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    Replacing stock HDD with a SDD XPS 15 L502x Questions

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by wetcardboard, Apr 7, 2012.

  1. wetcardboard

    wetcardboard Notebook Consultant

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    Hey all, haven't posted here in a while! (Haven't had too as I've been enjoying my XPS 15 replacement for an overheating/throttling Studio XPS for the last 9 months). My stock hard drive is fairly loud, when im scrolling down a web page for example it makes a lot of noise so I'm not only looking for more speed/faster boot but SILENCE as well.

    I am looking to replace my stock 750GB HDD with a 240GB SSD (OCZ Agility 240GB 2.5IN SATA3 Sandforce SF-2281 - on sale for $220 CAD). I am not interested in removing my optical drive and moving over the 640GB drive for extra storage like I've read about many people doing. So is this pretty simple? I've built lots of desktops but only ever changed out RAM in a notebook.

    My main concern is installing Windows on the new drive. Since Windows is on a partition on my current drive do I simply request a disk from Dell or do I need to buy a whole new copy of Windows? (Or can I torrent a version of Windows and burn to a DVD a version that will work with the CD Key on the bottom of my notebook?).

    Any advice, anything else I should consider or check into? Thanks!
     
    wetcardboard, Apr 7, 2012
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  2. joegreen1967

    joegreen1967 Notebook Evangelist

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    Dell will give you a one time os system and model l502x driver disks there is 4 if you had macafee and DVD software otherwise only 2 are needed.I recommend a fresh install when doing a new ssd and since your going sand force get best firmware available usually on ssd site.Good luck & enjoy the biggest upgrade you 've ever done! AWESOME! Very easy to do you can google it also. Enjoy it!
     
    joegreen1967, Apr 8, 2012
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  3. joegreen1967

    joegreen1967 Notebook Evangelist

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    Ps I just quickly looked over your pertinent pc specs,I have the same Tv isn't awsome playing from laptop to the D8000 incredible,Best of luck to you!
     
    joegreen1967, Apr 8, 2012
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  4. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    Borrowed from madmatt from the L702x thread..

    Dell - Support

    just request a new DVD (if you haven't yet) and u can be right back to factory everything :)
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 8, 2012
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  5. joegreen1967

    joegreen1967 Notebook Evangelist

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    And it' a courtesy at no charge,downloading all the windows updates and new drivers etc is a pain but there's nothing like a fresh install.
     
    joegreen1967, Apr 8, 2012
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  6. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Agree with you there ;) btw that is one specced out beast of a m18x you have there congrats :D
     
    Sam_A_1992, Apr 8, 2012
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  7. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    U aren't kidding Sam, If I knew the GTX580m came in the M18x I would of opted for that. I am a total video graphics junkie lol
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 8, 2012
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