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    SSD issues Inspiron 11 3138

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Om_Audio, May 15, 2014.

  1. Om_Audio

    Om_Audio Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a new Inspiron 3138 and a 120GB Crucial M 500 with FW m05. I have tried many different ways to get this SSD working to no avail. I have done at least 30 SSD swaps and upgrades on Mac, PC, laptops, desktops, clones, clean insyalls, etc with no issues. BIOS sees it only sometimes but windows 8 does not see it and tries repair. I have set bios SATA to both options, secure boot on and off, cloned the drive internally and externally, used usb OS restore from Dell, etc. I did finally get it working somehow but then the latest BIOS Update caused the same issue to return.

    Dell model 0r9f10 (from CPU-Z)
    chipset is Intel Bay Trail Rev 0C
    BIOS vA09 8/30/13
    SATA controller using MS driver from 2006 instead of Intel driver.

    Anyone have same laptop running with this SSD or have same issues? Dell support has been useless and unlike them completely stopped responding to the support case about 2 weeks ago after suggesting they might need to change the motherboard.

    thanks
    O


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    Om_Audio, May 15, 2014
    #1
  2. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

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    Have you made sure it's seated securely? If the bios only sometimes detects it, it could just be loose.


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    alexhawker, May 15, 2014
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  3. Om_Audio

    Om_Audio Notebook Enthusiast

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    yes of course it is seated and the connector almost snaps on it is not a physical connection issue. thx.

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    Om_Audio, May 15, 2014
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  4. Om_Audio

    Om_Audio Notebook Enthusiast

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    got a 256GB M550 today and it cloned and booted just fine. I know the M500 is good so there is some compatibility issue.

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    Om_Audio, May 20, 2014
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  5. Marecki_clf

    Marecki_clf Homo laptopicus

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    Maybe a BIOS update would help? The latest BIOS for 3138 is A09. Which BIOS version does your laptop have?

    EDIT: Sorry, I haven't noticed that you mentioned in the first post. :)
     
    Marecki_clf, May 20, 2014
    #5
  6. Om_Audio

    Om_Audio Notebook Enthusiast

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    that bios update actually made it stop functioning after I had finally got it working

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    Om_Audio, May 20, 2014
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  7. Marecki_clf

    Marecki_clf Homo laptopicus

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    Have you loaded the BIOS defaults after the BIOS update? Many systems are sensitive to this and it is generally advised to load setup defaults after a BIOS update, reboot, enter the BIOS again and set everything up as required.
     
    Marecki_clf, May 20, 2014
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  8. Om_Audio

    Om_Audio Notebook Enthusiast

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    ya I tried that thanks. I got a 256GB M550 in the mail today and it cloned and booted perfect first try. Moved it to top of UEFI boot list to skip the "checking media" message and getting sub 10 second boots now. Will use the other 120GB elsewhere. Onwards.

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    Om_Audio, May 21, 2014
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    Marecki_clf likes this.
  9. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    I have seen incompatible SSD drives from time to time, it maybe just that or a faulty SSD drive.

    Usually firmware updates fix the SSD issues, and I have had very good luck with Crucial brand drives.

    Have to talked to their tech support yet?
     
    dave-p, May 22, 2014
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  10. Om_Audio

    Om_Audio Notebook Enthusiast

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    The drive is not faulty it works fine in other machines. I spoke to their support and they were unable to solve it. thx

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    Om_Audio, May 22, 2014
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  11. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    Dell just released A10 BIOS update today.
     
    dave-p, May 22, 2014
    #11