Help Intel x25m installation

[idata]

Hi,

So I've searched a lot around the community but I can't find the exact answer I was looking for, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I've installed win 7 onto my intel ssd without updating the firmware or setting the ssd to AHCI mode. Since I like to do this properly, I would like to reinstall the OS AFTER updating the frimware (to get TRIM support) and setting ssd to AHCI. How do I go about performing a fresh new win 7 install without messing up the ssd?

[idata]

Are you thinking you will erase the firmware in your Win7 fresh install??? Nope.... Simply update the firware and then install fresh if thats your plan.

[idata]

Thanks for the reply "Flamenko1". No, I want to do a reinstall because I've installed the os in IDE mode and I want to redo it with AHCI mode to get better performance. I wanted to know the recommended procedure for reinstalling an os onto an SSD. I've heard something about using a program called HDD erase to securely erase ALL data from the SSD before new install, as windows fromatting won't do the job properly because TRIM command isn't enabled.

I've also heard a workaround without reinstalling OS but let's ignore that for this one...

[mmokk]

the 'workaround' involves changing just one registry value (hklm\system\currentcontrolset\services\msahci, start=0) and takes at most 10 seconds. thereafter, you can switch from ide to ahci and vice versa to your heart's content and windows 7 will work fine. you're more likely to mess up your ssd with a botched hdderase than changing a single registry value.

but if you insist on doing things the longer riskier way:

- update the firmware

- hdderase the drive

- change to ahci mode in bios

- reinstall windows

[idata]

I always wondered why Microsoft did not enable this as default.

But then again, I am also always complaining about all the stuff I need to disable...

Guess I can't have it both ways.