Need help configuring my disk drives. *confused*

Hi, to start off, let me show you the specs of my m17x r4:

DELL ALIENWARE M17XR4 LAPTOP
Intel Core i7-3820QM Processor(2.7GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.7GHz,8MB Cache)
1TB 5400RPM Hard Drive + 1TB 5400RPM 2nd Hard Drive
32GB mSATA

And here are the screenshots to them on my windows:

Pic 1:


Pic 2:


As you can see on the first pic, I am having troubles managing the disk space, and according to the pic, the C: drive is the 32GB mSATA.

We can also see the drive E: and Q: as the two 1TB Hard Drive, but oddly, the drive Q: is " not accessible" everytime I double click it.

The problem is, everytime I download and install programs and applications, it goes to the C:. And now it's almost full, it's a pain in the transferring files to the E: drive. I edited some values on the regedit but still there are some scenarios where C: is being used, like syncing my phone to the computer. It's tiring to configure the path on every download and install of applications, and because i modified some regedit values, some programs like chrome and windows photo viewer are having trouble because of the path.

Does anybody else having problems with the 32GB mSATA bundled on your m17x's ? What's the use of this small mSATA drive?
I don't know about caching and stuff. Can somebody else help me configure this? Can I just make that mSATA for OS drive and use the other hard drives for the file storage? Help.
What are my options? Should I buy an SSD and replace it/my hard drives?

Also, is it because of RAID that's why my two Hard drives only show one ?

 

This thread should help :

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/671669-what-put-msata-drive.html

 

I think an msata drive that small should only be used for a cache drive, not as an os drive. I think you would be much happier with a large ssd that held your os and essential programs/games.

 

It looks like they either shipped the alienware in the wrong config, with the OS installed on the msata rather than the msata being the cache, or you have installed onto the relatively small msata drive.

Your most hassle free way would be to reinstall onto the RAID 0 HDDs and then use the msata as the cache drive.

 

Thanks for the link.

So are you suggesting that I'm gonna buy a larger SSD, make that my primary drive and use this mSATA drive for the caching thing? I know for sure that I can use the other HDD, but what about the other one?

 

If it were me I would buy a larger sata 3 ssd ( like the Samsung 830 or crucial m4 ). Use your msata to cache to your hdd and either put the other hdd in an external USB enclosure or in a optical bay hdd caddy.

 

If you don't mind sir, how large is 'enough'? like 120 GB? 256GB or 512GB? And if i understand your suggestion correctly, does it mean that my OS will reside on that larger sata3 SSD?

Also, let me throw this somewhat related question:
if I followed your suggestion, does it mean I'm gonna have to buy a new Windows? Reinstall everything. Because my m17xr4 comes with a bundled Windows OS, but not the real Windows CD.

 

How large an ssd is completely dependent on you and what you wanna store on it. I have two in mine. One for os, games, and programs and one for a steam folder. Both are 256gb. I put my 750gb spinner in my optical bay with a caddy and made my optical external with an enclosure.

I think regardless on anything you need an os reinstall. You can download an .iso free and legal from Microsoft and a program to make it into a bootable USB drive or burn to a disc. You'll use the key on bottom of laptop to install.

Another option is to keep the setup you have. Set up a raid 0 with your two hdd and use the msata as cache. This won't be as fast as a sata 3 ssd, but it wouldn't cost you anything extra and should still give great performance. I think this is how your machine was intended to be used. Somebody goofed when they put your os on the msata (IMHO).

 

Gotta agree, this is a crazy setup. The two 1Tb drives could be in a Raid showing up as a single 2tb drive (I believe, since I've not seen anyone raiding two mechanical drives as well a caching them), but the 32gb msata drive should not be visible at all! Did it come from Dell like this?

 

Nope, got it from a reseller/retailer in Malaysia.

Regarding the two 1TB, it is not showing as 2TB. As you can see on the first screenshot, only the first 1TB is accessible, I dont know if the 2nd 1TB is not working coz everytime I double click it, it says, it is not accessible.

Allow me to ask this somewhat unrelated question:
Regarding the warranty, is it like a paper found on the box? coz the box doesn't have any. How can I check the warranty? Darn it, all these issues makes me wanna think that my unit is a refurb or something.

 

A very messed up installation!!!

The warranty is tied to the service tag ID on a sticker on the underside. You can check it at support.dell.com and it will tell you what warranty you have and how long it has to run (sorry no link so you'll need to hunt it down.). You can also just call dell support, they will want the service tag first thing and any problems with that will show up.

