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Inspiron 3847 upgrade to SSD
Inspiron 3847
Greetings!
My father in-law has a 3847 that was extremely slow and when I ran diagnostics it gave me a 2000-0142 error. When I look that up it indicates that his HDD may be on the verge of failing. Today he received a message that "in the event of a hardware failure" he should create a backup media image. (He is not really computer savvy and would not be able to do this - I will see him in a couple days)
I have ordered an SSD to replace his HDD and have been reviewing some of the posts here.
Couple questions I have:
1. People have suggested that I clone his existing HDD onto the SSD but I am not sure if his HDD will be functional when I replace it. I still have the original Windows 10 DVD that came with the computer but I have been advised that it is too old. This makes sense since it probably doesn't have all the W10 updates over the years. Also wondering about any excess temporary files that may come over when cloned? If the HDD is non functional what is my best course of action? If it is functional, do I have any concern with excess temporary files coming over when I clone?
2. I have read that the Samsung SSD I got does not like RAID and I should change BIOS to AHCI. Do I do this after I connect the SSD?
Thanks everyone. Any additional suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Willy
RoHe
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44.9K Posts
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January 18th, 2023 12:00
@Willy57 - Why does it matter if some old temp files carry over when you clone the HDD? You can always do a Disk Cleanup on the SSD after the HDD has been cloned onto it. (Note: never run a Defrag any SSD.)
I wouldn't do a Disk Cleanup on the old HDD. You don't want to put it under any (unnecessary) strain that might push it off the cliff before you clone it onto the SSD.
Why pay somebody for something you already own? Go to the Microsoft site and use their Media Creation Tool for Win 10 to make a bootable USB for free. (Use an empty 8-GB USB, but no larger than 32-GB USB.) You can create the USB on any Windows PC. Follow the simple instructions on the MS site to create the USB "for installation on a different PC".
When you launch the Win 10 installer on the Inspiron, it should ask which version you want to install, Home or Pro. Just pick the version that was running on this PC. The key embedded in the motherboard will activate Pro since the PC came with Pro installed.
BTW: If you decide to go with the clean install, make sure you back up email in/out boxes, address books, browser profile and bookmarks etc, along with all other personal files that are on the HDD now, so they can be imported after the new SSD is working. (IMO, all that makes cloning a better choice...)
JOcean
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12.4K Posts
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January 17th, 2023 14:00
If there is nothing on the system that needs to be saved then go to the Windows 10 page at MS here and download the media creation tool. Running that file will create a bootable Windows 10 flashdrive that you can use to clean install Windows 10. And I would suggest switching to AHCI before installing Windows. You can do it before installing the SSD.
ewongsmx
176 Posts
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January 17th, 2023 16:00
If the existing HDD is on the verge of failure, it is best not to try to clone it onto the SSD. Instead, you can use the original Windows 10 DVD that came with the computer to do a fresh installation of Windows on the SSD. This will ensure that the new SSD is free from any excess temporary files or other issues that may have accumulated on the old HDD. To do this you will need to boot from the DVD and follow the instructions for a clean installation of Windows.
Yes, you should change the BIOS to AHCI mode after you connect the SSD. This will ensure that the SSD is running in the optimal mode for performance. Changing the BIOS setting to AHCI mode may require you to install the latest chipset driver from the Dell website. Please make sure to backup your data before making any changes in the BIOS.
Remember to update all the drivers after you install the new SSD, and to re-install your software and personal files.
Some additional suggestions:
Please let me know if you have any other question or need more information.
Willy57
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January 17th, 2023 16:00
Thank you so much JOcean!
What I am not really sure of is when I install the Windows 10 from the USB, how is the license part of it handled? Don't I have to have some kind of key or something? Windows 10 Pro was already installed on the computer when I bought it from Dell and the Windows DVD that came with the system doesn't appear to have any kind of key on it - just a long dell bar code.
RoHe
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January 17th, 2023 17:00
@Willy57 First thing is to back up all personal files on external media (eg USB HDD) asap.
It might be worth trying to clone the HDD onto the new SSD before it dies because that saves you from doing a clean install of Windows and software. If it fails, you can always do a clean install on the new SSD.
