Solved Installing second SSD

I am going to install a second SSD to use just for games.
I wanted to make sure i have this correct, after plugging in the new drive and booting up the PC.

I need to go to Disk Management look for the New SSD and right-click, then select "new simple volume," follow the wizard to format the drive.
I know i can name it and change it to which ever Drive letter is available that i want to use, most likely be D: .

Just wanted to know if this was the correct steps. My original OS SSD is using UEFI and GPT style, but i know i do not need to have this one GPT, otherwise i have to reinstall everything (OS), i read it can run legacy (MBR) style.

Solved i was correct, no further assistance needed. I know Drive letter is available as i left my optical with E:.

jds63 said:

I am going to install a second SSD to use just for games.
I wanted to make sure i have this correct, after plugging in the new drive and booting up the PC.

I need to go to Disk Management look for the New SSD and right-click, then select "new simple volume," follow the wizard to format the drive.
I know i can name it and change it to which ever Drive letter is available that i want to use, most likely be D: .

Just wanted to know if this was the correct steps. My original OS SSD is using UEFI and GPT style, but i know i do not need to have this one GPT, otherwise i have to reinstall everything (OS), i read it can run legacy (MBR) style.

Click to expand...

You can use you 2nd SSD either as MBR or GPT UEFI supports both and convert between the two as long as its a data disk. If you try to put a OS on it then you would have to clean install to GPT disk

Clintlgm said:

jds63 said:

I am going to install a second SSD to use just for games.
I wanted to make sure i have this correct, after plugging in the new drive and booting up the PC.

I need to go to Disk Management look for the New SSD and right-click, then select "new simple volume," follow the wizard to format the drive.
I know i can name it and change it to which ever Drive letter is available that i want to use, most likely be D: .

Just wanted to know if this was the correct steps. My original OS SSD is using UEFI and GPT style, but i know i do not need to have this one GPT, otherwise i have to reinstall everything (OS), i read it can run legacy (MBR) style.

Click to expand...

You can use you 2nd SSD either as MBR or GPT UEFI supports both and convert between the two as long as its a data disk. If you try to put a OS on it then you would have to clean install to GPT disk

Click to expand...

It will only be for games, not sure if i will put some software on it. My original SSD C: is OS Windows 8.1 Pro64bit and is a 512GB and is UEFI GPT Style.

I think only way i can make this one GPT is doing the whole Windows 8.1 install over. Told i could use it just MBR (Legacy).

Not sure i understand a different way of doing it, if i wanted to.

jds63 said:

Clintlgm said:

jds63 said:

I am going to install a second SSD to use just for games.
I wanted to make sure i have this correct, after plugging in the new drive and booting up the PC.

I need to go to Disk Management look for the New SSD and right-click, then select "new simple volume," follow the wizard to format the drive.
I know i can name it and change it to which ever Drive letter is available that i want to use, most likely be D: .

Just wanted to know if this was the correct steps. My original OS SSD is using UEFI and GPT style, but i know i do not need to have this one GPT, otherwise i have to reinstall everything (OS), i read it can run legacy (MBR) style.

Click to expand...

You can use you 2nd SSD either as MBR or GPT UEFI supports both and convert between the two as long as its a data disk. If you try to put a OS on it then you would have to clean install to GPT disk

Click to expand...

It will only be for games, not sure if i will put some software on it. My original SSD C: is OS Windows 8.1 Pro64bit and is a 512GB and is UEFI GPT Style.

I think only way i can make this one GPT is doing the whole Windows 8.1 install over. Told i could use it just MBR (Legacy).

Not sure i understand a different way of doing it, if i wanted to.

Click to expand...

Well I disagree, you can run that 2nd drive MBR or GPT you would only have to reinstall if you wanted to put an OS on it. Since you already have A UEFI system I would run it GPT. You can't go wrong either way and you can change later if you want to. its only the OS drive that matters for UEFI the OS drive has to be GPT the other drives can be either and data drives can be converted.

Clintlgm said:

jds63 said:

Clintlgm said:

You can use you 2nd SSD either as MBR or GPT UEFI supports both and convert between the two as long as its a data disk. If you try to put a OS on it then you would have to clean install to GPT disk

Click to expand...

