Unsolved
1 Message
0
555
October 1st, 2020 22:00
m15 R3, questions on replacing stock SSD
Hello and please welcome me to the forum as I make my first post here even though I'm a Dell customer for more than 10 years.
I recently got the most incredible piece of hardware I ever owned: an Alienware m15 R3. The little beast has a single 512GB NVMe drive and now I want to install a larger and faster WD Black in place of the stock one as my main drive, and move the stock one to the second slot for extra storage.
I have some questions to which I unfortunately wasn't able to find answers here, so I decided to score my first post.
First question: Do I void my warranty by doing this? Hopefully not.
Second question: How do I move all the partitions and system images from the stock SSD to the new one to make sure I have everything in place in case I need the restore image or something like that in the future? Does Dell provide any cloning tool like Norton Ghost in order to do so? I want to make the new SSD to be as close to stock as possible. Also, once I do all things needed to use the new drive as the main one, can I just wipe the stock one without problems?
Third question: Do I need to purchase any enclosing/cover plates to install the new drive, or does the slot has everything I need to install it?
Again, I apologize if this is is a too frequently asked question, but I really couldn't find any answers after a few searches, so if there's already any thread about these topics, please let me know.
Thank you for your time and stay safe
crimsom
9 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
October 2nd, 2020 00:00
Hi @Dont Panyq
First Answer: Dell expects users to upgrade their laptops. Removal of the rear panel's warranty seal does not invalidate the Dell warranty.
Second Answer: go to How to transfer Windows OS to new SSD. jphughan's post is an excellent guide.
Third Answer: The new slot will probably only have the securing screw, have a look to confirm. A CN-03N3W3 Shield Caddy is often found on the Dell installed SSD. Check to see if the new SSD runs hot and if it has components on both sides. Take measurements to check there is sufficient room in the SSD slot.