Thinkpads Forum

Hi Guys
actually i have Thinkpad W510 and i got Intel SSD 320 160GB new and i want to install it instead of my HDD Seagate 500GB, could you tell me please what to do exactly to install the SSD and Clean installation of Windows 7 64Bit because i am ZERO EXPERIENCE in SSD field and i dont know really what to do after i install the SSD inside the laptop and power it on.
Please Help
Thanks

To do a clean install, you'll need a Windows disc, which you can find here. Probably the easiest path would be to put the disc in and follow the prompts. It's not rocket science. Then you can install System Update and let it do most of the work. Typically, a clean install means installing only the OS, and the drivers and the applications you want. In that case you can download and install only the applications and drivers you want or need from the W510 driver matrix.

If you want to clone your current hard drive to the new SSD, then backup the hard drive via something like Acronis and then restore it directly to the SSD. Easiest way to do this is to have a 2nd drive in the ultrabay slot to hold the backup. That way, you do the following:

* Backup boot hard drive to the drive in the ultrabay slot. Acronis, Windows backup, etc., just use a backup/restore program that works.

* Take out the boot hard drive and install the SSD in it's place.

* If using Acronis, create a bootable DVD version of it before doing step 1(backing up your boot hard drive), then use the boot DVD to boot up your laptop and restore the boot drive image from your ultrabay drive directly to the new SSD.

From here, try booting your new setup and see if it works.


If you want to install a new copy of Windows on the SSD and -not- use the boot image from your current hard drive, others will need to help you out, as I don't create systems that way, and don't know the best way to do that.