EDIT: The reseller should have registered the dell warranty to you but they could just hold on to it and provide you with direct support. They messed this installation up by the look of it so dell won't want to help

HTH

NB Service tag is confidential information so never post it!

 

EDIT2: I've been thinking about this and I don't think that two raided HDD then cached is a valid configuration. You'd be trying to use raid on raid since the caching is a hidden raid drive. The reseller must have had some problems with your setup that resulted in that config. What you should see is two 1Tb drives with the boot one speeded up on the msata cache.

 

^this = pain

I guess this is what I get from not buying directly from Dell.

So I guess I have no choice but to restructure/reinstall/reconfigure my drives.

this is frustrating considering that this is my first laptop and first alienware.

 

'Fraid so but in some countries you have no choice if dell do not sell the model you want.

The 'missing' drive might be simple. They forgot to create a partition on it? Go to Disk Manager and see what it says.

Assuming they installed the IRST software (it will be a task bar item) you can also look at that to see what is going on.

Going forward you'll want the raid bios active (a splash screen prior to the bios splash) and NO raid configured drives. At that point you can reinstall window to the primary 1 Tb HD and just use IRST to turn on the msata cache when you have finished.

 

Opened the disk management, says that the other 1TB HDD is unallocated.

Also, there is no IRST installed.

Before I follow your advice on going forward, is there a way I can get a Windows 7? I dont have the disc because it's pre-installed on my laptop, I read somewhere that you can download an .iso and use the key at the back of your laptop to install.
but the problem is, I can't find any key, the only thing I can see at the back of my laptop is the express code and service tag.

 

Just allocate the space then (right click on it) and it will appear as a usable drive. Do not use 'extend' if the option is available.

Next question: Do you see a RAID configuration screen briefly show up with a key combination to press if you want to configure? It's before the bios flash screen and will be the first thing you see.

You can get ISO images for windows from the microsoft site. They do not charge for this as you need the key. This should be under the battery. If that is missing then you will have to 'back' it to the supplier.

Dell always supply two DVD's. Windows and drivers. You want the Dell AW one since it is customised for the machine. If you use a vanilla copy you'll have a few more issues with drivers and look and feel - but you may be already looking at a vanilla copy installed??

Edit, I don't think the extra drive you cannot access is the other HD. It's probably an attempt to create a restore partition hence you are denied access so it may still show up after you get a new drive letter.

 

*No sir, I can't see any RAID configuration screen on bootup, just the normal screen with the "press F2 Setup and F12 Configuration", then after that the Loading screen with an alien head on the center of the screen then after that the Login Screen.But I saw something about RAID when I pressed the F12.

*Searched the whole box, there are no dvd's of any kind.

*Double checked the back of the laptop didn't see anything. the only thing I saw is this imgur: the simple image sharer.

What's the most convenient way for me to fix this configuration issue? I'm willing to spend, I just don't want my alienware to be shipped in Malaysia back again, then wait for few weeks.


EDIT: There's hope for me!
I opened the Control Panel > System and Security > System
then at the bottom of the opened window is the Product Id of windows!

Now my only problem are the Drivers.

Also, here's my plan.

1. Buy a Flash Drive for Windows OS ( Pen/Boot drive )
2. Buy a 256 GB SSD for the OS and Primary Drive and install on the laptop
3. Reinstall windows and drivers and other stuff
4. Use the mSATA as the cache for the HDD ? ( will research on this one )
5. Scrap the other 1TB ?!?! I dont wanna lose my optical drive


EDIT Part 2!

Windows Product ID is not Product Key

 

If the windows genuine sticker is not under the battery then you really have got non-standard machine. You will have to go back to the supplier for a key.

Since raid is not enabled in the bios (F2) then windows is installed in default mode and if you change it now windows will probably blue screen. If you leave it, when you install windows you will not then be able to enable caching or RAID without tracking down drivers and registry modifications.

It is all a lot of work so maybe investigate a local builder shop to do it. Make sure they know about raid and caching with IRST and you should be able to get them to comply reinstall it at a reasonable price.

 

I emailed the shop where I bought my laptop, then asked for the Windows CD and Drivers CD,
maybe I will not do the RAID stuff.
maybe I'll just buy a 256GB SSD install OS on it and make it my primary DRIVE, then make the 1TB HDD as my secondary.

 

That's a simpler option but a shame to waste the msata drive speeding up HD access. But it will leave it available as another standalone drive. You will also be loosing a 1Tb drive unless you go for a large msata drive, and it's a complete strip down to get to the port, the HD bays are under the base with only two screws to access them

Did you remove the battery and check for the windows sticker there?

 

WOAH!!! It's there!!

Sorry for my ignorance about the laptop.

