Cannot Get To BIOS Setup

The hardware setup looks good. This is very strange since one PCIe drive works, but the one next to it doesn't!

The slot on the motherboard must be on in the BIOS, otherwise neither drive would work. Is the Samsung stick dead?

I'm interested in how this turns out!

I'm clutching at straws here, but I just realised that the Dell Adapter Card is only validated for 1TB, 512GB, and 256GB drives. Do you have access to one of these? If you do, try it.

Could it be that  the 500GB capacity is the problem?  Fingers crossed!

i think you may be running it to, your system being RAID and you might find it easier to clone your Present OS drive to the New 970, Macrium Reflect Free would be the go to Software to accomplish this with. Video on how to accomplish these  

You will save yourself hours of Reconfiguring and installing software by cloning.

Dell used RAID rather than AHCI on a lot of computers, Still doesn't explain why Windows media won't boot, as F12 would be correct for a one-time boot menu. Someone suggested updating your BIOS, that might solve that issue.

My PC will only run on "RAID ON".

I got a 2.5" SATA SSD drive and cloned the system (I used Acronis True Image for Crucial). Removed the M.2 drive and connected the new SSD drive, the system won't boot. Since it came with the M.2 style, the other ports may be disabled. Frustrating I cannot get into the BIOS to be sure. I tried two different keyboards and through Windows to the Command Prompt, still neither F2 nor F12 works. It's past the warranty period for DELL technicians to help out.

Don't know what else to try.

Chances that the cmos battery is low ( has definitely a bit of years by now ) and is causing this weirdness when pressing F2 / F12 ?

Thanks for the information.

You mentioned "recovery media". Did you run MR from a CD or USB (not Windows based)?
I have an old copy of the MR, I'll download a newer version.

Also, you mentioned you clones from the original M.2 drive to the new Samsung 970 512Gb. How does the "new 2TB SSD" come in to the picture?

With the new boot drive, was it connected to the Blue data cable and into the right connection on the motherboard as the "primary" for it to boot?

I have two m.2 NVME slots so 512 for OS and 2 Tb for storage right now D and E with 1TB unused currently mostly just use it for scratch disk. 

I only have  a 3TB storage drive on SATA its on SATA 0 I use this driver for internal back ups, I find there convenient for quick OS C partition restores when or if needed. No good for Any virus or malware but I have external HD for those back ups. 

I always run from a USB that MR has created on the computer in question.  Boot is to F12 and select UEFI USB

Mine has 3 SATA cables white blue and a CD/DVD connectors I don't think it matters which SATA port you use what matters to Windows is where your Boot manager is set up

MR Recovery USB runs in Windows PE environment, needs to be booted UEFI unless your system is Legacy BIOS?

Thank you on the cable connection information.

I have tried everything except the CMOS battery. Interestingly, I have been using computers for so long and this would  be the first time to replace those batteries. Tomorrow, I will pick up a pack, go to the office, replace it and see. I have done almost all I can to get into my BIOS, very strange.

Now, on hitting the key before the light or logo come, if I "start right away" my PC just locks. Till tomorrow (Alaska time), will keep you all posted.

Well once you get back into your BIOS, there is a setting to delay boot, Set this for 10 seconds this will give you 10 whole seconds to press F2 or F12

Disk Clone: The new SSD will NOT boot.

1. Re-installed Macrium Reflect 7 (Free Edition)
and created a Rescue Media on USB.

2. Launched the app and cloned the 250GB
M.2 drive to the new 1T SSD.

3. After cloning, in the BIOS, under Boot Sequence,
I selected the newly cloned copy
(UEFI CT1000MX500ssd1) and APPLY.

4. Started the system and it did not boot from
the new SSD, with the M.2 still in the motherboard
and tried the boot without the M.2 drive

5. (a) I booted the system with the USB Rescue Media
and selected "Fix Windows boot problems"
(b) With the M.2 drive out, the newly cloned 1Tb drive
was the only drive seen in the opened window.
(c) Next ---> Finish --->Yes (to Restart your PC?) ---> Yes.

6. The system took me to the Recovery page.
Please see attached. I tried the options at the bottom.

Looks like I missed something while using Macrium Reflect.

Hi,

I have replied to you via  a direct message.

-Gautam.

First off, I got a Duracell 2030, plugged it in and was able to use the F2 & F12 keys. Yippie! This is a first for me; at least now I know.