Aurora R8, advice upgrading to M.2 SSD and making that the Boot Drive

Let me try that again ... writing it out helps me think better about the process ...

" Create your Windows Recovery Drive (just in case you need it). Lately, it takes a 32gb flash-drive. We are not using it here, but conceivably, this should restore machine back to Dell Factory shipped software condition (see notes below)."

I understand that ... can do that

"- Connect only the SSD (or destination drive you wish to use as bootable C: )
a. Easier for installer to find desired destination (since only one installed)
b. There is no chance any other drive can be deemed "Windows Boot Manager" boot drive
c. If you are still not running your bootable C: (Windows and Apps) from a fast SSD , now it a good time to fix that. SSDs are inexpensive now."

- Drive should be completely RAW and uninitialized. Windows installer will take care of MBR/GPT type selection.

So, this means, take the current HDD out of the machine and install ONLY my new M.2 drive, fresh from the packaging. Correct?

What is the "windows installer"? Is this something I need to have on an external flash drive?

 Set BIOS to UEFI and AHCI (Not sure why SATA options affect PCIe drives on Dell/Alienware, but reportedly, they seem to). 

- SecureBoot Enabled (if using Microsoft authorized BootKit or "blessed" media as suggested below). Otherwise, leave it off for now.

- Your future C: drive should appear in BIOS, and report as the proper size. But, maybe not yet if installed in separate PCIe-Addin card in lower PCIe-Slot.

- Be sure machine passes ePSA Diagnostics (on this current hardware). You don't have to always do long-ram-memory test if it has completed before. All Over-Clocks should be OFF.

I'm not quite sure what to make of these directions. Will I be able to access BIOS with only the empty M.2 drive installed and nothing else? Is this simply accomplished by pushing F12 when I turn the machine on .... as in the next line of directions below?

- Press F12 to boot (a recently created) Microsoft.com Windows-10 Media-Creation flash-drive.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
If this flash-drive is NOT recently created, sometimes it helps to have an ethernet cable attached to your router (so it can download any more recent "Pre-Installation Files").

- Install Windows-10 (64bit) to BLANK/Raw drive. It should say "UnPartitioned Space" and you install to it.

- Do Windows-10 first-time setup.

I did follow that link and I'm fairly certain I understand what to do. Create a flash drive from that site, I just ordered up a 16GB stick for just that.

Do I just have this Media-Creation Flash-drive inserted into a usb slot upon turning the machine on ... some menu appears and it allows me to install windows?

- Toward the end, if Cortana asks you about installing a large/major-upgrade she found, you can usually click "Do It Later". It should work fine for now with Windows-10 v1703 or v1709.

- I suggest you DO NOT install Intel-RST when finished (or ever ... just use the included Microsoft drivers instead). It's often troublesome and just not required.

- Windows Update should load all drivers on most machines. Device Manager should be clean and free of error-ed devices. Generally, at this point ... I do not mess with working devices, or Dell validated drivers for any that are not in error. Maybe drop-by Nvidia.com or AMD.com and pickup a WHQL desktop video card driver. I suggest you "keep it lean".

- On newer Dell machines, the Windows serial-key is stored in BIOS. Check that Windows-10 is automatically Activated as legit. For older machines, you enter Windows-7/8 key manually (usually from CoA sticker on machine).

- Turn-on SecureBoot in BIOS if not already on. After rebooting a couple of times, run msinfo32 and check its status.

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General/fixed/td-p/5627124

Notes:
a. If having problems ... before each new attempt, the destination-disk should be completely erased and left raw/uninitialized. I like to use "DiskPart Clean" ... but be very careful with this command (it's easy to erase the wrong disk). Pretty sure DiskPart is on the Windows-10 Installer flash-drive and/or a Windows-10 Recovery drive. But if not, you can use the Win-PE on a Macrium Reflect Free Rescue flash-drive boot-disk.

b. In UEFI mode, it seems the process of installing Windows (either clean or overlaid) is one way to get the "Windows Boot Manager" properly configured. On Dells, you also have the one-time F12 Boot Menu at your disposal. This really only applies to attempted clonings gone a bit wrong.

c. Alienware owners can get the proper Alienware Command Center for Desktops for their exact computers at http://support.dell.com . There is nothing else special you should need.

d. If this is a newer machine that still has the Dell software factory-load on it, and you are getting ready to (erase it all and) clean-install Windows ... you might want to use the Windows utility to create the Dell Windows Recovery flash-drive first. I finally used mine as a test. It seemed to restore the machine to very close to it's original "shipped from Dell, factory software load". You should probably create it just in case you need it. This might be only way to get Dell-OEM version of Cyberlink DVD/BD (and similar OEM software) back.

e. I don't know why you would, but if you must use RAID-Mode (instead of AHCI-Mode) ... don't be surprised if you have to Load the "Intel F6-Driver" at Windows-Install "select install drive" step. Since you have decided to go this way, I think most go ahead (all the way down the rabbit hole) and install (your proper) Intel-RST inside Windows. Remember, it's virtually impossible to completely remove later (IIRC, takes another clean-install). This enhanced driver suite is unique because Windows needs a working disk-driver to boot and initialize Windows. You can't be using it and updating at the same time.

I'll tackle these items when I get a better understanding of the previous material.

 

Thank you for helping me out here folks!

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@DaultonBodhi wrote:

1. I made a recovery drive when it had only Windows on it.

2. I tried out Macrium Reflect and made an image (with verify after creation on) of the current HDD C: drive of the R8, again having only Windows, Macrium Reflect, and CrystalDiskMark on the machine. I imaged all of the partitions (I think I did, everything was "checked", not just C: when I made the image) onto an external SDD.

So now, when my new hardware shows up, would it be best for me to:

- Install just the M.2 drive

- Boot the machine and let it set up whatever drivers are needed for the M.2 drive / verify that the machine recognizes the new M.2 Drive

- Use Macrium reflect to transfer my saved image (currently residing on an external SSD) onto the new M.2 drive

3. - and then ... ??? I'm not sure.

 

Thanks

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So, I guess you could say you have 3 way to restore:

a. Use Dell Windows Recovery drive (you just made it)
b. Use Microsoft Windows Recovery drive (a perfect ISO of Windows-10)
c. Restore that image-file with Macrium Reflect .

 

1. Good

2. Sounds fine. Just boot the machine with the "Macrium Reflect Recovery flash-drive" and restore the image you created. That's considered a "bare metal restore".

3. That's it. After Macrium-Reflect finishes, they have you reboot or power-cycle and you are done. Machine should now boot from new SSD. Be sure Windows is still activated as legit.