Aurora R7, M.2 NVMe bootable options

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@InstantSpuds wrote:

1. Success... I blew away the partitions and it's now recognized in Windows.  I was hesitant to do it the first time I was in Ubuntu.

2. Wondering if it has something to do with the UUID on the volumes.  Oh well.. it's back.  Thanks for the direction and the push to shred it.

Cheers!

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1. Nice. :Yes: 

2. I've seen it before. I expect SecureBoot or similar but not sure. You used Linux while my solution was to connect it to a different Windows machine. :Beer:

How do I image my slow spinning HDD to an M.2 NVMe SSD? Should I use a third 2.5" SSD connected via USB? The BIOS is set to RAID for the HDD.  :(

Thanks for any feedback!

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@Aurora Fan wrote:

1. How do I image my slow spinning HDD to an M.2 NVMe SSD?

2. Should I use a third 2.5" SSD connected via USB? 

Thanks for any feedback!

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1. Create a Macrium Reflect Image-File backup of whole boot drive.

2. Any USB-HDD can hold Image file.

Boot with Macrium-USB Recovery and Restore. 

I am about to get my repaired Dell Alienware Aurora R7 back today... need advice from you experts.

I had to have Micro-Center uninstall my Intel Series 7 SSD before I could send my bricked PC back to Dell for them to repair it (it's only a 3 month old PC).

Now that I'm getting it back today, I am struggling with where to go to get my SSD re-installed as the boot drive (in the M.2 slot) and then move my HDD into a slot as a "storage device".

I wish I had confidence I could do the install myself... but there seems to be some confusing directions/steps. I am not worried about backing up any data or any of that since my repaired PC coming today is completely reformatted with new Windows 10 install.

So... is it possible for me to install the M.2 SSD myself, without having to uninstall my hard drive? Can't I just go into BIOS and change the boot format to tell it to begin booting off of the SSD vs the HDD?

I just don't want to have to pay more $$ for Micro Center or Best Buy to install this and wait 3 days for them to do so since I've been without my desktop for 3 weeks now.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Any specific instructions on how I could do this myself?

Much appreciation,

Jeff

So I am following all of the instructions on here.... everything worked (installed my Intel 760p SSD into the m.2 slot all by myself) and unplugged my HDD so I could install Windows onto my M.2

The issue I get -- "not enough disk space, or disk too small" error. Come to find out, when I made a Windows 10 recovery USB earlier today, I shouldn't have followed the recovery USB instructions you guys provided because my SSD isn't the same size of my HDD in which I made the recovery USB from.

ARGH.

So I am now downloading Windows 10 ISO and putting that onto a USB and hope it will work and allow me to fresh install Win 10 on my new SSD in the m.2 slot.

The unit already has a PCIe NVMe drive installed along with a 2tb 7200 rpm sata drive.I am looking to replace the 2tb with a 1 tb ssd drive for the speed and integrity. I am not replacing the boot drive. My questions were within the BIOS from RAID to AHIC ?

Bob  

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@bselff wrote:

The unit already has a PCIe NVMe drive installed along with a 2tb 7200 rpm sata drive.

1. I am looking to replace the 2tb with a 1 tb ssd drive for the speed and integrity.

2. I am not replacing the boot drive. My questions were within the BIOS from RAID to AHIC ?

Bob  

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1. Good idea

2. Do not mess with those BIOS options ... unless you are prepared to re-install Windows and all programs when it goes side-ways on you.

Sounds like a simple drive replacement to me (so don't make it hard).

Do you know how to replace a drive properly ?

@bselff wrote:

The unit already has a PCIe NVMe drive installed along with a 2tb 7200 rpm sata drive.

1. I am looking to replace the 2tb with a 1 tb ssd drive for the speed and integrity.

2. I am not replacing the boot drive. My questions were within the BIOS from RAID to AHIC ?

Bob  

1. Good idea

2. Do not mess with those BIOS options ... unless you are prepared to re-install Windows and all programs when it goes side-ways on you.

I think messing with the BIOS option should only be done if one knows what he/ she is doing. Personally, I went ahead with changing from RAID to AHCI because my SSD benchmark was coming back as below expectation. This can be done without having to wipe everything out.

You'll need to tell Win10 to boot into safe mode for all subsequent reboots before attempting this. Change the BIOS setting, then Win10 goes into safe mode and finds the right host controller driver online (bless MS for introducing network support as native to safe mode now. Still shuddering when thinking of the earlier days where not having your modem driver in a floppy means a trip to the computer shop). After that is done, you need to tell Win10 to stop booting into safe mode for all subsequent reboots.

TLDR; don't do it if you're not sure. If you're adventurous, Google "RAID to AHCI without Windows reinstall".

changing ANY BIOS options should never impact an OS installation. EVER.

I know this is an old post, but I'm working the same sort of issue today.  If changing a BIOS setting impacts Windows 10, either Dell or MS seriously .

Currently working on getting past the FUD of cloning drives.

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@cgilley wrote:

1. changing ANY BIOS options should never impact an OS installation. EVER.

2. Currently working on getting past the FUD of cloning drives.

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1. With old Legacy-BIOS machines, maybe ... but not with UEFI systems. Google or read-up on UEFI and SecureBoot. The "BIOS" and OS are no longer completely separate.

Yeah, Dell still likes to ship systems in RAID-Mode (and load Intel-RST in Windows) ... those are Intel's SATA drivers that replace Microsoft's. They are generally not needed (especially not for AHCI and NVMe-SSDs) ... not even SATA-drives really.

2. Tricky business. Try Macrium-Reflect, it works pretty-good on UEFI systems. Full System Image to a disk-file (with "Verify After Creation" ON). 

 UEFI systems have restriction, of only providing F12 boot support from a FAT32 partition, and enable the ability to also boot from NTFS partitions.  EXFAT and NTFS are not supported.  Abd SECURE BOOT must be off to do this.

INSTALL.WIM is now too large for FAT32 which creates problems for WINDOWS 1809 1903 1909

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln313422/windows-10-iso-contains-wim-file-that-is-big-for-fat32-file-system?lang=en

WTH is "Nuke and Pave"?

Linking this other NVME drive thread

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Installing-3-x-1TB-M-2-Samsung-PCiE-NVME-Drives-in-Aurora-R7-8/m-p/7474557

@Othe110 wrote:

WTH is "Nuke and Pave"?

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Clean install on blank drive using windows installation media (not Dell restore media).  And not reinstalling dellware or stuff like intel RST. 

I would argue that my point is still valid.  The problem is not in the OS, it is in the UEFI support.  There should be NO issue with having an established procedure for being able to clone a drive.  I tried 4 different products: one was Macrium, another was a physical clone device. Support was providing random suggestions.  They clearly (two companies) had no idea what they were talking about.

I understand the necessity of UEFI, but not to the extent that makes it impossible or incredibly difficult to clone a drive.

In the end, my two "customers" allowed me to just do a clean install.  The up side is that there is not one bit of bloatware on the machines and they run much faster - negative to points to both Dell and Asus. 

Just wanted to close out this discussion.   Maybe if I perfect my clone machine, I'll have my other self take a look at this again.