Inspiron 3847 has room for two 3.5" drives. You'll need an adapter tray to install any 2.5" SSD in a 3.5" bay. Install the new SSD in the empty drive bay - you'll also have to get an extra SATA data cable. The power supply should have an unused SATA power cable for the new SSD. Instructions are in the Service Manual. If cloning, plug the SSD's SATA data cable into a black SATA port (white one is for optical drive).
Then install Macrium Reflect (free) on the HDD and clone that HDD onto the new SSD. It's straight forward if the two drives have same storage capacity. If the SSD has more storage space, you'll want to expand the size of the C: partition to use all the extra space. Macrium can do that for you, but make sure you know how, otherwise the extra space will be wasted.
Once the HDD is cloned onto the new SSD, unplug the HDD from the blue SATA data port and remove from drive bay. Then plug the SATA data cable from new SSD into that blue port. Reboot and it should boot from the new SSD - done!
If you do a clean install on the new SSD, remove the old HDD and use its data cable in the blue SATA port with the SSD. The Microsoft product key for Win 10 is embedded on the motherboard. It should automatically get activated after you finish the clean install. And if not, log into the Microsoft user account that's associated with this PC, and that should do it.
For a clean install, also be sure you have product keys for all other software used on this PC before doing a clean install on the new SSD. If you don't have them, you can install/run Belarc Advisor (free) on the existing HDD to find the keys (it opens in browser window). Print out the page so it's handy when you're ready to install software on the new drive, after Windows is installed and fully updated via Windows Update.
Willy57
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January 17th, 2023 18:00
Great info everyone! Thank you!
So if I try to clone the HDD won't miscellaneous temp files from the last 6 years come over as well?
I am thinking of buying a Windows 10 Pro download from an online vendor that will provide me a new OEM Product key but I am not sure how to create a bootable USB using the link that I would get from the vendor for the purchased Windows 10 Pro. It seems like when they send me an email with the link to download and the product key - it is intended to be opened on the computer that it will be installed in? Or - is the product key the "identification" and if I create a Windows Pro bootable USB on another computer and use the new OEM product key it will simply activate? But then what if the bootable USB is created from a computer running W10 Home and I want to install W10 Pro on the new computer?
Sorry for all the confusing scenario - but I am trying to cover all bases when I work on my father-in-laws computer.
Willy
Willy57
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January 18th, 2023 13:00
@RoHe - Good advice! Thank you. I actually was wondering if that would be just as good as doing the cleanup first. I agree - don't want to stress the HDD.
So - for the reasons you spelled out I will try to do a clone as you described in an earlier post (I'll also create the USB as you described just in case cloning doesn't work).
I know enough about computers to get me in trouble so I do appreciate you taking the time and describing in detail what I can do!
Not sure what the "Accept as Solution" button will do but I think you and others have given me great information and I can call this resolved! So I am going to press that button after I submit this reply.
Thanks again!
Willy
RoHe
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January 18th, 2023 16:00
Post back and let us know how it goes, or if you have any other questions.
And more more thing...If you go with a clean install on the new SSD, remember to change SATA Mode in BIOS setup to AHCI before you start the installation. (It's likely set to RAID now.)
"Accept as Solution" just made me green. LOL!
Kye90
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February 11th, 2023 17:00
How does one actually do that though...?
I also have a 3847 and am looking to replace my HDD with a 1TB SSD.
Willy57
5 Posts
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February 11th, 2023 19:00
@Kye90 I think the main thing is to make sure it is a SATA drive. I had to buy a SATA cable to connect from the mother board to the SSD. I had bought a Samsung 870 EVO SATA 2.5", 500 GB (I believe this exact drive also comes in 1 TB).
There was also a lot of discussion about making sure that you change the drive from RAID to AHCI. For me, the drive selection was already set to AHCI and I did not have to change it.
Other than that, the only thing that caused me a little pause was the physical mounting of the new SSD drive. I had two 2.5" to 3.5" drive bay adapters and one of them did not line up with the 3.5" brackets in the 3847. Not a big deal, just be aware.
Because my original disk HDD had some sort of problem, I could not get a good clone of it and had to install Windows 10 onto the new SSD from a USB that I created from the creation tool and I was amazed at how easy and fast it was.
This was my father-in-law's computer and he is now a very happy camper!!
Good luck!