Aurora R13, SSD upgrade, how to reinstall factory OS and software?

Yes this is how it would normally go but for whatever reason this Alienware doesn't let you use boot from USB. I went through this before when trying to load a third party memory test that tested the memory after it booted to itself from USB. When I couldn't get it to work I went searching the message boards and I found articles saying there is something in the system bios which prevents it.

I need to go research again though because the option to change it I think was available but it just gave a warning about screwing up the current system but if I am starting fresh that wouldnt be an issue to change.

This is how I think it goes . . .

Use Macrium Reflect free version to create an image of your current SSD and a bootable USB flash drive. Replace the current SSD with the new SSD and connect the bootable USB flash dirve. Power up and F12 into BIOS to change your boot sequence to boot from the USB. Once you are booted into Windows, use Macrium Reflect to copy the image to your new SSD.

I think it had some thing to do with my system being UEFI and using secure boot  with the drive in RAID (even though its a single drive they defaulted it to RAID and it needs to be the other option starts with an 'A') or something like that

I replaced my system hard drive (NVMe) with a new model about two years ago with no problems since.

I used Macrium Reflect Home to clone my old hard drive to an SSD I installed in the computer.  Then I replaced the NVMe with the blank new model; and if I recall correctly, it booted into Windows 11 automatically from the SSD.  Then I used Macrium Reflect Home to clone the SSD to the new NVMe; removed the SSD and bingo...Windows 11 and all data from old NVMe transferred to new model.

No problems after doing this on my Aurora R9.  Switching out the NVMe was time consuming since I had to remove both of my video cards (SLI) to get at the NVMe.  The only disadvantage I have found with the NVMe format is access, since it's mounted to the mother board; of course, the tiny Aurora case doesn't help any.  All drives were 2 TB, and I was using only about 1TB.  I always powered off and unplugged, better safe than sorry, before disconnecting/reconnecting any drives.

Also, I do not have Windows fast start turned on.

Hope this helps.  Best of luck!

An external M.2 NVMe adapter something like this will allow you the copy the image or clone from Macrium to the new M.2 SSD.

Don't need to go to BIOS to select USB drive too boot from. Simply press F12 during POST and it will present you with a 1 time boot menu, and you will get a list of all detected drives and the option to select which one you want to boot from.

Select the USB from that list and it will boot from USB.

Make SURE you can boot from the boot media and DO NOT delete any drive information until you have your new drive up and running.

I purchased the Aurora r13 for my son came with 256 storage. At the time of purchase I did not know anything about gaming and just how much storage one game takes. He can only have one game on this system. I purchased a 2tb ssd once installed the bios would not detect. You can see it in the system but every thing originally running on the 256 storage is gone I have had 3 technicians out and no one can help me. If I put the old storage back in every is there. Like windows etc I do not know what else I can do. Help 

@Srchin4as9​ If you are replacing the 256 with a 2 TB, enter the BIOS and switch it from RAID to AHCI mode.

Then use windows installation media to reinstall windows on the new drive.

If this is a second drive, use it as storage and format in GTP format. Use the original drive as regular boot drive and install any programs on the new 2 tb drive.

@Vanadiel   i will try the technician came and took the 2tb storage with him. So I’m  awaiting dell to send me another one with images.   I just want to add the 2tb storage and leave the 256 in place.     So I will need the steps on how to format once I get it installed 

@Srchin4as9​ How to Format a new drive

Just use GPT instead of NTFS if available as a selection.

You should not need any images of anything besides the drive if you are going to use it as a second drive.

Should be 5 minutes for a technician to have this all done, including installing the new drive into the system...