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Bootable SSD

rfaliasrfalias Registered User regular
edited May 2009 in Moe's Stupid Technology Tavern
Did a quickie search/google but nothing really came up.

I've not tried with a regular HDD, but I figure I'd ask aboot.

Can you make a SATA (Or even PCI-e) SSD with a Windows (or other OS) install image on it, so you can put it at first boot priority and install with it, instead of a slow ass CD/DVD/Blu-Ray/VHS/Laserdisc/8Trac/Vinyl/8mm/Punch card?

Not really thought about it until recently, but it seems like it would be a nifty little deal to have. I was thinking a SSD RAID, with a separate drive off of the array with the install image on it so it would be like super speed reformats/installs/whatever. Maybe even partition the drive so I can have Windows/Linux/Whatever installers on it too.

I'm sure its possible, I just don't really know the best way to approach it.

rfalias on

Posts

  • HiravaxisHiravaxis Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Is this an enterprise solution? Because it doesn't seem very cost effective.

    Regardless, I don't see any problem with this approach outside of potential incompatibility at the hardware level.

    Hiravaxis on
  • rfaliasrfalias Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Just me being a nerd really.
    What's the easiest way to go about getting a partition to be recognized like an install CD would be?

    rfalias on
  • DeicistDeicist Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    The main benefit of SSDs is their quick access & seek times (since they pretty much don't have a seek time). I would imagine that installing operating systems is one of the worst applications for an SSD given their operational characteristics.

    Deicist on
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  • rfaliasrfalias Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Dream killer!

    Still though, It'd have to be faster than a CD. Along with the benefit of having a bunch of OS's on the same drive so I don't have to keep track of CD's all the time. Seemed like something to try out for the hell of it.

    rfalias on
  • DeicistDeicist Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    rfalias wrote: »
    Dream killer!

    Still though, It'd have to be faster than a CD. Along with the benefit of having a bunch of OS's on the same drive so I don't have to keep track of CD's all the time. Seemed like something to try out for the hell of it.


    You might want to look into the ultimate boot cd. if I remember correctly you can set that up to boot ISOs with a nice menu somehow.

    Deicist on
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    Tall-Paul MIPsDroid
  • rfaliasrfalias Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Checked that out, I'll have to mess with it when I get home.
    I also just noticed magicISO can make an image that has a multiboot image, with a shiny menu too.

    rfalias on
  • RedDawnRedDawn Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=345#idc-ctools

    Shows how to create a USB flash drive that will boot to either Windows 7 for Windows Vista install.

    XP is a little harder to do.

    RedDawn on
  • ArtreusArtreus I'm a wizard And that looks fucked upRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Just asked in the computer build thread but I am bored in class so I am cross posting. How much of a real advantage would it be to grab a ssd in addition to my regular hdd on my new desktop and install games and aps to it?

    Artreus on
    http://atlanticus.tumblr.com/ PSN: Atlanticus 3DS: 1590-4692-3954 Steam: Artreus
  • VistiVisti Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    I just did it with a regular flash drive and Win 7 and XP, it was certainly faster than the CD drive, but not worth the hassle if you have an actual DVD drive to use.

    Visti on
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  • psychotixpsychotix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2009
    Artreus wrote: »
    Just asked in the computer build thread but I am bored in class so I am cross posting. How much of a real advantage would it be to grab a ssd in addition to my regular hdd on my new desktop and install games and aps to it?

    It's a lot faster, all the more so if in RAID.

    psychotix on
  • The DeliveratorThe Deliverator Slingin Pies The California BurbclavesRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    SSDs are really only faster for non-sequential reads/writes. For any sort of contiuous read or write a good HDD will actually be faster. Using one as nothing but a reinstall image seems like a kind of waste, honestly. They're kinda expensive to just leave sitting there not doing anything.

    The Deliverator on
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  • ArtreusArtreus I'm a wizard And that looks fucked upRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Captain Cactus And The Water Preservation Squad wrote: »
    SSDs are really only faster for non-sequential reads/writes. For any sort of contiuous read or write a good HDD will actually be faster. Using one as nothing but a reinstall image seems like a kind of waste, honestly. They're kinda expensive to just leave sitting there not doing anything.

    I was thinking more along the lines of installing your OS and a few select video games or applications to it.

    Artreus on
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  • lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Artreus wrote: »
    Captain Cactus And The Water Preservation Squad wrote: »
    SSDs are really only faster for non-sequential reads/writes. For any sort of contiuous read or write a good HDD will actually be faster. Using one as nothing but a reinstall image seems like a kind of waste, honestly. They're kinda expensive to just leave sitting there not doing anything.

    I was thinking more along the lines of installing your OS and a few select video games or applications to it.

    I think he is talking about the OP not about your derail. :)

    lowlylowlycook on
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  • ArtreusArtreus I'm a wizard And that looks fucked upRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    lowlylowlycook wrote: »
    Artreus wrote: »
    Captain Cactus And The Water Preservation Squad wrote: »
    SSDs are really only faster for non-sequential reads/writes. For any sort of contiuous read or write a good HDD will actually be faster. Using one as nothing but a reinstall image seems like a kind of waste, honestly. They're kinda expensive to just leave sitting there not doing anything.

    I was thinking more along the lines of installing your OS and a few select video games or applications to it.

    I think he is talking about the OP not about your derail. :)

    I'm used to SE where derailing happens more often than staying on topic.

    Artreus on
    http://atlanticus.tumblr.com/ PSN: Atlanticus 3DS: 1590-4692-3954 Steam: Artreus
  • ObsObs __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2009
    Captain Cactus And The Water Preservation Squad wrote: »
    SSDs are really only faster for non-sequential reads/writes. For any sort of contiuous read or write a good HDD will actually be faster. Using one as nothing but a reinstall image seems like a kind of waste, honestly. They're kinda expensive to just leave sitting there not doing anything.

    Not if you put the SSD in RAID.

    In those cases, the SSD is so fast that it blows past the HDD several times over.

    Obs on
  • lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    So now we are going to install OSs from raided SSDs.

    Brilliant!

    lowlylowlycook on
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  • ArtreusArtreus I'm a wizard And that looks fucked upRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    Captain Cactus And The Water Preservation Squad wrote: »
    SSDs are really only faster for non-sequential reads/writes. For any sort of contiuous read or write a good HDD will actually be faster. Using one as nothing but a reinstall image seems like a kind of waste, honestly. They're kinda expensive to just leave sitting there not doing anything.

    Not if you put the SSD in RAID.

    In those cases, the SSD is so fast that it blows past the HDD several times over.

    I don't think you know what words mean. This would explain a lot.

    Artreus on
    http://atlanticus.tumblr.com/ PSN: Atlanticus 3DS: 1590-4692-3954 Steam: Artreus
  • ObsObs __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2009
    People have died because of SSDs.

    Obs on
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited May 2009
    Hey guys, there's this great thing called the Solid State Drives thread, you should check it out. I don't think anybody over there has died yet.

    Moe Fwacky on
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This discussion has been closed.
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