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28 Posts
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220910
Enabling 32GB SSD Cache on XPS 2720
I just got a Dell XPS 2720 from the Outlet and it rocks so hard, except I can't get the SSD cache working and it's bugging me since I paid extra for it.
So far:
- I received the computer and did a clean install of 8.1 with RAID mode set in the BIOS.
- Installed all drivers and updates etc.
- Opened Intel Rapid Storage to enable Smart Response but the Accelerate tab is missing. Performance only shows a power management option.
I tried using diskpart to clean the SSD, initializing it as MBR, GUID, setting up a RAW partition, etc and a ton of combinations of things in Disk Management but I cannot get IRST to give me that Accelerate option.
Anybody have any luck with this?
Zeropage
1 Message
0
September 11th, 2014 07:00
Everybody seems to have a different story how to get the RST SSD cache back to work, so here's mine:
After a disk crash I had to reinstall Windows 8 and update to Windows 8.1. For some reason I ended up with a recovery partition at the beginning and at the end of the disk. It seems that the RST Accelerate option does not show up if the last partition is not the OS.
After I deleted the recovery partition with the diskpart utility (select disk, select partition, delete partition override) and extended the OS partition to the end of the disk, the acceleration tab showed up and Smart Response is working! So the error was not the mSATA SSD drive, but the partition structure on the OS disk.
So I guess, if the OS partition is not the last partition on the disk, the Smart Response option will not show up. Intel really should document this better.
JosephHW
9 Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 06:00
I'm in the same boat. Here are my steps if it helps:
1. Installed Windows 8 from Dell recovery DVD onto 2TB mechanical drive.
2. Upgraded 8 to 8.1, installed the very latest Intel RST v 12.
3. Did the bcdedit trick to enable safe mode.
4. Restarted computer, set BIOS to RAID from AHCI, got into safe mode to reverse the bcdedit and restarted
5. Windows 8.1 now boots with RAID mode option enabled in BIOS, but Intel RST still does not give me the accelerate option.
phrequencyviii
28 Posts
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November 19th, 2013 08:00
Windows 8 keys are baked into the firmware now, so you don't need to enter one....however, if you do a clean install of Windows 8.1 (not 8) you will. I grabbed it with Produkey for activation.
Mine is the latest BIOS so no difference there...
I've got an open ticket with Dell Prosupport and I'll update if we figure it out...I think it's really more of Intel's fault than Dell's. It's weird.
It might be worth just ebaying this msata for a 64-128GB and sticking the whole OS on there, but I don't want to reinstall or spend the money, haha.
It really is an awesome system! I did have some funkiness with the touch screen not working and needing to reboot, but I updated the firmware for it and haven't had it happen since. I do notice some flicker on really white full screens on IE but I noticed that on a 27" iMac I was using the other day as well with a totally white screen.
Otherwise it's so cool and I'm surprised how powerful the 750m is!
M2inOR
4 Posts
0
November 19th, 2013 08:00
Seems to me that Dell should have a recommendation for resolving this.
I too received the refurb unit last week from the Woot deal.
When setting it up, I noted that the mSATA SSD was assigned a drive letter, and I knew this was not right.
Also note that my BIOS is still A01, not A05 which is the current release.
The refurb unit came with no documentation other than the warranty booklets.
The recovery disc was included. Was able to find all the documentation on the website.
Also note that there is no Genuine Windows Key code, but does have a genuine Windows sticker hiding on the back. Do Windows 8 OEM installs no longer require any Key?
Waiting for some official words from Dell before I attempt to change the BIOS settings to RAID and try to get RST mode working.
Otherwise, I really do like this AIO.
erblock
3 Posts
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November 19th, 2013 16:00
I have two systems with the raid/accelerate "bit" issue now. My guess is that somehow between Dell's bios and Intel's drivers, the Intel driver is not getting that the raid "bit" is set. They already took the first one back but the replacement had the same issue somehow... Both were A01 Bios but I have other that work fine with both A05 and A01.
They've got to fix this! Soon let's hope.
M2inOR
4 Posts
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November 19th, 2013 17:00
Still no luck. Here is what I did this afternoon:
- made System Recovery DVDs (two 4.7GB DVD+R discs)
- made USB Recovery Stick
- upgraded BIOS to A05; though instructions said to make DOS bootable USB Stick, I was successful running the updater from Windows 8
Reinstalled Win8 from the USB Recovery Stick. Noted that a few programs missing from the original factory delivered Win8 were now installed -- ie Intel and Dell utilities, in addition to the DVD Player utilities that were previously present. Ran Dell diagnostics, no problems found.
Downloaded and installed the RST update, installed. Still no opportunity to enable acceleration.
