M17x - Hard Drive Caddy ( secondary Drive)

Yea, got mine just today (well, fedex has it so I will pick it up on my way home).
I was on hold for 2+ hours (no joke, took 2.25 hours to talk with someone) but they did not charge me and took just under a week to get here.

D.

 

I suddenly found that Dell put second HD mouting kit inside my laptop. Just cancelled my order.

 

Could you please provide the link to the caddy kit?

i cant find it on that website.

 

See my post here... http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5544459&postcount=293

You'll have to call them.

 

Mine came with extra HDD caddy + 4 screws + interposer....in Europe. Ordered with 1 HDD....So free stuff!

 

Flipped my laptop over, opened the 2d drive cover, and was pissed to see no interposer and screws. Sadly (for me) while I was on the phone complaining to an Alienware rep, I flipped the 2d driver cover over and under the foam was the interposer and the screws. Damn I am a retard!

 

I just got thru ordering mine.. went off without a hitch really. Time on the phone was ~23 minutes from dialing to saying thank you and hanging up. Have the full kit (tray interposer and screws) in the mail for FREE with very little hassle..

Called in told him i had an m17x and that when i ordered my laptop i was supposed to get the second drive kit included and i dont have it. Made a big deal about it supposed to be included in my order when i bought it and he said no problem we'll get you one asap! to easy!

 

Lol, got mine today (free), 2 days after the request, with 1 screw....screw them all...

 

turns out they messed up lol.. got over night ship;ping on mine, but it only came with the tray and one screw.. missing the interposer and 3 screws.. so i called tech support as soon as i got the package and they are sending a whole new kit with "everything this time" we'll see

 

thanks a lot for the info batboy... however it seems even this doesn't help me out, as they will not ship to Puerto Rico or offer any sort of alternative so it seems im stuck with an empty hd slot.

 

I heard that the M17X ships with the extra caddy now. Any idea if this is true? I'm kinda hoping it is as I didn't order one when I ordered my laptop, but my second HD and Laptop are both in the mail. Lets hope!

 

Yeah, it ships with the caddy already installed now.

 

Excellent!

 

Received my M17x on the 9th. It had the 2nd caddy complete. Interposer and 4 screws tucked in the the foam.

 

I haven't even pulled mine open to see if I have one. Being on the safe side though, I emailed tech support (Dell) earlier this week about the hardware and they shipped everything out yesterday. Soooo...I just might have a spare on hand if I'm lucky.

 

Whitelight, did they send it free? If so wanna PM me the info who you emailed? Thanks

 

I would also like to know the details of your message and the email address you sent it too.

 

I originally tried to chat with a rep but recieved the message that no support was available for Alienware. The next option I had was to email someone. So I sent an email to Hardware support advising that my laptop was sent to me with hardware missing. I made it a point to note that each time I tried to contact someone I was given the run around. It's Dell...no no contact Alienware. I explained that I had the M17X SOLD BY DELL & that after spending $3000 on a machine that complete was ridiculous. I explained that if this was going to be an issue then I needed to know the return policy so I could get my money back and purchase a Sager. 2 days later I received a personal phone call telling me that my parts had shipped. Just checked FedEx and it arrived today. I'll post back what the shipped to me. BTW...It cost me nothing....This is the link that I used to send the email. http://support.dell.com/support/top...t/chat/en/hardware_chat?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

 

Thanks, I'd like to know what they shipped to you and what you were missing just so I can double check to see that I got everything I should have. Thanks man

 

I received evertything as I requested from Dell. Cage, screws, & connector.
No charge of course.

 

From the better really late (maybe not) than never section of the beyond tardy department:

I can confirm that the caddy, interposer, and 4 screws were included in my single HDD M17x config. I even got some nice crunchy foam to munch on as a snack.

Now, bring me a 2nd HDD, one that looks nice and is not too expensive, so as to make a two-level effect, with a little path running down the middle. Then cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with...a herring!

 

Sweet, I've been waiting to hear that. Means I can get my second HDD in ASAP when they all get here.

 

Yes I just recieved it and I can confirm it does come with second hard drive cady and hardware

as a side note it will not boot if i shut it down with 640 gig wd
on a restart there is no problem just from shutdown

 

I have e-mailed dell and alienware on the fact that my m17x does not have a secondary caddy etc. I will keep you guys updated but im expecting surely to be sent it for free.

 

Is there a place to buy the caddy if they wont provide me with one?

edit - still no answer from Dell/Alienware...

 

I just acquired an M17X and would like to install a second SATA hard drive. I have the caddy, but would like to know what HDs are compatible. The Dell site only shows a couple of options. Do I have more options than what the Dell site shows?

 

I am assuming that any laptop harddrive would work fine along with most SSDs

I just got off the phone with Alienware support and I will be receiving the secondary HDD mounting cage in the mail soon!

 

Any 2.5" HDD will work. Check your M17X 2nd HDD bay. They mounting stuff might already be in there. Recently they have been shipping with this equiptment mounted in place and the interposer and screws in a piece of foam. But any 2.5" drive will work fine. I suggest checking newegg.com They have good prices and a wide selection of 2.5" laptop HDD's

 

Hey guys.. i bought my m17x with RAID 0 and it says here that i got SATA hard drive and 2nd SATA hard drive? 250 gb each... And i was curious about something... Does this means that if i wanted to install new hard drive i have to take the SATA hard drive away? And i only see 500 GB on my local disk... I though it should be 2 local disk with 250gb?

