Sense check on my reinstall plan (XPS 9550, 32GB cache and 1TB HDD)

Hi all. I just received a Dell XPS 15 9550, but I discovered that the entire OS is saved to the 32GB cache drive. The drive is full, of course. I’d like to reinstall the OS, primarily to get the OS onto the 1TB mechanical drive (and use the 32GB as cache) but also to get rid of Dell bloat.

I’d just like a sense check of my plan from you knowledgeable peeps.

1. Update XPS to latest BIOS, and ensure that ‘RAID On’ is selected;
2. Create USB containing Win10 ISO;
3. Create folder called ‘Drivers’, including as a minimum the latest Dell wifi drivers and Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver (but probably everything listed in Kent1146’s guide)
4. Boot from USB and wipe everything (the 32GB cache drive and 1TB mechanical drive)
5. Install OS to 1TB HDD, adding drivers as prompted
6. Once in Windows, use Intel RST to get the 32GB drive to accelerate the 1TB drive.

Does that sound right? Am I missing anything? Thanks!

Ginga

 

Looks about right.

 

Yep, I can save you the ISO trouble as I made one for the 9550.

I will have an updated one out in a day but the originals the same as what you can currently download from MS servers

 

dannykap and I have similar issues! Could you keep us posted and show how you used Intel RST to get the 32GB cache to work? Thanks!

 

I wonder if you need to secure erase the 32gb drive to clear any odd info off it.

 

Thanks for the thoughts folks - I really appreciate it.

I'll proceed cautiously, after I've read everything in the threads, and then I'll post back. The laptop is currently not very useable, so I might as well. Bizarre that Dell send it out that way though.

Ginga

 

It is odd. I thought the "original owner" of my refurbished laptop put the OS on the 32GB flash drive and found it unusable so returned it to Dell. Now it is obvious Dell has shipped several configured this way. So much for QC. . .

 

It seems to be the refurbs setup this way, Dell doesn't see or setup refurbs it is a 3rd party who has no clue.

 

That explains a lot! Tnx. Just about to download your ISO - thanks for that too.

Ginga

 

So I’m up and running with a fresh install of windows on the XPS 15. I’m afraid I didn’t go with your ISO Gonzo – the download was going to take 58 hours. So in the end I created the USB media using the MS tool.

I went to the www.dell.co.uk, and got the installation files for Intel RST and wifi, and extracted them using 7zip. Stored the extracted files in a folder on the USB stick. (I had to do all of this on my desktop PC, because the XPS 15 was struggling to do much.)

I then I inserted the USB, rebooted the XPS 15 and pressed F12 to initiate the install. I went for a custom install, and when I got to the screen where you choose your install disk I deleted everything on the 2 disks. Before choosing to install to the HDD, I clicked the ‘Install drivers’ button, and browsed to the folder on the USB where I had the Intel RST and wifi. They both installed fine.

Then I went ahead and did the install to the HDD. Didn’t take long and I’m now at desktop. I supposed I’ll be a little while getting all the drivers on now. I note that the 32GB cache drive isn’t currently listed in file manager, but that might be a job for the morning.

Anyway, cheers for the pointers. Hope my account helps others.

Ginga

 

I think intel RST software will pick up the 32gb in the acceleration menu

 

Ah nuts. After all that, I think I installed the wrong version of win10 - I went for 'Windows 10 Home Single Language'. The version that was on the XPS 15 when I got it was just 'Windows 10 Home'. Now it won't activate, and I don't have a key. Guess I'll have to do it again.

Ginga

 

That wouldn't stop activation, only installing pro would. You need to extract the bios key.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

Just thought I'd follow up quickly. After about an hour on tech support with Microsoft, I gave up and reinstalled using the version of Windows 10 that didn't say 'single language version'. It activated straight away, so problem solved.

Thanks for the help folks.

Ginga