500GB SSD

[ukracer]

I'd look a little more into the specs. If i was looking for a general purpose SSD then equal read write speeds would be the order of the day. So it's just as quick reading data as it is writing it.

Some SSD's are biased where they are quicker doing one over the other and are application specific.

I was hoping for that reply..lol
I am just being impatient..lol i just dont have the cash for an MX till the week after next.

I have the laptop in bits replacing the screen and Bezel so thought i would try and do it all at the same time.
I only really need the laptop as it has vinylmaster Pro on it to run my cutter. I was going to do a Black xmas deal on T shirts and stickers and mugs to shift all the stock i have got lying around at cost prices..........but as always every bugga else wants me to do things for them....lol

(If i dont crack on it will all still be here next christmas) lol

 

[aguycalledsteve]

I was hoping for that reply..lol
I am just being impatient..lol i just dont have the cash for an MX till the week after next.

I have the laptop in bits replacing the screen and Bezel so thought i would try and do it all at the same time.
I only really need the laptop as it has vinylmaster Pro on it to run my cutter. I was going to do a Black xmas deal on T shirts and stickers and mugs to shift all the stock i have got lying around at cost prices..........but as always every bugga else wants me to do things for them....lol

(If i dont crack on it will all still be here next christmas) lol

I've got an SSD in my main PC and my Plex Server at home. I run Samsung EVO 500GB SSD#s because they are roughly the same in terms of read write speeds.

 

[angellonewolf]

read write speeds are all very well but knowing ssd look for a name there more quality as they dont give you any idea before they go wrong just die

and as ssd is a big jump on hd the extra speed is goiing to be very minor unless what your doing is using the ssd all the time and even then dont think you will notice the differance

 

[bigegg]

agreed on this^^^

most things seem instant with an SSD.
double the speed is half an instant.
or no appreciable difference.

unless you're doing video manipulation or something else massively dependant on drive access.

 

[aguycalledsteve]

as ssd is a big jump on hd the extra speed is goiing to be very minor

Depends on the SSD. There's massive difference between SSD's that are SATA connected and ones that plug into a dedicated socket on the motherboard. I'm working on a HP prodesk at the minute. It goes from off to desktop useable in within 12 seconds. I've worked with PC's for a long time now and even the jaded cynical IT guy in me was like wow that's quick.

 

[ukracer]

Depends on the SSD. There's massive difference between SSD's that are SATA connected and ones that plug into a dedicated socket on the motherboard. I'm working on a HP prodesk at the minute. It goes from off to desktop useable in within 12 seconds. I've worked with PC's for a long time now and even the jaded cynical IT guy in me was like wow that's quick.

Oh no more variables .....i am guessing i can only use an SSD on.my aged Pavillion DV6 3250 sa.

I am not trying to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the laptop but just not make school boy errors.

In fact i do need some advice relating to reinstalling......
I have a genuine windows home professional installed. BUT trying to create install discs failed and HP said i only get one chance.

If i want install discs i have to pay.
Is there anyway to create install discs now.

OR can i copy the hard disc to an external so i can reinstall to the SSD.

I am not sure i can clone the drive and include the hidden/install partition etc.

 

[ukracer]

read write speeds are all very well but knowing ssd look for a name there more quality as they dont give you any idea before they go wrong just die

and as ssd is a big jump on hd the extra speed is goiing to be very minor unless what your doing is using the ssd all the time and even then dont think you will notice the differance

I have seen and read the horror stories about cheap SSD and seen the tests on you tube.
I dont feel 60 quid for a 500mx is steep its just i dont have loads of cash spare.....
But i have decided to wait rather than rush. I have a new screen and bezel and 5g capable wifi card plus an optical drive bay Sata fitting kit coming.

I will be getting a 500mx as funds allow and an external case for the blueray.

 

[aguycalledsteve]

Oh no more variables .....i am guessing i can only use an SSD on.my aged Pavillion DV6 3250 sa.

I am not trying to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the laptop but just not make school boy errors.

In fact i do need some advice relating to reinstalling......
I have a genuine windows home professional installed. BUT trying to create install discs failed and HP said i only get one chance.

If i want install discs i have to pay.
Is there anyway to create install discs now.

