Help configuring Dell inspiron 17R SE 7720

Hi Everyone I just received my Dell 7720 a few days ago and it is quite good, straight out of the box except for all the crappy programs supplied by dell that load up all the time. After ordering the system I got an email from Dell saying that the system had inadvertantly added the mSata 32Gb to my invoice and the model that I was getting didn't have it supplied. They arranged a reimbursement of $50 which I accepted. Anyways after opening up the bottom cover, I have the mSata bay free and one whole hdd bay free as well. So I have decided to purchase a crucial 64GB MSata drive to cache my current 1 TB 5400rpm HDD as well as 128 GB Crucial M4 SSD to use for the O/S, (I also purchased 4gb of crucial pc3-12800 Ram to increase my current 6 to overall 8). Has anyone got a similar configuration? I was wondering if anyone could explain to me how I would go about setting the crucial SSD as the primary HD for the O/S and the mSata as cache for the 1 TB drive. I would like to do a clean install of the O/S however Im relecutant to use the Dell supplied recovery disk as I don't want all (some are ok) the crappy programs that come with it, any suggestions? Can anyone help me out or point me to a guide? would be greatly appreciated..

 

It should go like this:

- SSD in first bay - 100% clean install;
- HDD second bay - you wil configure the mSATA later on, from windows with Intel utility, Dell will provide it.

I always do a clean install, can't say much about recovery disc. I always use the drivers from the Internet. I always put the programs I want and I know what's on my machines.

 

So what do you use to do a clean install of Windows onto your SSD? Did you use an official Windows 7 Home Premium DVD to install to your SSD? I was under the impression that Dell has a backup tool to allow you to create a recovery DVD which is a snapshot of your factory image to install Windows. Am I wrong?

 

Retail W7 Ultimate. I went a few times that road (Recovery from different manufacturers) and now I try to buy everything without OS. These guys should give users a clean copy of Windows with an extra one click program so that they can install drivers and stuff they want.

Anyway, I got Windows on this one for games mostly. Linux is just fine (almost) for everything else. Free, fast, safe, could use a little bit more power management, but with Jupiter and Bumblebee, things are kept to a minimum. Not everything works well though. On my Toshiba it's impossible to set panel brightness since it has 3 files and nothing seems to work.

There should be a release from Dell that will show you how exactly to make the transition from HDD to SSD. Seems it's not so easy.

 

i have basicly just one tip to give you

.................... choose the True life screen....(it just that important). for me a laptop with great screen is sooooo much worth. (movies, gaming, photos, etc, give you such a better (more realistic) experience.

viewing angles is way better on True life, so as sharpness & colour gamut.

 

Well, I have the non 3D Full-HD-WLED-Screen (1.920 x 1.080) and the screen's brilliant. No need to go 3D unless 3D is what you want, of course.

 

first of all its not just about 3D (actually i dont care about 3D..never use it anyway).......its about higher sharpness, higher colour accurateness, better viewing angles....OK ?

 

Thanks for the reply, Ok Dell haven't supplied me with a windows CD and there is no windows sticker just recovery disk with drivers/utilities. Anyways i managed to find out my windows serial number using a third party app. So I will just re-install win7 using my original serial. Is it straight forward using the intel utility to configure the mSata to cache the other HDD or do I have to do a RAID config?

 

Yes, that is simple.

 

I BLOODY hate this nonsense-backup-partition-burn-your-own-crappy-windows-CD

........................guess how many (4.7GB) DVD discs you need ?............3 ! (3 bloody DVDs to just make a backup disc)

guess how Big USB flash you need ? 11GB (yippee)

bbblllaaaaaaa for this. (i call DELL on Monday and persuade them to send my (legaly, bought windows version)


a windows 7 64bit isnt more then 7-800MB in the real world.

 

Yeah it really is annoying the way Dell package their laptops. However consider yourselves lucky, Australians are getting the worse end. We get absolutely nothing no config options and pay more money. I never had any options to update the hardware ram, display etc.. It was these are the preconfigured choices at these prices take it or leave it. I would have def gone for the true life screen if the option was there. However the full HD one I currently have is pretty good too.

 

ive seen the White-LED on 17R SE.......its really nice. ...........good luck then.

 

Hey!

The windows cd-key for my 7720 SE was under the battery in the battery bay.
Hope that helps!

Also, to clarify, there are two drive bays and 1 mSata slot or just one drive bay and mSata slot?

Thanks

 

Good question! Yes, the 17R SE does have two 2.5" drive bays and one mSATA port.

You can see actual photos here:
Does Dell Inspiron 17R SE have two hard drive bays? YES


That means you can easily have three drives (2) 2.5" + (1) mSATA, if you want FOUR drives you should be able to use one of these:
2nd HDD /SSD Caddy, DELL Inspiron 17R (N7010, N7110, 7220, 7720) [OBHD-SATA12-SATA-BU] - $44.75 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks
(I don't have one for my 17R SE yet, but I do have a one for my M6500 and it works well)

Hope this info helps!

 

Looking forward to my new Inspiron 17R SE 3D arriving in a couple of weeks, nice spec for c.$1,400 (much cheaper than my last XPS 15).
I have a spare Samsung 128GB SSD, so once sure the laptop is OK, will move the HDD & add the SSD in ACHI mode, plus convert the mSata to a regular drive for apps (no caching needed).
Will check the BIOS to make sure it is A08 or less, but should be great for Blu-rays, etc. Pity Dell don't off the Nvidia 3D kit as a discounted add-on?

 

Sorry for posting in your thread about my problem but it seems relevant to what I want to find out.
I am getting this laptop in next couple of days but it doesnt have the msata or ssd drive in it just a 5400rpm drive.I am thinking of purchasing one these SSD drives but could I run my os off this one
Crucial CT032M4SSD3 32GB M4 SATA III 6Gb/s mSATA MLC Internal SSD: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories
and data on the normal drive that came with it?