It will only be for games, not sure if i will put some software on it. My original SSD C: is OS Windows 8.1 Pro64bit and is a 512GB and is UEFI GPT Style.

I think only way i can make this one GPT is doing the whole Windows 8.1 install over. Told i could use it just MBR (Legacy).

Not sure i understand a different way of doing it, if i wanted to.

Click to expand...

Well I disagree, you can run that 2nd drive MBR or GPT you would only have to reinstall if you wanted to put an OS on it. Since you already have A UEFI system I would run it GPT. You can't go wrong either way and you can change later if you want to. its only the OS drive that matters for UEFI the OS drive has to be GPT the other drives can be either and data drives can be converted.

Click to expand...

O.k. but how to i make it GPT after i install it in bay and boot ? Nothing in my BIOS. What are the advantages of a non operating system SSD Drive for GPT Style to even bother since i am not looking to make more then one partition ?

By the way it is 256GB SSD for second drive.

jds63 said:

Clintlgm said:

jds63 said:

It will only be for games, not sure if i will put some software on it. My original SSD C: is OS Windows 8.1 Pro64bit and is a 512GB and is UEFI GPT Style.

I think only way i can make this one GPT is doing the whole Windows 8.1 install over. Told i could use it just MBR (Legacy).

Not sure i understand a different way of doing it, if i wanted to.

Click to expand...

Well I disagree, you can run that 2nd drive MBR or GPT you would only have to reinstall if you wanted to put an OS on it. Since you already have A UEFI system I would run it GPT. You can't go wrong either way and you can change later if you want to. its only the OS drive that matters for UEFI the OS drive has to be GPT the other drives can be either and data drives can be converted.

Click to expand...

O.k. but how to i make it GPT after i install it in bay and boot ? Nothing in my BIOS. What are the advantages of a non operating system SSD Drive for GPT Style to even bother since i am not looking to make more then one partition ?

By the way it is 256GB SSD for second drive.

Click to expand...

As I said you can't go wrong either way, my point was that GPT is possible. MBR is Legacy GPT is the new way. Its entirely your option. I would use Mini tool partition wizard free edition to create either one

Diskpart search cmd, right click select run as administrator
Diskpart
list disk
Select your SSD
Convert GPT or MBR
create partition primary
select part 1
format fs=ntfs label=(name) quick
Exit
Much easier to use MT Partition Wizard or built in Disk Management

Thanks i basically meant also when i first boot after SSD is installed and go to Disk Management was there a way there, will it ask me which way to initialize the SSD, before doing the Volume wizard.

Excuse me if i seem a bit confused, mostly new to me along with the UEFI GPT i did initially with the SSD OS drive.

O.K. this article shows that when going to disk management after the drive is installed will ask you first to initialize giving you the choices of either MBR or GPT. What?s the Difference Between GPT and MBR When Partitioning a Drive?

jds63 said:

Thanks i basically meant also when i first boot after SSD is installed and go to Disk Management was there a way there, will it ask me which way to initialize the SSD, before doing the Volume wizard.

Excuse me if i seem a bit confused, mostly new to me along with the UEFI GPT i did initially with the SSD OS drive.

Click to expand...

Yep it is fairly new I was first expose to it in 2012 with this notebook. Thankfully there were people to show me how.

Another question, if i use GPT on this second drive, say using Disk management does it ask me how many partitions, because i only want one ?

jds63 said:

Another question, if i use GPT on this second drive, say using Disk management does it ask me how many partitions, because i only want one ?

Click to expand...

Well if it did just tell it 1 partition. However after you initialize you will create which ever partitions you would like to have, and format

O.k. i have the new SSD for a couple of days just getting few more answers before i did it. Learning process for me, so excuse me.

I am figuring the reasons to use GPT for a second drive because it is either 2TB or greater, for more partitions then MBR can use.
Not knowing the advantages of it, but i only figure makes some sense since first OS SSD is also.

jds63 said:

O.k. i have the new SSD for a couple of days just getting few more answers before i did it. Learning process for me, so excuse me.

I am figuring the reasons to use GPT for a second drive because it is either 2TB or greater, for more partitions then MBR can use.
Not knowing the advantages of it, but i only figure makes some sense since first OS SSD is also.

