1 Rookie
•
11 Posts
0
58
January 2nd, 2024 14:26
OS shipped on sata HDD, not M.2
I just received delivery of an Inspiron aio 7720 from Dell (outlet). It has two storage devices a 512gb M.2 SSD and a 1tb sata HDD. It is configured with the OS on the slow HDD and the SSD is blank labelled as "DATA (D:)". Booting is really slow and performance is poor. What should I do?
No Events found!
AndrewKe
1 Rookie
•
11 Posts
0
January 5th, 2024 20:07
Ok update
Dells OS recovery utility refuses to install (there's a note on the info page which I think says it wont work with win11)
Acronis windows version runs the clone but resulting SSD wont boot
Acronis Linux boot usb, doesn't recognise the internal drives
Acronis win boot usb wont clone a drive that is encrypted with bitlocker (on by default in Win 11 pro),
Sector by sector mode could work, but then cant resize any partitions.
After un-encryping
Acronis win boot usb, "cant lock the hard drive use a Linux boot"
However after a week of faffing about....
In the dell boot F12 options "Support assist OS recovery" I find there is an option to "Backup files/ Disk Cloning". Amazingly it appears to have worked perfectly. Copied all the hidden partitions, and handled the re-sizing automatically. PC is now performing as expected - yay!
I wonder why dell support didn't tell me about this?
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 2nd, 2024 18:42
You probably should contact Dell Tech Support for assistance. Have your Service Tag handy when you contact them. (Don't post Service Tag here.)
If you want to DIY, use the Microsoft Win 11 Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB with the Windows installation file on it, and do a clean install of the OS on the SSD.
You'd then have to boot from the SSD via the F12 boot menu. When it boots from the SSD, use Windows Disk Management to initialize the HDD so you use it for storage. Then shut down Windows normally. Reboot and PC should now boot from the SSD and the HDD will be ready for storage...
EDIT: Any software or drivers that Windows doesn't automatically install, directly or via Windows Update, can be downloaded from the Dell Support page. Enter your Service Tag on that page, and it will show you the list of available drivers that are specific for your hardware,
(edited)
AndrewKe
1 Rookie
•
11 Posts
0
January 2nd, 2024 18:48
@RoHe If I do a clean install will I loose the dell diagnostic/recovery partitions. Is that something to worry about?
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 2nd, 2024 19:23
Only if you want/need them.. The recovery partition is probably already out of date so a clean install will require fewer Microsoft updates.
Another option is to image the HDD with imaging software and save it on external drive. Then copy the image onto the SSD. Imaging software should give you the option to create a bootable USB you'd need to boot PC and image the SSD. So be sure to create it before you will need it.
BUT, the HDD has twice the capacity of the SSD. So the image won't fit on the SSD without some extra steps. You'd have to make the C: partition smaller when you copy it onto the SDD. That means you'd have to copy all the other partitions onto the SSD first and copy the C: partition last. Only the size of last partition copied onto the SSD can be made smaller (or larger). The imaging software should give you an option to change the size of the last partition. You'll still have to initialize the HDD (ALL FILES DELETED!) so PC will boot from the SSD.
Macrium Reflect (free for 30 days) would be a good tool to do this...
That's why I suggested you contact Dell Tech Support first. They could provide an SSD with the factory image on it. Then -hopefully- send a tech to do the swap, initialize the HDD (repeat: ALL FILES DELETED!), and take the original SSD back, so you won't have to do all that...
(edited)
AndrewKe
1 Rookie
•
11 Posts
0
January 2nd, 2024 20:36
@RoHe
Thanks for the replies.
I contacted tech support, in the hope dell might take ownership of this problem but
they just gave me instructions to make dell OS recovery media to then install onto the ssd.
Thinking ahead, slight problem in that, I realised this was an issue after I installed and activated office 2016 and corel draw. Activating was a bit of a pain as both have been activated before on my old PC, (and the one before that) and required calls to tech, if I try and ring back next week to activate again, I think they might not believe me!
Cloning might be the best way, I did it once before using acronis.