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    Kingston HyperX SSD install fail

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by talerran, Sep 12, 2011.

  1. talerran

    talerran Newbie

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    We got a 256 GB Kingston HyperX SSD drive and tried to install it in my Alienware 17x. The thing we liked about the HyperX was that the install process was simply use the clone software and then replace the laptop hard drive. It worked on an HP laptop, a Toshiba laptop and another Dell. When we finished the install on the 17x we kept getting an "unable to recognize disk" error. Trying "recovery" or any other option did nothing.

    Anyone have any ideas what we can do to install this thing?

    Thanks!
     
    talerran, Sep 12, 2011
    #1
  2. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    when you plugged the ssd in the first time, was it recognized in the bios? Can you see it in windows if you boot from the other harddrive?
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 12, 2011
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  3. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Be sure your SATA settings are the same. If you clone from a Raid setting (default on the R3) and then clone/copy to an AHCI setting (recommended for non-Raid SSD's), or vice versa, you will get that error. Further, clean Windows installs work best on SSD's, at least for initial installations, and are worth the extra time and trouble.
     
    The Revelator, Sep 12, 2011
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  4. talerran

    talerran Newbie

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    The clone software saw the ssd drive when we plugged it into the USB 2.0 port (interesting side note - it did not recognize it when we plugged it into a USB 3.0 port!).

    Once we installed it - the 17x did not see it.
     
    talerran, Sep 12, 2011
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  5. idlehand

    idlehand Notebook Consultant

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    I have the 120GB version of the drive and had to change the Bios setting from Raid to AHCI to get things to work properly. After I made that change I did a clean install of Windows. Just do a clean install you will thank us later. Now I had some performance issues with the drive being in port 0 so I moved it to port 1 and it worked fine.

    Good luck
     
    idlehand, Sep 12, 2011
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  6. talerran

    talerran Newbie

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    I hate to do any kind of install of Windows (shudder) but if that is how you got it to work I guess that is what it will take.

    Thanks!
     
    talerran, Sep 12, 2011
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  7. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    The one saving grace is that Alienware comes with the Windows and driver/resource DVD's so at least you don't have to go hunting for stuff
     
    SlickDude80, Sep 12, 2011
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