Click to expand...

Well I don't know the exact advantages of UEFI and GPT, I think it must be better for no other reason than all the manufactures are only producing UEFI Systems. Also but this is for boot drives only GPT supports Secure Boot. Secure boot is good as it prevents root kits from booting into your system. I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons, with the only bad things is we have to learn an new system and how to work with it. This is the first real change in how BIOS works, since DOS and Windows came about. Can be frustrating to us, as its not what were used too.

Thanks Clintlgm for taking your time to reply.

Just getting back after installing the second drive. Everything worked out good, soon as i booted up went to the disk management box popped up asking me to initialize and was already choosing GPT.

So i used that and then ran the New Simple Volume wizard kept defaults, named it and used letter D:

Never yet understand when you buy a 256GB Drive it shows 238GB free, where does rest go.
Just like the OS drive it shows size at 476GB when you know it's a 512GB Drive.

Never looked into this part. Try to install some stuff on it see how it goes, most likely gonna be some games.

Never yet understand when you buy a 256GB Drive it shows 238GB free, where does rest go.
Just like the OS drive it shows size at 476GB when you know it's a 512GB Drive.

Click to expand...

In computer world: 1K = 1024, 1Meg = 1024 K etc...
For example, if you want to create a 20GB partition, you would have to use: 20000000x1024=20480000 bytes

Does that tell me where the other 18GB went from the 256GB drive considering i made one partition?

I see it now here SSD | Understanding over-provisioning

and also here Why does my hard drive report less capacity than indicated on the drive's label?

I've been robbed

Anyone know if i need Windows 8.1 readyboot enabled or not with a SSD ? Mixed opinions on this.

If i ran WinSAT Formal as some say to do after installing an SSD i believe it disabled readyboot, but not superprefetch.
Some articles are saying

On an SSD system, ReadyBoot may not improve boot times by a lot, but it will utilize your fast RAM for what it's good for: serving as a fast cache for the disk. And even the fastest SDDs are still slower than RAM memory - disabling it would still make your booting slightly slower.

I know how to renable it, through Performance monitor.

jds63 said:

Anyone know if i need Windows 8.1 readyboot enabled or not with a SSD ? Mixed opinions on this.

If i ran WinSAT Formal as some say to do after installing an SSD i believe it disabled readyboot, but not superprefetch.
Some articles are saying

On an SSD system, ReadyBoot may not improve boot times by a lot, but it will utilize your fast RAM for what it's good for: serving as a fast cache for the disk. And even the fastest SDDs are still slower than RAM memory - disabling it would still make your booting slightly slower.

I know how to renable it, through Performance monitor.

Click to expand...

My Intel SSD and Samsung SSD came with software to optimize there performance, further tweaking will probably not be noticeable and could detract from performance. I don't think you have ever mentioned what brand SSD you are running?

most of all these tweaks your talking about were for SSD 3 years ago, the present lines are much better working and thought out.

O.k. i thought i did in begining of my post.

First OS SSD is Crucial MX100 CT512MX100SSD1 2.5" 512GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive

Second SSD for this post is Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive

Yeah i wanted the Samsung EVO but was more money, these i got a good deal on. Figured stick with same brand, but no optimizing software comes with them, Crucial does have one but is older versions.

Well i understand most tweaks are old, see the dates while i search, but try to get the closest date to now and make sure i emphasize i use Windows 8.1 also. Been not too easy.

All i want to know, just like when i put in my original OS SSD is it is set to optimal performance, now Windows 8.1 should do most without me doing anything.

But i saw about running WinSAT Formal to make sure it does set it up correctly in Windows. Even a Microsoft article stating computer manufacturer's to run it after they complete the installation on a SSD with a New PC.

I noticed before i ran it, readyboot was enabled, after WinSat it is disabled, but SuperPrefetch is still enabled. Again articles state it will be even though it is not running the same, this got me confused.

Then the confusion between readyboot and readyboost. I recall readyboost in Windows Vista and Win7 as using a USB Flash Drive as memory. Not sure if readyboot is the same, but if i right click my D: Drive (SSD) it shows readyboost tab. Of course i have no means to use it, i have 16GB RAM.