to an SSD. I didn´t get the Samsung though cause they didn´t have them in stock (against their saying one day earlier.) but I luckily got the last remaining OCZ Agility 3 120GB version and the migration of the C: partitition to the SSD worked flawlessly.

 

Now I just have the problem that I now have a lot more Partititions than I need (in case it´s just the old C: partitition now H: and the old MSR (now G:)). What can I do with these? Just delete them (remember, these are on my 1 TB HDD with FSX and everything esle on D:).

 

I´ve got an picture to show you that a bit better:

 

 

The middel one with C: is the new SSD. Above the Partititions on my HDD (with the old system partitition and FSX on another one) and below is the external drive with the backup data.

Ugh I had this problem when I first finished my new (old )rig. I physically disconnected all hard drives EXCEPT the one I was installing Win7 on. Somehow Win7 loves to put that little system reserved partition on all my drives.