Adding a SSD to a M17x

I have a new Alienware M17X coming from Dell in the next week or two. I just opted for the standard 500GB 7200RPM SATA.

I want to just buy a SSD and install it myself.

The issue is: I want the OS on the new SSD drive. How big of a deal will it be to reinstall Win 8 under that drive? Can I do it with the Alienware Recovery software?

Any other help will be great... Should I install the SSD in slot 1 after I have my recovery disks, moving the HDD to slot 2?

Thanks in advance!

 

Make alienware respawn DVD and then exchange hdd with sdd, run respawn DVD and its all done. Super easy.

You can even install sdd in hdd bay2 and change boot order and use respawn disk. This way no need to remove hdd. Just boot into sdd after windows install and format the hdd.

 

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply!

 

You'll want to move the HDD and SSD. The SSD should be in the middle slot (normally labeled slot 1) it's the slot by the videocard in the center of the laptop doesn't matter what it's labeled. That slot is apparently the only slot capable of SATA III speeds which you'll want for best performance out of your SSD

The slot near the edge (normally labeled slot 0) is not capable of SATA III speeds despite saying it is so you will want to use it for your conventional HDD not the SSD.

 

Great tip, thanks. Will definitely.

 

FYI this was a problem with the R3. The R4 has full SATA 3 drive bays. No need to move them around, just change the boot order in the bios so it looks at the new SSD first

 

Thanks, I am getting an R4, forgot to mention it.

 

I am in a similar position to the OP.

I have read though that respawning to a smaller drive can cause issues and also, for performance reasons, a clean OS install is better.

Is this correct ?

 

It's totally arguable. As long as your current space is not close to the size of the new drive this should not be an issue. Something like partition magic or similar may be better than respawn.

As for performance, there is a suggestion that during a clean install windows optimises for an SSD. Have no idea how true that is but many have just used images transferred without issue .

 

If you run into any trouble with that process here's how you do it the long way around.

How to install Windows 8

After installing Windows 8 you want to download the drivers for the M17x R4

You can also re-create your emergency back-up partition (AlienRespawn) after the drivers have been succesfully installed.

 

These boards are great, thanks for the awesome info everyone.

Hmm I realize I signed up in 2010, that means I got 3 years out of my Asus G73, told my wife it was 4... honest mistake I swear.

 

Handy to know, I didn't see him mention whether it was an R3 or R4 just that it was new and coming in 2 weeks which you can still order both revisions new... possibly not from dell though. Good to know they got that sorted out though since the R3 was apparently improperly advertised

 

Yeah, it was either that or a class action for the design being faulty. Dell tried to fix originally then removed it altogether from the BIOS. I had na R3 before dell pulled all the docs and downgraded it to sata 2. One guy here did manage to get a replacement on the back of 'misrepresentation'.

 

Another question - I just want to use my 500GB HDD as a data disk (E . I am familiar with the disk management tools, but will I have to do anything with the Bios to accomplish this?

 

Shouldn't do. Just format it when you are ready (and set the drive letter if needed in DM) and you'll be good to go.

 

I am still contemplating the best way to get an SSD setup as the boot drive once my M17x R4 arrives.

It seems there are 3 options:

1) Use Alien Respawn
2) Clean install onto SSD from Windows installer
3) Use something like Acronis True Image to clone the HD to SSD

I quite like the ease of the Acronis approach, particularly if you do it before switching the laptop in. That is, install the SSD, boot from Acronis DVD and clone the HD to SSD. A few people seem to have done that with good results ie clean install of OS before setting up on first switch on.

What do members/owners here recommend or are they all pretty much the same with no real advantages or disadvantages, other than time taken ?

 

Clean install is usually the best, acronis cloning is not recommended for a HDD to SSD as they can have alignment issues/ performance issues but people have done it without any noticeable problems.

I would make a alienrespawn when you receive the laptop (DVDs or USB), just incase you need to reset it to factory settings.

Then just clean install, its unlikely you have any files on it when you install as well. For windows 8, only takes 30 mins to clean install onto a SSD. You will then need to install the drivers, make sure you download the wifi driver as im not 100% sure if windows 8 has its own compatible when you first install.

Oh to make sure you don't install accidentally to the HDD, just take it out, thats what I did. Also check your BIOS settings before you install onto a new HDD, you need to make a choice between legacy/UEFI and AHCI/RAID. Usually based on which windows you prefer windows 8 or windows 7.

 

For me I have used the imaging option many times on past laptops without a single issue. I still prefer to start a new drive with a clean install, but that is usually that my windows is getting 'tired' and needs a tear down anyway

With a new machine I think I would go for the imaging though. Fast and simple, and if it does not work then only the time to find that out is wasted.

All in all, all have ups/downs and time is the big differential (IMO)

 

Thanks guys for some quick feedback.

Whichever route I go down, I will definitely create a backup/respawn image on USB for safekeeping.

The machine will be coming with Windows 7 Home so I am not sure what that means for bios selection.

I am aware you have to go into the bios in order to set the primary/boot up drive but nout sure whar the legacy/UEFI and AHCI/RAID options do. I won't be installing Raid. I want to have the new SSD as the OS/Programs store and the pre-installed 500Gb hard drive for data storage.

I am assuming that the OS image AW install is the same, irrespective of whether they are placing it on an HD or SSD ?

