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    WARNING - Dell skimping on SATA headers, ie problems installing a 2nd drive

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by hastarin, Mar 30, 2010.

  1. hastarin

    hastarin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi all,

    As a recent Alienware M17x R2 owner I was annoyed to find Dell hadn't supplied the 2nd drive caddy and I had to call them to get it sent out. Today however I'm even more annoyed to discover I can't install the 2nd drive because they've saved a few cents on a SATA header!!


    [​IMG]

    For those that can't tell the header in the photo is NOT a SATA header, it's a simple plastic blank, with no physical connections. You can click the photo for a larger version.

    I guess I'll have to call them and arrange an on-site replacement which is going to involve pulling the whole notebook apart to replace a simple header!! :mad:

    If you've bought a system with only one drive you may like to check this sooner rather than later.
     
    hastarin, Mar 30, 2010
    #1
  2. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    Sorry but what's a Sata header?
     
    mfractal, Mar 30, 2010
    #2
  3. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

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    You do know that you need an interposer for the secondary drive?

    The primary doesn't need one.
     
    sleey0, Mar 30, 2010
    #3
  4. Glzmo

    Glzmo Notebook Deity

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    It's a proprietary connector where in theory, you could connect a second battery and the likes. Are you sure there are no connections inside the plastic (look closely, there should be some metal there). The connector is part of the mainboard, so it's unlikely it isn't a working one.

    As Sleey0 said, you'll need an interposer along with the second HDD caddy to make the second HDD work. The interposer is basically a small adapter from the proprietary connector to a 2.5" SATA HDD connector. Normally it should come packaged with the caddy. If not, you'll have to order it separately.

    It looks to be the same as the one on the M17x-R1.
     
    Glzmo, Mar 30, 2010
    #4
  5. erawneila

    erawneila Company Representative

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    I have confirmed that a few of these systems did ship out without the drive cage installed. If you have a system without it and need it, please call support and ask them to send you the drive cage with screws, foam and interposer (SATA header). This should have been included with your system from the factory but was missed on some of them due to an oversight.
     
    erawneila, Mar 30, 2010
    #5
  6. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    BatBoy, Mar 30, 2010
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