The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    XPS 15 9550 1TB + 32GB SSD upgrade to 256GB SSD only

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Danielh21, Jun 4, 2020.

  1. Danielh21

    Danielh21 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi there,

    My XPS 15 9550 came with the WIN10 installed on the 32GB as a standalone system drive instead of using it as a cache. The 32GB and 1TB are 2 separate drives listed under my computers and in Intel RST. But the strange thing is in the BIOS boot sequence, it shows only the Windows Boot Manager and the 1TB drive. The 32GB SSD is NOT there. Anyway, my plan is to remove both drives and put in a 256GB SSD to the original 1TB SATA slot. Newbie here, can any expert give a step by step procedures? Thank you sooooo much!
     
    Danielh21, Jun 4, 2020
    #1
  2. pressing

    pressing Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    404
    Messages:
    1,985
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Trophy Points:
    181
    There are lots of posts here. Dell had some odd refurb configurations with that 32GB drive that made no sense.

    Remove the 32GB garbage. If you have a m.2 nvme (or sata) drive for that slot you can keep the 1TB HDD. Else, install your new drive in the big bay.

    Then wander over to M$, download Windoze 10, and clean install. I pick up all the drivers beforehand but I don't think you need many anymore (maybe just the wifi but search the threads here).
     
    pressing, Jun 4, 2020
    #2
  3. _sem_

    _sem_ Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    100
    Messages:
    776
    Likes Received:
    271
    Trophy Points:
    76
    The 32GB SSD is configured as cache in Intel RST ("Intel Smart Response" or something). Disable this, and you should see two drives.
     
    _sem_, Jun 5, 2020
    #3
  4. Danielh21

    Danielh21 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I am having issue booting from usb drive for a clean install. If I do it in UEFI, it will go to Language then Country and then Choose Drive and then black screen and then restart. If I do it in legacy mode and force it to the usb drive, it went straight to Dell assistant diagnostic. Is there any BOIS setting to change? I did not do all these in safe mode though. And i did not remove the 2 drives either.
     
    Danielh21, Jun 5, 2020
    #4
  5. Danielh21

    Danielh21 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    It’s already shown as 2 separate driveS in intel RST. The 32GB is shown as “system” which has the Win10 OS on it.
     
    Danielh21, Jun 5, 2020
    #5
  6. _sem_

    _sem_ Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    100
    Messages:
    776
    Likes Received:
    271
    Trophy Points:
    76
    For ISR caching, the 32GB SSD is configured to be cache for the HDD. Both should act as one drive in Windows, but the cache drive should probably visible somehow in Intel RST, maybe with the same name.

    Or has acceleration been removed already? Sorry I don't have this anymore, so I can only advise you to "RTFM"
    Open Intel RST Help, Optimizing the storage system, Accelerating the storage system, Disabling acceleration
     
    _sem_, Jun 7, 2020
    #6