Possible Compatibility Issues?

clepclep

Estimable
Apr 18, 2014
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4,510
Hey all,

My last computer died on me and is beyond repair. The repair company sent me back the 256 gb mSATA SSD that was in my laptop, and I plan on putting it in the Alienware 14 I am going to buy. My question is that my old computer had windows 8 and the new Alienware has windows 7. The alienware comes with a windows 7 install disk. Can I put the SSD into the alienware, boot from the default hard drive, and install windows 7 over windows 8? Or will I have compatibility issues with the files on the drive? I backed up all my files before the computer was sent for repair, so I have them on hand. Would it be easier to just wipe the drive? If so, is wiping a solid state drive the same as wiping a normal hard drive?

Thanks,

Dan
 
Solution
You'll have to "wipe" (reformat) the SSD before installing Windows 7 on it.
You can do that with your Windows 7 install disc (if indeed it is a proper install disc) just like reformatting a hard drive only quicker.
You probably won't be able to boot into the Windows 8 installation on your current 256 GB mSATA SSD due to differing drivers and HAL, but you CAN install Windows 7 onto the mSATA drive once you physically install it to the system (as long as the system has a mSATA slot). You'll be booting off of the install DVD and not the drive to do this.