So on weekend, I will download the Windows iso and drivers on a pen drive, also, is alienware's windows a special one? Or any windows from the microsoft website will do?

Thanks for helping me!!

 

Result! and no problem

The MS windows will be enough to get the machine running as long as you do not enable raid - some people have had to put the correct drivers on a USB and add them in at the start of the windows install. You can get all the other drivers you need from support.dell.com, just use the device manager to identify which ones you need.

The AW version is basically the same as far as I can see except it uses customised screens and seems to recognise a RAID configured machine. If you get a genuine AW one from the supplier then you could just turn on the raid as the last thing you do before clean installing windows. I don't recommend it if you use the MS ISO though, as what happens if the wrong disk driver is loaded is the windows install will hang around 50% through OR it will all go through and BSOD on first startup.

 

On drivers:
is it the one on dell support website where you enter your service tag then the website will list all the drivers for your alienware?

On configuration:
Okay, since I am a beginner, I think I will just copy your configuration.

According to your specs,
the first thing I need to do is to buy a 256GB SSD.
I'm guessing you use the mSATA as cache to your HD.

Is your configuration easy to do?

 

For the drivers, yes that is the way to get them all. IRST will install as part of the intel drivers but will show disabled if RAID is not enabled in the BIOS.

For config, On your machine you would set the msata as a cache on the mechanical drive after installing windows in RAID mode. It's very simple. See this if you're interested in the whole caching thing - a generic document so keep that in mind : Chipset Software — Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide

I do not have the msata drive as this machine was a dell replacement for my R3 and I'm not ripping it apart just to speed up my data drive

Good luck and as for advice on which drive, you will need someone else to assist, or search the forums, as mine is the dell installed one (samsung PM 830) and there may be better out there...

 

Can you please elaborate more on this.
Since I'm planning to do a pen-drive boot, does it mean that I do not need to buy another usb drive for the Drivers? I can also put the drivers on the usb-drive which I am going to use as pen-drive boot?

 

Here's a link with all the drivers for the M17x R4 with the correct installation order.

Alienware M17x R4: Initial Drivers Installation

Micky's guide to enable the mSATA as a caching device is good and simple, if you have any trouble setting that up just let us know

 

The USB drive method creates a boot USB drive and you'll need to hunt down the Microsoft app for creating this from the .iso image.

During the windows install, right at the start when it displays the drives there is a key press option to load 3rd party disk drivers. You would point it at the USB assuming you copied them there after creating the boot USB - but the USB boot creation software may fix it to be read-only in which case just get a cheap second USB thumb drive, don't mess with it.

Unfortunately I don't know exactly what files you would need, maybe someone else that has done this can help?

 

Check this out

Alienware Systems: Windows 7 cannot finish the installation

Download links are in the guide

 

+ rep! Perfect

 

Thanks for the link sir. will definitely read that.

Sorry, but I have to bother you a little bit more.

If I don't wanna break the bank now on buying a new SSD and want to retain my current HDDs for financial reasons, ( upgrade next year )
what's the best way to move forward on clean installing windows and configuring my laptop?
You said earlier it's not valid to setup RAID on my two HDDs then use mSATA as cache.
Also, just for us to know, my 1 TB HD is 5400 RPM, is that a shiiitty HD ?

 

No prob. With your current hardware you will be able to have two 1Tb drives with the boot one set up with the msata ssd as a cache. Without that your machine will be considerably slower to start up and load files.

1. Turn on the RAID controller in the BIOS.
2. Boot from CD/USB and install windows. Have the disk drivers from Luis' post to hand. Do not select upgrade if it detects the existing installation and make sure you do not use the SSD - as your supplier did. Delete and recreate any partitions so that there is only one single on each drive with the whole space allocated.
3. Install all the drivers using Luis' link above and the dell site.
4. Fire up IRST and it should detect that your HD can be accelerated using a SSD. Follow the guide I posted for that bit.

Voila.

I can't be certain it is not a valid config to cache a raid array but from my understanding of how it works I can't see it being possible. I'm guessing, but this is what your supplier tried, failed, and ended up installing windows to the small SSD (and not creating a partition on the second drive.)

The 5400 drives are slow by today's standard but good enough for data, and your boot drive will have the advantage of the cache ssd so should be almost as fast as a standalone SSD

Good luck and we're here if it goes awry.

 

)No prob. With your current hardware you will be able to have two 1Tb drives with the boot one set up with the msata ssd as a cache. Without that your machine will be considerably slower to start up and load files.