A clone should therefore work without any subsequent performance issues unless the Acronis cloning is actually cloning drive sectors in which case I would have thought people would have experienced issues with this approach.

To be hinest, if I can avoid it, I don't really want to install from a Windows disk on the SSD as subsequently installing all the correct drivers and AW software is a PITA and quite time consuming, having done it before on other PCs.

 

The bios option for UEFI is for win 8 only so you can leave that alone. Do not change and bios setting like RAID/UEFI if you go for an image or respawn. RAID drivers are loaded by default in the M17x and it will probably bomb if you make any hardware changes.

From what I know the AW respawn does not do all the clever stuff like resize partitions but that was some time ago.

They (imaging S/W) are using sector copy but the SSD just looks like a very fast HD to them.

Go for the clone, just don't make any BIOS changes apart from the boot order and you should be good. If not then the manual install starts...

Good Luck.

 

Before you buy an SSD drive, I recomend you the Crucial M4.
It's a bit old, but a very reliable drive.

A lot of members have and M4 in their Alienware.
I think 120 or 256 Gb are enought (you can use the other HDD to store docs, photos, etc. and use the SSD only for OS and programs).

 

I was actually thinking of going for the Samsung 840 Pro.

There are some good deals here in the Uk along with a cashback promotion from Samsung

 

That's what I put in mine. I started a thread in this forum on the steps I took to install it into a system in which I already had a 750 GB HDD. I went ahead and just did a reinstall of Windows 7 on the SSD just to make sure everything was optimized for the SSD - it was actually pretty quick and fairly simple to do.

 

I am definitely looking at cloning my Hard Drive to the SSD.

I had a few questions:

1) Which cloning software would people recommend that will optimise (as best it can) for the SSD ?
Which is better, free programs like Clonezilla and EASEUS or paid for like Acronis ?

Anyone recommend software they have used ?

2) When to clone ?
Is it best to do it before starting the m17x for the first time (ie boot into the cloning software and clone to SSD before using Windows for first time) or should I boot up into the installed HD, go through the first time windows setup/use, make sure everything is working and then clone ?

Thanks

 

Hi,

I have used acronis in the past (on a different machine) without issue. There are freeware programs (partition magic comes to mind) but I simply prefer to use a paid-for app when I'm messing with low level stuff like this - at least you have a chance of support if there are problems.

When? I'd say run win for the first time, set it all up and let widows do it's thing updating. Update any drivers to the latest versions, test, then clone.

 

Thanks. You raise an interesting question, do newly built AWs come with the latest drivers or do they use a build image that can be weeks/months behind the latest drivers ?

 

From what I've seen it depends on how long the model has been around. Both my M17x's had later a bios than was available on the web site, but the video drivers (which dell like to keep to a minimum) are often around the time the model was released. Win 8 is going to be the later but dell are still (appear to be) working out the fine-tuning on that build - a few cache drive issues I've seen on new machines

 

I have ordered with Win 7 Home so hopefully will avoid any Win 8 issues

 

Good choice - that would be my preference right now. Just remember to not mess with any bios settings like fast boot or UEFI and you'll be fine.

 

I belive that a clean install using the latest drivers is the best option to get more performance and avoid issue.


Enviado desde mi GT-I9000 usando Tapatalk 2

 

Usually the case I find but for these machines I stick to the dell recommendation, start with the latest ones THEY publish before going elsewhere to get later ones. Mainly important for the video drivers .

 

Thanks for everyone's help again. I have my awesome new M17x R4, threw the SSD in and did a new install of windows 8. Everything is good and happy.

My next question is how do I clear the partitions on my original 500GB HDD so I can use it as a data drive?

 

Disk Manager, right click on the partitions for options. You can assign the drive letter here as well.

 

Or the long way is to insert the Windows DVD and follow the steps until you get to the partition selection screen where you can delete and create new partitions.

 

I have now started up my new M17x R4 for the first time and gone through the Windows first use setup, downloaded and installed the latest windows updates and tested that everything seems to be working.

The next step is to clone the HD to a new Samsung 840 SSD. I plan on using something like Macrium Reflect Free.

Having a read a fair few threads on cloning and using an SSD, a couple of suggested checks are that the original disk is listed as Basic and that disks are configured as AHCI.

I have checked my Alienware and the original HD is configured as Basic but there do not appear any IDE or AHCI config. The disk appears to be configured as a SCSI.

Is this normal for a new Alienware and will this give me any problems when cloning to SSD ?

Have others cloned successfully with this original config ?

Thanks

 

Whatever the current config do not change any bios settings if you are cloning. Windows is using the correct drivers and you don't want any HW changes (other than the new drive) for the best chance of a clone working.

If dell default then it's probably in RAID mode without any RAID array configured. Do you see a disk config screen before the alienhead?)

Good Luck.

 

Thanks Micky.

Yes, I think AW may have configured it in SCSI / RAID mode with RST enabled.

I am not planning on changing any bios settings but I wanted to check that others who have successfully cloned their AW OS to SSD also started with this config.

 

Cool, I just saw 'disaster' by changing the disk access mode with a clone.

You do retain the option in the future to add an mSATA SSD and speeding up the old HD if you feel like it. It would require a reinstall if you installed windows in AHCI

 

So will the SSD work fine when I install if the M17x is setup in this mode ?

 

Yes. No special needs for an SSD. If you change it it will almost certainly BSOD when windows loads (from a clone)

 

Thanks mate