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October 6th, 2022 07:00
Can I use an M2 SSD PCIe for my boot drive on Precision 7730?
Hello,
I have a Dell Precision 7730, and I'd like to upgrade my boot drive to one with more space and speed. I believe my current drive is SATA SSD (but how can I verify this, to start?). I would like to instead upgrade my boot disk to a PCIe SSD drive. Can I do this? Is there anything I should watch out for in the way of "gotchas"?
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filbert
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October 6th, 2022 08:00
There are a few ways to see what you currently have. Here's one guide.
Yes, your system can have a SATA drive and PCIe M.2 2280 drives, as you can see in Dell's specifications.
Here are some compatible drives from Crucial, though you're not limited to that brand.
You ask about "Gotchas"? Read the service guide, watch videos to get familiar with the process, assemble needed tools, be cautious and take your time. And always use a grounded wrist strap!
Follow the disassembly and reassembly steps in Dell's Service Manual:
Look on YouTube for videos showing disassembly of your model. But, be cautious with them, as some use steps or methods that are not appropriate. Use the videos to add to your understanding of what to do, but follow the steps in Dell's manual.
To switch from your current boot drive to a new drive, you may either use Macrium Reflect or Acronis to image the current system drive and restore to the new drive, or perform a clean install. I prefer a clean install of WIndows to the new drive. Note: remove the old drive before booting to the new Windows installation. After WIndows has booted from the new drive, you may replace the old drive to use as storage.
Whenever touching components or working inside a computer, wear a grounded wrist strap, also called anti-static wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet. I know many people do such work without this, but it's a cheap and sensible precaution. Rest the laptop on an anti-static mat or at least a reasonable alternative such as corrugated cardboard.
filbert
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October 6th, 2022 11:00
Yes, it will. That's why I wrote "To switch from your current boot drive to a new drive,..." You should use the new PCIe M.2 2280 drive as boot drive, since it will be faster than the SATA drive.
Install the new PCIe M.2 2280 drive to slot 3, 5 or 6, as slot 4 is SATA. Remember not to have the old boot drive in the laptop when you try to first boot from the new installation on the new M.2.
BambooMike
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October 6th, 2022 11:00
Thanks, great response.
I'm less concerned with the replacement process, and more concerned with whether or not a PCIe drive will work as a boot drive, not just as a storage drive. The link you sent with the specs is great, but it isn't clear if there are any issues with using a non-SATA drive as the boot drive itself.
Is this a silly concern of mine? I haven't built any computers in about 15-20 years, and things have changed a bit...
Hyetex
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July 12th, 2025 01:57
Is there a preferred location for the boot drive?