Question 1

does it work with windows xp?

Accepted Answer

Short answer is yes.

Long answer:  Windows XP does not (and probably will not ever) support TRIM for SSDs.  This means that it will not erase things on the SSD as well as it could.  The drive will still be much quicker than a regular hard drive.

Also never run disk defragmenter on an SSD.

Question 2

I'm curious if these SSDs come with SATA III connections, or does it only come with the USB 3.0 to SATA connection?

Accepted Answer

It has standard SATA Hard Drive connectors on the back of the drive itself.  It could be installed in a Laptop or installed in a Desktop with a SATA Power Cable and SATA form factor data cable.  **What is included in the package is the SSD itself, an anti vibration spacer(laptop) and a connector to allow you to plug the SSD into your USB 3.0 port, and Samsung Magician Software.** As this is a "Notebook Bundle Kit", the SATA cable or power cables are NOT included.

After installing the software, you are prompted to plug in the SSD via USB 3.0 to format and transfer your existing data to the drive, then you can shut the computer down, take out your existing drive and replace it with the SSD, or Add the SSD and then change your existing drive configuration through Drive Management in Windows or another OS.  The Samsung Magician software made the whole process of migrating data from my existing drive to the new SSD extremely simple and efficient. Great Job Samsung!!!

Question 3

hi,
i need to install this in a macbook pro. do i need a bracket? if i do then what bracket do i need? (do i need anything else, BTW)?

Accepted Answer

Though I didn't put the drive in a Macbook Pro but a Dell I can tell you that the spacer that comes with the Notebook bundle kit was needed. As I have replaced a Macbook Pro HD the method of mounting is similar though it's more work to get to the HD in a Mackbook than a Dell. The spacer that comes with the kit is needed to provide the proper offset to the SATA connector on the MB as the SSD drive is thinner than a HD on which the SATA connector is closer to one side of the drive than the other. You'll not need anything else than the parts in the kit. Enjoy the SSD drive as I have sense upgrading. It's like having a new computer.

Question 4

Is this drive compatible with a Toshiba Satellite A215-S5837 Laptop?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this drive is compatible.  I don't own the Toshiba, I just checked the specs on the internet.  I wasn't able to determine if the Toshiba is SATA-2 or SATA-3.  If the Toshiba is SATA-2, it won't run the Samsung 840 EVO at the full rated speed of the EVO.  However, the 840 EVO will run at the full SATA-2 speed of the Toshiba which will be a big improvement over the original hard drive.

Question 5

I was gifted the Samsung SSD 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW R.  I would like the cable and spacer that come with the laptop upgrade kit.  Can I buy these items separately or must I return the SSD and order the laptop upgrade kit to get the cable and spacer?

Accepted Answer

The spacer is cool, but the laptop kit I got last week the cable didn't even work! 31 bucks extra for the kit versus the drive alone does NOT justify the cost difference in my opinion, let alone the fact the cable was defective.

I would recommend an inatek usb3 ssd optimized enclosure(google it) and if u really need a spacer I will sell you mine as I do not plan I using it. 
You can email me at designtime at comcast dot net. Can't include links here so... Anyway good luck.

Questions & Answers