Alienware M18x installing SSD as a boot drive

Hi guys. Sorry of this is in the wrong place or has been mentioned before. My first post here, looking for some help as I'm new to the ssd scene. I have an alienware M18x with just a 1tb hdd. Which I want to keep as my primary storage for my games and all files on my computer but being the m18 I have the 2 spare hardrive slots and I want to install a ssd solely for booting windows. But I haven't a clue how to go about this haha I guess I'm asking for an installation guide and also a guide on how to have the ssd as the os boot drive and my hdd as ststorage. Also recommendations on which ssd would suit this job. Thanks in advance
Rob

 

Two methods, cloning current drive or a fresh windows install. Either options will work.


Clone:
Install SSD into open bay
Load windows
Download and install macrium reflect
Clone drive to SSD
Restart PC and enter BIOS
Set the SSD as first priority boot, save and exit BIOS.
Once loaded into windows, reformat 1TB HDD

Fresh install:
Remove 1TB HDD, Install SSD
Install windows on SSD
Install HDD
Boot into BIOS, set SSD as priority boot, save and exit BIOS
Once loaded into windows, reformat 1TB HDD



I recently bought a Crucial M550 and it seems to great so far.

 

Ah sweet thank you, cloning sounds like what I'm after. So once ssd is set as primary boot and I open back up into windows. Should I transfer all my files from the tb hdd excluding windows files to an external. Format then transfer back over or could I delete the files related to booting from the hdd and not have to reformat?

 

Transfer files you wish to keep and format it would be your best option.

 

Does macrium reflect allow me to just select the os to be cloned?, as obviously I can't clone the whole drive as it's 800 gb worth of files down to either 120 or 256gb ssd o haven't decided yet haha

 

No, it only allows you to clone partitions. If your OS is on a separate partition to your 800GB of files then sure, otherwise you will need to transfer files off before cloning.

 

I would fresh install on a new SSD, and transfer over needed files. You also have a mSATA slot you could put a drive in there as well.

 

the windows 7 disc i got with my alien says that 'this is only for backup and recovery as my operating system was pre installed at the factory'. can i still do a fresh install of windows with this?

 

Yes you can use that to do a fresh install.

 

Thanks for the help guys, what's my best option for just an os install 120gb or 256? Debating whether to do it before or after a 3 day LAN event next weekend

 

If you can afford it always go bigger. I just replaced my MSATA 256 GB boot drive with a Samsung 840 TB MSATA drive. I cloned using Acronis True Image and I purchased a MSATA external enclosure at Tiger Direct for around 30.00. The enclosure because it's MSATA is about the size of the credit card.

 

thanks for all the advice guys. done it all today, fresh install on a crucial mx100 256gb, runs so freakin sweet now. although just found out that itunes doesnt like it when you make a copy of its library on an external hard drive. so lost all my music but meh **** you apple right? anyway cheers for everything!

 

Just copy the music to a thumb drive, only the music and then you can re-install it to your music folder. Good to hear that you are screaming along.

 

Hi there. Sorry for the necropost.

I'm also in the same boat as the OP, but I'd like to make sure if I'm getting things right.

Here's my situation on my old M18x R1:

• Old HD (750 GB) for OS is dying (almost inaccessible now) since it's been about 4 years at least.
• The other HD that came with it still works (I hope it doesn't die yet).
  
• I bought a replacement SSD (Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB) for it and would want to reinstall the old Windows 7 I had on it.
• I don't have any discs for the OS. Microsoft's Software Recovery says that my product is unsupported (blah blah blah... pre-installed on a device).

Am I right to assume that I could:

• Take out both HDs, then put the SSD.
• Download via torrents the same type of OS I had.
• Make a bootable USB installer for it.
  
• Install, then use the product key found at the bottom of the laptop.
• Insert the other working HD.
• Install the remaining software stuff.

I'm feeling a bit slow today when I read Mr. Fox's guide. Format's been whack since the forum upgrade. Can someone please guide me? I'd be very thankful if you could at least link me up a good step-by-step guide for it.