Oh well...now to wait for all the other updates to finish installing.
taravind
1 Message
0
November 21st, 2013 14:00
Hi,
I had the same problem too showing mSATA drive on my computer and had no option to enable the caching. Had a hour long chat with dell support and they concluded that even if it doesn't show on intel RST, they are pretty sure it was enabled. But i know it was wrong. And i did some research for hours and found that if the drive is formatted or has some data in the mSATA drive, the intel RST will not recognize the drive for caching.
Before you make nay changes make sure that you don't have any data in that mSATA drive and RAID is set in the BIOS correctly. Goto computer management and then click disk management. here you find different drives in the system. mSATA drive volume should on the list. Delete the mSata drive volume from it. Don't format it just delete the volume. Now goto intel RST, now you have the option the configure the drive for caching. This process worked for me. Let me know whether it worked for you guys or not.
-DJ
M2inOR
4 Posts
0
November 25th, 2013 10:00
Taravind,
Missed your latest comment until now, but I came to same conclusion.
As delivered, my mSATA was formatted and partitioned, showing as a drive letter in Explorer as well as in RST.
So this morning, after thinking a bit,
- I opened an Administrator CMD window
- went into DISKPART
- selected the mSATA drive (be sure to select the right disk!)
- issued CLEAN command to remove partition info
- EXIT from DISKPART
- EXIT from CMD
- Restarted
- fired up Intel RST
- option to accelerate was enabled
- configured the mSATA as cache and the HDD as the volume to accelerate
- after about a minute, I got an error, and was advised to Restart
- I did Restart
- fired up RST again, and the statusscreen confirmed I now had an accelerated HDD
All is well!
phrequencyviii
28 Posts
0
December 7th, 2013 19:00
I tried all of that with no luck. :(
According to Dell ProSupport, it's a firmware glitch with certain hard drives. They are sending a tech out to swap the HDD with another one...I kind of doubt it will fix it, but we'll see...
ngagnard
1 Message
0
February 4th, 2014 05:00
This indeed did work for me and should be listed as answered
Thanks Taravind
ManyDimensions
1.3K Posts
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March 27th, 2014 09:00
m.wog
2 Posts
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December 16th, 2014 05:00
"After I deleted the recovery partition with the diskpart utility (select disk, select partition, delete partition override) and extended the OS partition to the end of the disk, the acceleration tab showed up and Smart Response is working! So the error was not the mSATA SSD drive, but the partition structure on the OS disk."
That's it! I've looked so long for a solution, and found this in this sentence. I've created a restore partition at the end of the disk with dell "backup and restore", since this time accelerate option was not visible.
I did'nt remember me, but as I've read it was the only logical explanation to me, because nothing was changed, exept driver, and in that I've spended my time.
thx very much
Marcel06
4 Posts
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August 30th, 2017 14:00
Hi,
3 years later, I have the same issue after a new WIN10X64 clean installation on an XPS One 2720.
I made sure the specific Intel driver was loaded during Windows setup. I installed RST app on the clean installed Windows but I could not find any acceleration tab in the RST application (could see my 2 disk with a green tick in front of each).
I checked order of partitions as mentioned above:
DISKPART> list partition
N° partition Type Taille Décalage
------------- ---------------- ------- --------
Partition 1 Récupération 450 M 1024 K
Partition 2 Système 99 M 451 M
Partition 3 Réservé 16 M 550 M
Partition 4 Principale 1862 G 566 M
Last partition #4 is my OS partition hence not the solution in my case.
I checked the SSD disk and cleaned it as mentioned above with DiskPart (select disk, select partition, delete partition override) then after reboot RST app would not show any acceleration option neither.
In my case, the SSD drive is OEM DELL straight from factory and worked fine as accelerator before (I suppose as I never wondered to be honest).
I checked the BIOS and RAID is enabled.
Hence, nothing from the above worked for me. Any idea?
I called Dell and Intel support lines but got nothing so far (still pending from Dell level 2).
Thank you
Note: On a separate note, I did all this trick initially because I was looking for a proper driver for the screen as it is seen as a generic display by Win. For this different matter, Dell advised a downgrade to WIN8 as it came from factory but I could see after the factory image was back that the image also included a default generic display driver. Not ideal for calibration and ICC profiling knowing the OSD command only comes with brightness tuning... In case you found the specific driver, thanks (I am considering the monitor here and not the 2 video cards well equiped as far as drivers are concerned).
Marcel06
4 Posts
0
September 5th, 2017 08:00
Hi,
Any chance either on the RAID issue or the screen pilote?
Dell support level 2 just gave up (after long hours trying and downgrade from W10 to W8.1) and asked for a return in factory meaning they don' t know and they don't care. They push back knowing warranty is over and I can't return it to Germany on my own.
Not the kind of support I would expect for such a company.