How to properly migrate Win8 install from HDD to a new SSD on my XPS15 (l521x) laptop?

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Soulsurfer88

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Oct 29, 2013
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Hi there!

I need your help very very much!

I Have a relatively new laptop - Dell XPS 15 model (l521x).
It comes with win8 64bit preinstalled on its 750gb HDD which also has a 32gb caching (acceletration) SSD.
I want to migrate the OS (win 8 64) onto ADATA S510 120GB SSD which I've bought + an SSD caddy to replace the CDrom drive in my laptop with the new ADATA SSD.

Things i've done so far:
0. I have created WIN8 recovery drive on 32gb USB 3 stick.
1. I have turned off the 32gb ssd caching and acceleration in the Intel utility.
2. I have switched in the BIOS to AHCI.
3. I have switched the CDrom hardware to my new SSD installed in the caddy.
4. Now I do see the new SSD in BIOS and in the device manager in Windows.
So far so good...

Problems I need help with:
A). The new 120GB SSD doesn't show up in MY Computer (but it does show up in device manager). how to make it show up?
B). How to copy (clone, image) of my HDD with OS on it (its about 80 GB used now) onto my new SSD and make the new SSD a primary bootable C drive?
C). How to make the HDD a secondary D drive?

Please help me get through this as I am stucked here.
THANKS A L_O_T!!!!!
 
Solution
lp231
To clone from HDD to SSD, you'll need a cloning software like Achronis.
Seriously, your taking the hard route, some SSD comes with a desktop bundle kit. This includes a SATA to USB adapter and cloning software.
All it needs to do is, connect SSD to included adapter and plug to USB. Install included software to the HDD and launch the cloning utility.
Following on screen instructions, and wait. When finished, replace HDD with SSD and viola, your done.

This program may help with your Adata SSD
http://www.adata-group.com/index.php?action=ss_main&page=ss_software_5
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Soulsurfer88

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Oct 29, 2013
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Hi popatim!

I do see the new caddy SSD in both BIOS and the device manager in windows. What would be the point of switching HDD and SSD?
It seems that I just can't make it show in my computer so I could clone my HDD to SSD (maybe something with windows system properties).
Any ideas?
 
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Y

Y0GI

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Jul 22, 2013
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Have you assigned a drive letter to the SSD in Disk Management yet?

Yogi

 
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Soulsurfer88

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Oct 29, 2013
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Nope, how do I do that?

THX
 
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Y

Y0GI

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Go to Start>Computer and right click on Computer - select "Manage". This will bring up the Computer Management Console. Over in the left pane look for Storage and click the plus sign to expand. Select "Disk Management". Find your drive and right click on it, select "New Simple Volume and the wizard that opens is self explanatory.

Good luck!

Yogi

 
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lp231

lp231

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Mar 24, 2006
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To clone from HDD to SSD, you'll need a cloning software like Achronis.
Seriously, your taking the hard route, some SSD comes with a desktop bundle kit. This includes a SATA to USB adapter and cloning software.
All it needs to do is, connect SSD to included adapter and plug to USB. Install included software to the HDD and launch the cloning utility.
Following on screen instructions, and wait. When finished, replace HDD with SSD and viola, your done.

This program may help with your Adata SSD
http://www.adata-group.com/index.php?action=ss_main&page=ss_software_5
 
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Solution
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Soulsurfer88

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Oct 29, 2013
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Hi Yogi,
When I right click on the disk it gives me 3 options:
1. new spanned volume
2. new striped volume
3. convert to dynamic disk.
there is no option for "New Simple Volume".

Which option should i take?
 
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Soulsurfer88

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Oct 29, 2013
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Hi,
i've bought the SSD used on ebay, so it came as is. no utilities or original box.
I will try to download acronis through adata site. will post the results.

One question though - after i put an image of my HDD on SSD, how do i make the SSD A bootable C drive?

THX

 
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Y

Y0GI

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Jul 22, 2013
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I've never seen that. I'm stumped.

Maybe Popatim will have the answer?

Yogi

 
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Soulsurfer88

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[/quotemsg]

I've never seen that. I'm stumped.

Maybe Popatim will have the answer?

Yogi

[/quotemsg]

Ouch, Yogi, I've clicked in the wrong place. Now I got it. Made it simle and now its online, formatted, letter - drive D.
Is next step - cloning my HDD? and then how i make the SSD bootable?
 
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Y

Y0GI

Splendid
Jul 22, 2013
4,745
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24,960


I've never seen that. I'm stumped.

Maybe Popatim will have the answer?

Yogi

[/quotemsg]

Ouch, Yogi, I've clicked in the wrong place. Now I got it. Made it simle and now its online, formatted, letter - drive D.
Is next step - cloning my HDD? and then how i make the SSD bootable?
[/quotemsg]

Congrats on the Format and drive letter!

You'll have to go to the Adata website for your drive and see if they offer cloning software that you can D/L and use. Failing that, some ppl use a product by Marcrium for cloning or "Clonezilla" has also been recommended before. Hopefully Adata has something because I'm not familiar with the other 2. I used Samsung's tool to clone my C: drive.

Yogi

 
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lp231

lp231

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Whatever you're doing, do not covert the HDD to dynamic disc, it will bite you in the long run.
The software provided by Adata will do everything for you, including setting it up so it can boot from SSD.

 
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Soulsurfer88

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Oct 29, 2013
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All right people,
I have cloned my OS partition from HDD onto my new SSD (used EASEUS TODO cloning utility) couldn't use the Adata util as I dont have a key.
Now, how do I make my computer to boot from the SSD and not the HDD?
I didnt see this option in BIOS....
 
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Soulsurfer88

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That's the problem, I just don't see an option to boot from SSD.
Anyone here familiar with the New Dell XPS 15's BIOS?
 
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Soulsurfer88

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Hi, I do see the SSD in BIOS. I'm having a hard time getting the computer booting from the SSD. What's is the deal with secure boot thing?
 
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lp231

lp231

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A security feature in the UEFI bios used with Windows 8 that blocks unsigned devices, drivers, and low level malware, rootkits from starting up during the boot process. It also prevents the installation of some linux distros

If the clone is actually done successfully, go into bios and disable secure boot. Then enable legacy boot.
Save and Exit. Try booting from SSD
 
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Soulsurfer88

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OK, this is messy.
Disabled UEFI in BIOS, Switched to legacy just to discover that there is no SSD in the list of bootable devices. (the list contained HDD, USB, Net, CDrom (which I dont even have). I tried to play with everything around, None resulted in booting from SSD. I have to say that SSD is shows up in the list of connected divices in BIOS as SSD ODD.
Then I opened up my laptop again. Disconnected HDD - and tried to bood in a few different options again. It all took me an hour, ZZZZzzz
So frustrating...
The problem is to get the SSD into bootable devices list in legacy option. How do I get it done?
What do I do now?
 
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Soulsurfer88

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And where an I going to put HDD? It can't go in the caddy and I need them both (SSD and HDD for storage)...this can't be a permanent solution. What's wrong with the current ssd port?
Is it supposed to be that hard to add a bookable SSD to the system?
 
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