Overhauling X220T. Are these the correct steps?

[DC69]

Good morning everyone.

I have a X220T running Windows 7 from a 512Gb HDD. Now I will be doing some upgrades on this machine, including a change in OS for Linux running from an mSATA (the HDD will serve as a secondary drive to store files and programs will be installed on the mSATA), replacing the WiFi card for an Intel 7260 in order to add Bluetooth and install the modified 1.46 BIOS by ValdikSS.

Now my question is regarding the order of this upgrades as to minimize trouble and possible problems. Since opening the laptop is fiddely and labour consuming I would prefer to install the mSATA and WiFi card in one go, so I am thinking the best approach is to install the ValdikSS BIOS on my current Windows 7 setup, install mSATA and WiFi card, make sure everything is working (testing the WiFi and check if the mSATA shows up as a secondary drive), remove HDD and install Linux on the now empty PC before adding a newly formatted HDD for storage.

Am I approaching this correctly or would you do anything different?

Have a lovely week everyone.

[ZaZ]

I am unfamiliar with the ValdikSS BIOS, but I don't the the order matters much.

[axur-delmeria]

I am unfamiliar with the ValdikSS BIOS, but I don't the the order matters much.

Since OP will be installing a non-OEM WiFi card, flashing a BIOS that removes the whitelist should be done beforehand.

Personally, I'd use the opportunity to clean the heatsink and replace the thermal paste with something better, like PTM 7950 phase-change thermal pad.

[DC69]

Good morning and thank you both for the input.