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    AW 14 mSATA SSD

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by patelyo, May 4, 2014.

  1. patelyo

    patelyo Newbie

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    Hey guys, I got a few questions about installing a mSATA 128GB SSD onto my alienware 14. The first question I have is do I have to take out my HDD in order to install a clean version of win 7 on the SSD? Another question I have is what mode do you guys prefer to keep when installing an SSD, (RAID or AHCI)? Also would I be able to use the HDD for programs and files that I dont want to put on the SSD? Thanks
     
    patelyo, May 4, 2014
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  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    Use RAID, you don't need to take out the HDD but if during the installation you only see the HDD listed you could try loading the IRST driver using an USB key or you could try removing it. Finally, you will indeed be able to install software and games on the HDD, you just need to change the installation folder.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 6, 2014
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  3. Gatv77

    Gatv77 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey there guys, I have a quick question. Well first of all I bought my Alienware 14 with Windows 8 basic not pro, so I was thinking of getting an SSD as I've seen many people telling that the SSD will help the performance and won't take off too much battery but I saw that you will have to make a clean install of Windows 8. The problem is that In the box it only came with the Alienware CD drivers and software, there was no windows 8 disc so I'm worried about this, the disc didn't came or it was because i have windows 8 basic? how can I install windows 8 on the new SSD i will buy if I don't have the disc for installing the OS?
    Thanks in advance
     
    Gatv77, May 7, 2014
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  4. plagia

    plagia Newbie

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    The easiest way is:
    1. Make sure your current hard driver with win 8 has not more than the size of SSD used space
    2. Install the msata in AW
    3. Use EasyUS (or any other free disccopy software of choice) and copy the whole disk
    4. Set Boot order in bios and voila you have the same system with same soft and configuration just on ssd

    If you want to do a clean install you might get into trouble with doing it with provided disk (or at least I was so unlucky). I needed to get the windows 8 serial out of motherboard (there are programs for that) and Install it using different installation media.

    Anyway I strongly suggest the first way if your in for an easy way.
     
    plagia, May 16, 2014
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    reborn2003 likes this.