AW 14 Msata SSD for Boot?

Is it possible to use an msata SSD as the boot partition in AW14? I tried cloning the stock HDD to the msata ssd (Plextor 256gb M5M) and it didn't run very well. A lot of errors and everything.

I mean will there be problems if I do a fresh OS install on the msata SSD and how in the world do I do that?

Thanks!

 

I just put a plextor m5m 256gb mSata in. It is my boot drive. I did a fresh install though. Also I changed the bios from raid to ahci. Boots windows 7 in 8 seconds. Crystal mark is 526 read and 374 write. I'm pretty happy with it.

 

Did you have to remove the stock HDD first before installation?

 

I did, you don't want to take risk, right?

 

So what's the process of actually doing a fresh install of windows on an msata ssd? I'm very new and noobish in these things.
'

 

If you leave only the msata in the machine, just pop in the windows dvd and follow the prompts...

 

Do you have windows 7 or 8? Do you have the instal media?

I never clone mechanical drive to a ssd. Windows 7 and 8 are smart enough to know during installation if you have a ssd installed and automatically sets some tweaks for you.

I personally do a factory restore on the original HD so it is fresh and ready to go at any given time. I then pull it out and put it in a anti static HD bag and label it.

This is my personal order of things:
Always download all the latest drivers from the your manufacturers website. i do that and save to a USB thumb drive before starting.

1 - install SSD or msata while the machine is apart after taking out the stock drive
2 - Put back together turn on and F2 to go into the bios
3 - find the ctroller/HD stuff in the bios
4 - I change it from RAID to ahci.. Some chipsets do not fully and accurately support TRIM in RAID mode so I am always a little worried running a controller on RAID unless I am actually going to set a RAID up. AHCI and windows automatically support trim.
5 - save and reboot making sure your install media is in the optical drive or USB port. Start hitting F12 after rebooting and exiting
6 - choose your boot device from the menu F12 brought up
7 - geting into windows setup choose install and fresh install NOT upgrade.
8 - advanced settings on your storage and format, if the quick option appears always do a quick format on a ssd not a full low and slow
9 - after getting windows installed the **FIRST** thing to install is the Intel chipset driver and reboot
10 - then follow up with any other intel drivers IRST or the standard management drivers
11- I then do the nvidia drivers, reboot hit FN+F5 and then reboot again and install the intel video drivers
12 - After these main drivers listed above install all other drivers needed (sound card, free fall HD, card reader etc)
13 - then install applications such as OSD and laptop control center (alien FX stuff).
14 - applications/games

I generally reboot after each driver or app that says it required a reboot to finish installing. I use to be lazy on mechanical drives and install the chipset, reboot then everything else then one reboot. I had good luck everytime except for once doing this.

I would also say before installing applications so this would be a step 13a. Read and follow the guide here to optimize your SSD and windows:
The SSD Optimization Guide Redesigned | The SSD Review

These are vague guidelines going off memory and not following each step as i write. Feel free to ask any questions Ill try to answer when I can.

Oh, the reason i take the stock drive out and keep safe and ready to go. If I decide to resale it is a quick method for me to switch out and its ready to ship out. Also it contains the diagnostic partition. If you have computer problems and it is not related to failing ssd or HD then you can test the ram and MB etc to give error codes to the tech over the phone. I always just buy another mechanical drive if needed for storage they are cheap enough.

 

Wow, thanks for the in depth guide! I would probably try it when I have the time. I'm beyond factory restore for the stock HDD as I noobishly wiped it clean after cloning it to the msata SSD, and after problems with the SSD I did a clean install of Win 8. So I would probably just wipe it off the HDD and use it to store data.

I have the windows 8 (The Recovery media DVD that comes with the AW14). I used this to do a clean install for the stock HDD. I should be able to use this for the msata SSD as well right?

 

Yeah, you can use it for clean install.

I wasnt sure if you had the media, i know a lot of people were saying the 14 didn't come with win8 media. I got mine with windows 7 and it had the media.

Since the stock drive was wiped out I would use it for storage as well.

It took more time for windows updates to do its download, install reboot 3-4 times than it did to install windows and the drivers. I think the whole process took me about 2 hours when it was all said and done.

 

Hopefully it works!

How's your AW14 running on the ssd? Any issues so far?

