XPS 8940, replacing the SSD?

Question

I have an XPS 8940 with a 256GB SSD as the main drive. (#6 in image below). I'd like to swap it out for a 1 or 2 TB SSD. I'm familiar with adding/swapping regular HDDs, but have never done it with an SSD before.

Can this be done?
Anybody done it successfully?
What do I buy? Another board like the one shown? Or one in a case? Or...
Is there a guide to how to do it?
Is any special modifications needed?
I'll have to move Windows to the new drive. Any problems with that (beyond, you know, Windows)?

Thanks for any help.

EdB

RoHe · Accepted Answer

1. Yes, instructions in Service Manual

2. Yes

3. Internal M.2 NVME SSD,no external case; any brand you prefer. Avoid cheap "no name" brands.

4. Yes, depends on how you want to do it. Image existing SSD or clean install of OS and apps on new SSD

5. If BIOS is set to RAID, change to AHCI before installing new SSD. Do it exactly this way:

Open Cmd, run as administrator

Copy-paste this command, which will start Windows in Safe Mode the next time you reboot: bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal and press Enter

Restart PC and tap F2 to enter BIOS setup

Change SATA Operation mode from RAID to AHCI

Save the change and exit Setup; Windows will boot automatically in Safe Mode

Open Cmd again, as above

Copy-paste this command, which will start Windows in Normal Mode the next time you reboot:
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot and press Enter

Reboot and Windows will automatically start with AHCI drivers enabled. Now you're ready to replace SSD.

6. If you plan to image the old SSD, rather than a clean install on the new one, you can use Macrium Reflect (free) to create an image and save it on either an internal HDD, if installed, or on external USB HDD. Include all partitions on the current SSD in the image. Be sure to set the option to validate the image when you're ready to create the image. If necessary, increase the compression level to Max to save space on the drive where the image will be stored.

Also use Macrium to create a bootable USB stick you'll need in the next step.

Once image is created/validated, remove old SSD and set safely aside. Swap in new SSD. Plug the Macrium USB into PC with power fully off. Power on and tap F12 to open the menu. Select option to boot from USB. When it boots, you're ready to copy the image from wherever you stored it onto new SSD. This time, move each partition one at a time, saving the C: partition for last.

When you move the C: partition onto new SSD, look for the option to increase its size to use all free space that's available on new SSD. Only the last partition moved can be expanded, so that's why you save C: for last, so it will include all the extra space on new SSD.

7. If you plan to do a clean install of OS and apps on new SSD, change BIOS to AHCI with current SSD installed. Then swap in new SSD and use a bootable USB created with the Microsoft Media Creation tool for either Win 10 or Win 11 to boot PC and run the clean installation.

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. Yes

2. Yes

3a. Yes ... M.2 NVMe SSD (2280 form-factor).

3b. If it needs "a case" (which is a heat-sink) it will come with one pre-installed.

4. Yes (but it depends of how you choose to do it).

5. Not sure what that means. If you mean "BIOS Settings" ... on a clean-install I like to switch from RAID to AHCI (and then never install Intel-RST).

6. Clean-installing Windows is best. Now would be a good time to upgrade to Windows-11 if you haven't already.

If you want to "move" your old Windows, I would suggest "Imaging to a file" with something like Macrium-Reflect (and then restoring from it).

Some people like to "Clone" the drive.

ejbSF · Answer

Thanks! I'm going for it. A clean install sounds like the best way to go. I did try Win11 about six months ago, but it didn't seem to play nice with Adobe so I went back. When you do a clean install, will a USB Windows install work?

RoHe · Answer

@ejbSF You're welcome.

Make sure you have the product keys for all your apps before you begin so you can install them after the clean OS install.

If personal files are stored on the existing NVME SSD, be sure to back them up on either an internal or external HDD. Don't forget browser bookmarks, address books, email in/out boxes etc which are typically stored on the C: drive, where the app is installed.

Next, change BIOS to AHCI, as detailed above because some SSDs (eg, Samsung, Crucial) don't play nice when BIOS is set to RAID.