OR can i copy the hard disc to an external so i can reinstall to the SSD.

I am not sure i can clone the drive and include the hidden/install partition etc.

Theres nothing stopping you getting a copy of your install cd off e bay and using the windows key from your machine. IIRC HP Pavillions of a certain age used to have the COA on the side with the windows key in it?

if not, there are tools to glean that key so you can write it down for future reference. I use a tool called Hirens Boot CD PE. It has all the tools you'd need for recovery and program key discovery.

 

[ukracer]

Theres nothing stopping you getting a copy of your install cd off e bay and using the windows key from your machine. IIRC HP Pavillions of a certain age used to have the COA on the side with the windows key in it?

if not, there are tools to glean that key so you can write it down for future reference. I use a tool called Hirens Boot CD PE. It has all the tools you'd need for recovery and program key discovery.

It used to have it stuck to the bottom. Somebody nicked it. Lol

Thanks for the info though.

Would the install CD contain the extra programs. I assume its of the HP site?

 

[skotl]

My thoughts on many of the replies above (for what it's worth - only my opinion ) is that in normal use, the vast majority of people are not going to be able to discern the difference between a cheaper reputable brand SSD and a high-flying, all-singing, all-dancing version.
As I mentioned before, I am more than happy to trust the likes of Scan, Crucial, etc. - it's not worth their reputation (or returns department) to be flinging out sub-standard drives.

@ukracer posted a pic of a bunch of SSDs and I would be happy with any of them. The cheapest is a 240GB at £50, but they also offer a 480GB at £60, so I'd go for the latter all day long.

Finally, when I say "I would..." that pretty much means "I did..." - my wife's business runs on the PC that I'm currently typing on and this, and its ancestors, have all been sourced and upgraded from the likes of scan, crucial, etc.

 

[aguycalledsteve]

It used to have it stuck to the bottom. Somebody nicked it. Lol

Thanks for the info though.

Would the install CD contain the extra programs. I assume its of the HP site?

The original HP cd's would but a plain windows install CD wouldn't. You'd have to source all your drivers for the hardware you're using and install your apps again.

 

[ukracer]

The original HP cd's would but a plain windows install CD wouldn't. You'd have to source all your drivers for the hardware you're using and install your apps again.

Mmm is anyone clever enough to extract the original CD's from a hard drive. The laptop was never shipped with CD's but a one shot chance to create from Hard Drive.... (that failed) surely a clever person would be able to manually copy the discs

I think my best bet is to take a backup. Create a new install as it does reinstall from Hard Disc. Then create a backup image with True Image.
Then fit the SSD and write the image file.
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c01867124

 

[angellonewolf]

Oh no more variables .....i am guessing i can only use an SSD on.my aged Pavillion DV6 3250 sa.

I am not trying to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the laptop but just not make school boy errors.

In fact i do need some advice relating to reinstalling......
I have a genuine windows home professional installed. BUT trying to create install discs failed and HP said i only get one chance.

If i want install discs i have to pay.
Is there anyway to create install discs now.

OR can i copy the hard disc to an external so i can reinstall to the SSD.

I am not sure i can clone the drive and include the hidden/install partition etc.

bit drastic but when ever i had to factory restore some of the older laptops over the years before windows 8/10 after you have done the restore one of the first things it asks you is do you want to make a restore disk and to burn it on to dvds

edit dont forget to back up all data before trying this

 

[Seadog]

I have a genuine windows home professional installed.

Which one is it, Home or Professional, and which flavour? If it's Win7 or later and all of the software is registered with MS, you just download the image from them and it will reinstal all of your MS licensed software too.

 

[skotl]

Mmm is anyone clever enough to extract the original CD's from a hard drive. The laptop was never shipped with CD's but a one shot chance to create from Hard Drive.... (that failed) surely a clever person would be able to manually copy the discs

I think my best bet is to take a backup. Create a new install as it does reinstall from Hard Disc. Then create a backup image with True Image.
Then fit the SSD and write the image file.

Forgive me, but I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to do. Are you looking to have an exact copy of your PC onto a new SSD? That might be tricky without using a different PC that can copy one drive to another.
To be honest, I relish the 18-monthly total rebuild as it's a chance to clear all the crud from the machine. That said, I can understand the trepidation if you might not have install media and keys for all of your software.