I mean when I called Dell tech support they were saying that the msata slot is more for SSD caching than anything else. And they were saying the might be compatibility issues, etc etc according to their feedback from users (Didn't ask whether it's from the current AW14 or the old M14x).

 

I have had 0 issues. Before with the stock drive windows would take 30-45 seconds to boot up. Now it boots up in 6-7 seconds. it would take about 2 minutes to get into a map in BF3 now it is 8-10 seconds. Crystal Disk benchmark with the Plextor m5m read is 530-540 and writes are i think 340 (going off the top of my head because i have my 18 with me at work today).

I ordered two fo the plextor's 256gb msats's at the same time one for my 14 and one for my 18. I am planning on taking out the stock msata and two 750's in my 18 and putting the pleater msata and two samsung 256's in.. I will be working on that today as time permits.

 

Damn, thats fast. I'm currently fresh installing win 8 on the m5m. So i'm guessing you only connect back the HDD after you install all the drivers, and optimise the ssd?

 

Oh man, I can't seem to update my Nvidia drivers. I installed the Intel HD drivers before I installed the Nvidia drivers. Could that be the problem?

 

I highly suggest removing all mechanical drives and fresh installing to the SSD, get it optimized and tweaked and then installing the mechanical storage back into the machine as the very last step.

 

Does device manager show the nvidia card in the devices? Try hitting fn+f5, reboot and then install the nvidia drivers.

 

The card shows in Device manager. Now there's a runtime error (system 32\rundll32 D:

I feel like reinstalling windows 8 now. omg.

 

Something is out of place for sure. Fresh install is imminent. i like fresh installs, gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling all over.

 

Hmm is your BIOS the newest version? A04? Because i updated my BIOS before I did a fresh install like a couple of days back. and is your nvidia driver version 311.49?. I'm at version 311.48 and i cant do an update to 311.49. I called in dell tech support and they were recommending to update from support.dell.com instead of Nvidia, because of occasional compatibility issues (version 311.48 (31/7/2013) is the latest one on Dell's site).

 

I'm on a04 bios since day of release. I'm using the stock Dell drivers that are on their website. I personally tend to stick with stock drivers.

 

Solved the issue. And now my AW14 is running like charm! Thank you so much for your help! My video/photo workflow is much faster with this setup!

 

Great news.... Glad you got it figured out.

The 14 is going to be my travel light setup for photo shoots and editing. Ill use and carry my 18 if needing more power. I am coming back over from Mac's although Ill keep and still use my Mac's for some stuff. Even the fastest Retina MBP i have chokes when I edit my D800e files with lots of layers. The AW14 burns right on through them...

Adobe was surprised when i called asking to transfer my Mac license to Windows. They said the majority of the time it is the other way around. But I have been a loyal PS buyer/upgrader since 1993. But they have lost my business for future version of PS with this stupid new subscription model. I am already moving my workflow to other applications overtime to phase out PS.

 

Oh man, the D800E RAW files are huge. Do you shoot for a living? And yes Adobe CC is BLEAH.

 

I use to shoot AMA Superbike for a living until Nascar bought them out. I own a IT technology company now for 10 years. I shoot semi-pro lots of baby lately, couples, done a few weddings about 40 over the past 10 years...

 

Hi,

I am going to order alienware 14 soon, but I am confused about the ssd options as have never used the msata port before. please guys if u can help me out here.

1. Is the msata port sata 3 or sata 2
2. Is the 256gb msata boot drive offered by dell sata 3 or sata 2
3. is the primary hdd slot compatible with sata 3
4. if the msata is sata 3 compatible, is the speed similar to the normal sata 3 ports
5. also is it necessary to use msata as the boot drive

thank a lot for your help

 

1. sata 3
2. sata 3
3. yes
4. yes
5. Not necessary, but it's a good option

 

Sounds very varied and interesting. For myself, I've been shooting street photography as a hobby for about a year now. Now I'm in the process of building up a commercial/advertising and portrait portfolio for potential future clients. I'm guessing you've been shooting since before the digital age?

 

Thanks really helpful

 

I suggest you get your own mSATA ssd on your own. Plextor 256GB M5M is great!

 

Liteon(which provides the stock ssd) seems to be the oem of plextor ssd