1. Turn on the RAID controller in the BIOS.
2. Boot from CD/USB and install windows. Do not select upgrade if it detects the existing installation and make sure you do not use the SSD - as your supplier did.
3. Install all the drivers using Luis' link above and the dell site.
4. Fire up IRST and it should detect that your HD can be accelerated using a SSD. Folow the guide I posted for that bit.

I can't be certain it is not a valid config to cache a raid array but from my understanding of how it works I can't see it being possible. I'm guessing, but this is what your supplier tried, failed, and ended up installing windows to the small SSD (and not creating a partition on the second drive as it was originally part of a 2tb array not working anymore.)

The 5400 is slow by today's standards but good enough for data.

Let us know what the supplier has to say

 

So i just broke the bank and and bought a plextor m5 256gb and two flash drives.
Sorry for the change of plan. Was so tempted to get an SSD.

So my plan is to basically use the plextor as OS and main drive. Then cache the msata for the hdd.

I will download now the iso and the drivers specified by above link.

After that i will install the ssd on the laptop, then what's the next steps?

Sorry for the hassle.

 

lol, that's cool, you get the best of both worlds with that config

Once you plug in the SSD the next step is to go into the bios and turn on RAID. Then when the machine restarts you will see a raid configuration screen flash up. If you see any raid configured drives you will need to press the key combination on screen to enter it and turn off any raid config. When you exit this you are now at the point of booting from the USB and installing win - and I advise testing the boot usb before anything else .

Eit: Forgot, when you go into the bios to setup the raid, change the boot order to the new ssd first...

 

What about the mSATA? I won't mind it throughout this process? you said on the previous pages that if i turn on the RAID, i will get BSOD.

Also, I checked this link, is this the correct link on the windows 7 iso?

Oh man, this will be an all-nighter ( South-East Asia time )

 

Yup, ignore the msata drive. You will set it up when you have finished installing windows. It will probably BSOD once you set the bios to raid but this is the last thing you will do before reinstalling it, and will not be attempting to start then original windows any more. Use the link Luis posted about windows hanging to install the correct disk drivers before window starts the main install.

That .iso link looks good, just remember you will need to find the windows 7 USB setup program, it is from microsoft and I found it easy last time I needed it . This makes sure you have a bootable installation USB

 

About the link you provided on the drivers, should I just download it from the link you provided or do I have to go to the dell support site where you put your service tag then the site will list down the drivers needed for my laptop? -- which is stated on items 3 & 4 of How to install drivers in an Alienware M17x R4 computer

will I also download the BIOS from the list?

 

It tells you to go to the support page and enter your service tag because in case you don't know your computer's optional components (such as video card and wireless card), entering your service tag will only show the downloads for your tag. If you know which video card and wireless card you ordered you can use the links provided.

 

Thank you sir!


@MickyD1234
Found this guide on creating a bootable win7 on USB: the guide.
Should be fine right?

Good thing I brought my laptop in the office.lol. The bad thing is my internet connection is a bit slow. So it might took me the whole day to finish this.
anyway, thanks for guiding me.

 

Just a few notes with the install, you have the 120hz display so ignore the intel video driver, it will fail. Use the Dell 675m driver first before considering a later one. And finally, install AWRespawn as the point you are happy with everything else but before any programs. It will detect you have no recovery partition and create your very own 'factory recovery' snapshot

http://alwdownload.alienrespawn.com/AlienRespawn_Basic.exe

Edit: Yes that is the correct tool - or the one I used anyway. And no problem with the help, you're doing all the research before a big task not just jumping in and asking for help when it goes bad

 

where should I put the SSD? on the middle of the laptop? or the side bay?

 

The middle one I believe but they are labelled (lowest is the one) and you'll set the boot order for whichever bay you use. (I can't remember if they are labelled 0 and 1, or 1 and 2

If you end up keeping the HD that is currently unavailable you will probably need to format it in the windows install but it can be done later (in disk manager)

 

Whichever you prefer, both ports should behave the same.

 

True, as long as you set the boot order there is no difference

 

SSD Installed! Downloading Drivers....

On drivers: ( reference link )
Regarding the wireless driver, I downloaded the centrino n2230 because that is my specs, but do i still have to download the Wifi link 6250 and Wimax link 6250 drivers?


Pressed F2 on the bootup, I am now on the BIOS,
Went to Advanced tab then navigated down to SATA Operation, which has 3 choices, ATA, AHCI and RAID.

is this it?

 

Shouldn't need to but I have a killer card so it's different. The windows install should figure it out and ask for drivers if it can't find one.

 

Here's what I would use to find my drivers...

 

edited the post above. please see the message

 

That's the one -

 

enabled the RAID, reboot, then this is what I saw. imgur: the simple image sharer