Then remove the existing SSD, and disconnect any secondary drives from the motherboard too. The Windows OS Installer can get confused if it sees more than one drive available, and you don't want it over-writing personal files stored on some other drive.

The USB Windows installer will work fine with a clean OS install. The Windows product key is embedded in the motherboard, so if Windows isn't automatically activated when you complete the install, log into your Microsoft account and that should activate it.

The Windows installer should install most/all of the drivers you need for your specific hardware. If not, use your Service Tag at Dell's Support site to find any drivers that weren't installed. (Don't post Service Tag here.)

After the OS is installed, have Windows Update look for available updates. When Windows is fully updated, reconnect any secondary drives you disconnected. Now you can install your apps, so have their product keys handy...

Post back and let us know how it goes...

ejbSF · Answer

Thanks for the help! I just ordered the SSD (2 TB from MSI) , and will report back.

PS: One last question. The 8940 is running Win10 now. As suggested, I'll do a new Win install on the SSD. If I decide to go to Win11, do I have to first install Win10 then Win11, or can I just install Win11 and forget about 10 altogether?

RoHe · Answer

@ejbSF - You will have to decide, but you don't have to install Win 10 before installing Win 11.

Better to do a clean OS install to get rid of leftovers, junk, issues, etc, but that means you have to install all your apps again, vs just updating from Win 10 to Win 11 which should keep your apps.

Since you weren't happy with Win 11 the first time, do you think it will be any better, regardless of whether you do a clean install now or just update from Win 10 to Win 11 at some later date?

Win 10 will be supported until Nov'25, so there's really no rush to update to Win 11. And, I suspect "Win 12" will be out before Win 10 reaches "end-of-life". Will you be able to update directly from Win 10 to Win12...who knows...??

RoHe · Answer

Windows Update should install the NVidia driver which likely includes NVidia Control Panel.

If Windows Update doesn't install the latest Waves MaxxAudio Pro software for XPS 8940, you can install it from here.

Do you really want/need SupportAssist or Dell Update? They're buggy, annoying, and painful to use. You can always look for latest driver updates manually by entering your Service Tag on the Support page. (Don't post Service Tag here.)

You don't need any Killer stuff for either Ethernet or WiFi. Killer stuff has a tendency to slow up/download speeds. I suspect Windows Update will install Killer too, disguised as "Intel Software" and "Intel Extensions". If WU installs them, you can always disable all Killer services listed in Start>Run>services.msc.

Make sure you have product keys for all the software you will install, eg MS Office, Photoshop, etc, etc. If you don't have the keys available, install Belarc Advisor (free) on current boot drive and it will find all the keys for you. Print the list out so it's available when you install apps into Windows on new SSD.

ejbSF · Answer

I got my new SSD and I'm doing the housework to make the transfer. Listing installed software, made USB for Win10 and Win11 etc. About ready to go, but I realized there's a lot of software that came with the system -- Maxx audio, Nvidia Control Panel, Dell Support assist, Killer intelligence Center, for example.

Can I get all of those from Dell, or do I need to download each one from the manufacturer?

How can I be sure I got all the required Dell software and drivers?

Thanks,

Ed

ejbSF · Answer

Nope, don't need any unnecessary software. Thanks again, I'll report back when it's done.

ejbSF · Answer

Last question, I promise.In the past, when I used the Msft media creation tool and created a USB, it was either self-booting or I had to change boot settings in the BIOS.Do I need to do that now? How does the Macrium software fit in? Do I run macrium to make a bootable USB then the media creation tool? Run Macrium after? Not needed for a clean install?

ejbSF · Answer

Please ignore the last message, I figured it out.

All went well with the new install. I decided to go with Win11, given MSFT's stopped updating it. Maybe with the larger SSD (crazy fast!) Adobe'll be happier.

Thank you SO MUCH for all your help! I really appreciate your efforts and patience.

EdB

RoHe · Answer

Glad things went well. Did Windows Update install NVidia control panel, Waves, etc?

Did I misunderstand? Microsoft hasn't stopped updating Win 11. Next Win 11 update should be coming out any day now...

Microsoft won't be adding any new features to Win 10, but it continues to receive security patches and bug fixes.

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XPS 8940, replacing the SSD?

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