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    About to join the M11x club, SSD question

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by NedKelly, Jun 8, 2011.

  1. NedKelly

    NedKelly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi I should receive my R3 tomorrow. I have an OCZ Vertex 120GB waiting to fit into it.

    Anyone got any tips on the best method? Way I see it is one of these....

    1) Pull the HDD out and replace with SSD installing Dell shipped Win7 + drivers

    2) Use the Dell backup software and restore onto the SSD

    3) Use Windows 7 OS backup and resore onto SSD

    I was thinking of going with #2 anyone got any better suggestions or ideas?

    Tempted to try #1 as I've read a fresh install of Win7 on an SSD is the best way to optimise.

    TIA
     
    NedKelly, Jun 8, 2011
    #1
  2. jai554

    jai554 Notebook Consultant

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    move all original alienware software and windows from the HDD to SSD using Dell backup software....
    then, use your HDD as an external HDD :D
     
    jai554, Jun 8, 2011
    #2
  3. xtravbx

    xtravbx Notebook Evangelist

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    I would not do the above method, personally. But that's me! No offense to other suggestions.

    I would take out the original, pop in the SSD. Do a fresh windows installation, and get the latest drivers from dell.com
     
    xtravbx, Jun 8, 2011
    #3
  4. jrowinski

    jrowinski Notebook Consultant

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    downloading all the drivers that fall under the SN of the computer? Or individually finding the drivers through dell?
     
    jrowinski, Jun 8, 2011
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  5. NedKelly

    NedKelly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Cool that's 2 for a fresh install

    I hope I get all the disks needed but will do the downloads also as the drivers will/might be more up to date.

    Cheers guys (n gals?)
     
    NedKelly, Jun 8, 2011
    #5
  6. xtravbx

    xtravbx Notebook Evangelist

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    You'll get the single disc you need.

    The rest of everything will be on dell's site.

    You can download everything now actually in advance. And get the latest video driver from NVIDIA.
     
    xtravbx, Jun 8, 2011
    #6
  7. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    kent1146, Jun 8, 2011
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  8. kevmanw4301

    kevmanw4301 Notebook Deity

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    I installed it from a USB to a 5400RPM. Took about 45min compared to a fresh install to 7200RPM from DVD, hour and a half. :)
     
    kevmanw4301, Jun 8, 2011
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  9. xtravbx

    xtravbx Notebook Evangelist

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    Installing from a USB is pretty darn quick! But then you also need to factor in the time of creating the USB installation "disc" =)

    But installing from a DVD should not take an hour and a half - closer to 35 minutes. And a USB I'm done in about 25.
     
    xtravbx, Jun 8, 2011
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  10. NedKelly

    NedKelly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the replies all :-D

    Anyone got any tips for getting games onto the M11x and playing with no DVD?
     
    NedKelly, Jun 9, 2011
    #10
  11. kevmanw4301

    kevmanw4301 Notebook Deity

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    It took an hour and a half because it was a SLOOOW external drive.
     
    kevmanw4301, Jun 9, 2011
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  12. mephiska

    mephiska Notebook Geek

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    Three methods I use, depending on the game and it's "copy protection":

    1.) Buy games on Steam

    2.) External DVD drive (~$60), install game, then go to gamecopyworld for the no-dvd/no-cd patches.

    3.) Make ISO of your games, store said ISO locally or on external HDD and mount them with daemon-tools when you want to play.

    4.) if I can't get #2 or #3 to work, then I just lug around the DVD and the external drive.

    There's very few games I have anymore that I play on my m11x that require a DVD though. Over the past few years I've tried to do most of my game buying through Steam.
     
    mephiska, Jun 9, 2011
    #12