Installing SSD in Alienware M18X laptop

Question

I am going to install a Samsung 850 Pro 512GB SSD in my Alienware 18. I will download the drivers and make a backup with Alienrespawn. I do have the disc that I purchased with the laptop, to make a clean install onto the SSD. I would like to keep the original 750 HDD in the laptop. Also, I would like to be able to reinstall the Alienrespawn. People have had trouble downloading it afterwards. I did contact Alienware tech support, but they weren't able to help, as the person had never done installed an SSD.

I have found conflicting advice on different tech sites and was hoping someone had done this with their M18X and could give me a few pointers. I would like to keep the HDD for storage, but would like to hear the best way to allocate the drives ?

Alienware - Rodrigo · Answer

Hi, Just to confirm, do you have the Alienware M18X R1 or the Alienware 18?

mam0199 · Answer

Hello,           It is the Alienware M18X and it must be the R1. I have had it a few years. Thanks.

Alienware - Rodrigo · Answer

Hi,

In order to make the SSD your primary drive and install Windows on it, you would have to reinstall Windows and delete the existing partitions and create new partitions by selecting the SSD when it asks in which drive you want to install Windows on.

The 750 HDD can be used as the secondary drive for storage. When you finish installing Windows, you will notice the SSD will show up as drive C: and you can format the 750 HDD hard drive and assign a drive letter to it by using the disk management utility program. Click here to view an article from Microsoft which explains how to do this (I am assuming you have Windows 7).

mam0199 · Answer

Thanks very much for the information and the link. What would happen if I didn't reformat the HDD and left is as it is ? I am assuming that would create a problem, after selecting the SSD as the C: drive with the fresh install of the operating system.

Alienware - Rodrigo · Answer

Hi,

You’re welcome. If you don't format the HDD and select the SSD as the primary drive, you would have Windows installed on both drives, so you would you probably have to tell Windows which one to boot from when you turn on the system.

AndrewSi · Answer

Hello.

You have two slot available in your M18xR1.

If you have both drive connected when you install windows, windows will install system files on the secondary drive, if in the future you wish to upgrade the 750GB (storage drive) you will have to re-install windows again as some of the system files will be missing.

Best way around this is to only have the SSD connected when installing windows, after windows installation has complete reconnect the 750Gb drive and format it via windows control panel.

Quick tip - Be VERY VERY careful when removing the ribbon cable that connects the hard drive assembly to the motherboard, the plastic retaining clip is extremely fragile and will snap very easily.

Also make sure not to bend the ribbon cable from it's original shape as this sometime damages it internally.

mam0199 · Answer

Thanks again. That clears it up.

mam0199 · Answer

I appreciate the advice on formatting and removing the hard drives. Thank you.

Locked Topics – Alienware General

Installing SSD in Alienware M18X laptop

Was this post helpful?