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    Fresh OS Install on a Samsung 840 Evo Msata

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by weazelghast, Sep 7, 2014.

  1. weazelghast

    weazelghast Newbie

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    Hello All,

    I currently have an Alienware 17 (2013) running Windows 8.1. Everything has been backed up with Alien Respawn (AR) and a boot key has been created. At the moment I have my OS installed to an intel SSD and a TB HDD in the second bay for storage. I followed the dis-assembly instructions posted in http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-17-m17x/725404-alienware-17-msata-slot-3.html and the Samsung Magician sees it.

    Does anyone have a link for the procedure to do a Windows 8 fresh install to the Msata under these conditions? My biggest concern is what happens to the two drives currently installed when I switch to AHCI in the bios. I would like to still be able to use at least the 1TB HDD thats currently installed.

    - Do I need to swtich to ACHI in order to run windows off the Msata, or should I just initialize and partition it? (GPT or MBR?)

    - Can I just use the alien respawn bootable drive I made to do the install?

    - Should I remove the two drives that are currently installed before I do anything else?

    - Will I still be able to access the data currently on them if I switch to AHCI?

    Any and all advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

    - Weazelghast
     
    weazelghast, Sep 7, 2014
    #1
    Mr. Fox likes this.
  2. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

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    Here are some nice Windows clean install guides for you to look at... [ LINK]

    Switching the BIOS from RAID to AHCI mode isn't going to do anything special for you. There is nothing to be gained. All that will do is prevent you from using RAID0. It won't be faster or slower changing the setting from RAID to AHCI. Leave it set to RAID and you will have the best of both worlds... ability to use RAID0 and 100% fully functional AHCI.

    Look at this thread for further discussion on the subject related to your question... http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...my-ssd-working-ahci-mode-raid-controller.html

    There is also help in the opening post of this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...es-sata-iii-ssd-upgrade-raid0-discussion.html

    You will still be able to use both your existing drives no matter what you decide to do.

    I have a 250GB Samsung 840 EVO mSATA booting Windows 8.1 in my M18xR2... it's a good little SSD. It should work well for you.
     
    Mr. Fox, Sep 7, 2014
    #2