 

They are running in RAID 0 which makes it so you have the total size of the combined HDDs for a total of 500GB. The computer writes your information faster by splitting it on two differant drives. The downside is that if one disc dies, you lose ALL your information, the upside is it makes your computer run a little bit faster since it has two HDD's working at the same time to find and write info. The other type of RAID (RAID 1 i believe) slows the computer down because it writes the same thing to both discs. So if one crashes, the other disc is a back up. But it also means with two 250GB HDD in your M17X, you only have a 250GB harddrive. I prefer to use one disc as a data storage for all my files, thus the 640GB in my sig, and a faster drive (7200 RPM) as my OS and programs disc, to speed loading times slightly. Hopes this helps

 

Thank you for your help.. Does this mean u bought a new hard drive after you bought your M17x? Yes, I'am a little concern about "The downside is that if one disc dies, you lose ALL your information"

 

Yea, i purchased the M17X with only the 500GB 7200 RPM drive, and it came with the 2nd HDD Caddy and interposer as well as the screws in the 2nd HDD bay. I then bought the 640 from newegg. But then again I always keep a back up of my HDD because again if my data drive fails, I stand to lose a lot. I also use my data drive to keep any setup files for programs that I download, drivers ect so that I have them if i need to reinstall my main drive

 

Ok.. Thank you for your help.. Might want to take a look on the hard drive next time when the time's right =p

 

You can look in the Notebook marketplace here. There are lots of members that are selling items or accesories for laptop. I got 6gb Memory and 500GB hard drive for my m17x from the marketplace. Price is reasonable, plus the members are willingly taking offers too.

 

Ok... sorry to go off topic ... Rengsey can u post in "How to Overclock ( noob edition )"
about how do u make your P8600 to 3.19GHz? i'am having problem when my P8700 goes to 2.93Ghz

 

So I called Dell Warranty Parts Direct asking for the Dell Alienware M17x caddy.

I gave the rep the part id TRDD2 and supposedly he double checked what I was buying was the correct part. So I waited for a few weeks and finally I get a package from them containing this... thing...

Wonderful, can't wait to spend all afternoon trying to return whatever this is and trying to get the caddy again.

 

When did you get your M17X? Have you opened it up yet? Recently they have been shipping with the additional caddy/interposer/screws in them. Mine came this way. HAd the parts in the 2nd HDD bay

 

Just received my 2nd replacement of M17x today and I CONFIRM that everything is already installed in the laptop.

 

I just called to get my seccond HDD caddy & interposer,

The call was allot easier and painless than I thaught, here's what happened:

1. I called 1-(877) 287-6727 (AW's NA number)
2. Went though the automated responses to get to tech support (4 then 3)
3. waited on hold (for about 20min) the worst part (I didn't like the music either)
4. I told the guy that I have a "DELL Alienware M17x" and that I need a second hard drive caddy (he knew EXACTLY what I was talking about)
5. I gave him my Service tag, and he made up the order it was all done in 7 mins, They already had all the shipping info etc. on file from when I ordered my m17x

The only part I didn't like (besides the music) is he kept calling me ma'am, oh well.

I'll post again when I receive it to let you know if I got the right part etc.

P.S. Thanks for all the help from everyone here

*UPDATE*
I just received the part (I'm surprised by the speed of shipping, literally next day!!!) So I got, the interposer, caddy, and 1 screw, just like everyone else, oh well I have lots of screws, I'mjust happy I can finally put my second drive in

 

For the newer R2 systems, they are no longer (as of March 1, 2010 at least) including the second HDD caddy/interposer kit with new systems unless they are preconfigured for dual drives.

If you need to install a second drive (probably the case if you are reading this far into this thread), you will need to contact Alienware support to request that they ship you the necessary parts.

1-800-ALIENWARE

Option 4 (Tech Support), then Option 3 (Other)

Give the support rep your service tag and explain that you need the secondary HDD caddy/interposer kit. They will know what you are talking about and should send it to you without any hassle.

 

If anybody is still having problems with booting after adding a second hard drive dell has a storage driver removal tool that worked for me

its for windows 7 only and 64 bit only too i believe
R260171 is the number
its listed under system utilities under windows 7 64 bit
good luck

 

Wow, I am blown away...

I bought an m17x-r2 and it didn't come with the 2nd caddy/interposer. I called them up and they want $90 for the kit!!!

I can't believe I spent this much on a laptop and can't get the required parts to use it to its full potential.

 

I called Alienware and they sent me the caddy/interposer/ (one screw, lol) for free, following jeff's instructions! I called them on tuesday and I got it wednesday

 

Same here I got it the next day for free but with only one screw good think that I've saved the screws from the R1 before I send it back

 

Welp, looks like 3rd time was the charm. The 3rd rep I got made the order for free without even thinking twice.

 

Yep, it's always recommended to call back if you don't get the results you want. Someone else will be willing to help you. I've been lucky enough to get someone willing the first times I call.

 

Great! The first person I called made the order no problem but when I was ordering my m17x, I had to make multiple calls to get the best deal!

 

I have 1 spare HDD bay + screws + interposer if someone needs it. Free of charge. New.
I'm in Europe so you'll have to pay for postal & stuff.

pm me if you want it.

 

does the r1 include a tray for the second HDD?

 

If you buy one with a single HDD, the chances are slim, but give em a call and they should send you one free of charge.