But.... if you're happy to embrace the total-reinstall approach, then I would suggest:

1. Download the Windows 10 install media from Microsoft - this allows you to copy the Win10 setup to a 4GB or 8GB USB stick, then you can use this to boot on the new PC/hard disk.
   • As a slight aside, if you think you want Windows 7 or Windows 8 then be aware that this option is only gonna work for a limited time, before app and hardware vendors stop supporting it - Windows 10 ain't that bad (but an argument over WinXp/7/8/10 probably isn't going to be helpful in this thread...)
2. This allows you to install Windows 10 and select the appropriate edition (Home, Student, Professional etc.)
3. You don't need to enter your product key during setup - it will prompt, but you can skip that and then have 30 days to sort out the activation
4. If you have your Windows key then you can enter it during setup
5. If you don't, or you have a Win7/Win8 key then there's a cheap solution!
   • Go to https://softwaregeeks.co.uk/ and order a new key for £20. That's a bargain compared to the retail price
   • I'm not a software lawyer, but I can categorically confirm that their licences work and, according to their T&Cs, are totally legit

And then reinstall your apps and copy your data, via network or USB stick.

 

[zx9]

Would the install CD contain the extra programs. I assume its of the HP site?

Most of the extra programmes you are better off without.

FWIW I built an Intel NUC using the cheapest SSD I could find, at the time it was around £20 for 120 GB, all I use it for is to run Firefox for iPlayer, more4 etc. so if it dies no problem, so far it has not died, perhaps it will when I get around to setting up a media server on it.

 

[ukracer]

Which one is it, Home or Professional, and which flavour? If it's Win7 or later and all of the software is registered with MS, you just download the image from them and it will reinstal all of your MS licensed software too.

Home Premium...just found this on google. Will try it tommorow now.

 

[ukracer]

Forgive me, but I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to do. Are you looking to have an exact copy of your PC onto a new SSD? That might be tricky without using a different PC that can copy one drive to another.
To be honest, I relish the 18-monthly total rebuild as it's a chance to clear all the crud from the machine. That said, I can understand the trepidation if you might not have install media and keys for all of your software.

But.... if you're happy to embrace the total-reinstall approach, then I would suggest:

1. Download the Windows 10 install media from Microsoft - this allows you to copy the Win10 setup to a 4GB or 8GB USB stick, then you can use this to boot on the new PC/hard disk.
   • As a slight aside, if you think you want Windows 7 or Windows 8 then be aware that this option is only gonna work for a limited time, before app and hardware vendors stop supporting it - Windows 10 ain't that bad (but an argument over WinXp/7/8/10 probably isn't going to be helpful in this thread...)
2. This allows you to install Windows 10 and select the appropriate edition (Home, Student, Professional etc.)
3. You don't need to enter your product key during setup - it will prompt, but you can skip that and then have 30 days to sort out the activation
4. If you have your Windows key then you can enter it during setup
5. If you don't, or you have a Win7/Win8 key then there's a cheap solution!
   • Go to https://softwaregeeks.co.uk/ and order a new key for £20. That's a bargain compared to the retail price
   • I'm not a software lawyer, but I can categorically confirm that their licences work and, according to their T&Cs, are totally legit

And then reinstall your apps and copy your data, via network or USB stick.

I dont have windows 10. Surely microsoft cant force me run something i dont want to buy.

I dont have too much of a problem with windows 10 just its looks totally different and i hate the look. Surely some has created a way to make it feel like windows 7.

 

[PhillipM]

There's a 500gb Samsung 840 on amazon sale today for about 70 quid.

 

[skotl]

I dont have windows 10. Surely microsoft cant force me run something i dont want to buy.

I dont have too much of a problem with windows 10 just its looks totally different and i hate the look. Surely some has created a way to make it feel like windows 7.

...... Windows 8 was a disaster - nobody is going to disagree with you on that.
Windows 10 really isn't that far away from Windows 7, and a lot of stuff is far easier (especially hardware drivers, wifi connections etc.). For the sake of £20...?