Multiple problems upgrading SSD for Dell G7

Question

Ok, so I have a Dell G7 that came both with an SSD and HDD and I've been trying to upgrade my old 128GB SSD to a new Adata SU800 512GB SSD but I've been running into lots of problems. First of all I tried to use Macrium Reflect to Image the SSD and then restore the image in the new SSD, the problem here was that when I tried to boot from Macrium's recovery media, my SSD wasn't showing up. This struck me as odd, since the same does not happen with the old SSD, it shows up without issues when booting with the recovery media. I started looking around and found some stuff about my BIOS AHCI/RAID setting so I changed it to AHCI and with that change the new SSD started showing up in Macrium. I restored the image and tried to boot but it got stuck in a boot loop after loading the Dell Logo and spinning for a few seconds the computer would reboot itself and try again to boot up. So I changed the setting back to RAID and kind of the same thing happened. I went ahead and tried next with Acronis and Paragon, same result. So my next idea was to start from scratch, I tried to install Windows 10 using a USB stick and the Media creation tool. At this point I changed the BIOS setting back to RAID because I remembered the BIOS warning about maybe having to reinstall OS after changing this setting, also, I wanted to use the newest Intel controllers instead of AHCI, just like when the computer shipped with the small SSD. But now WIndows 10 installer wasn't finding my new SSD, this was very odd to me since the old SSD showed up fine. So I started reading more. Turns out I need to download and load the Intel Rapid Storage driver when choosing where to install Win10. I found the correct file, I extracted it, loaded it and nothing, still not showing up in windows installation. Like I said, this was really odd to me since the old SSD never needed any special drivers for it to show up. Not in AHCI, not in RAID mode. So what the hell, right? Who really needs Intel Rapid storage technology?? I might as well just change the BIOS setting back to AHCI and try to clean install this way, RIGHT? Well, I tried that, and after loading up Dell Update in my fresh install, I noticed it automatically went ahead and downloaded the Intel Rapid Storage drivers and installed them alongside with all the other drivers. Next it asked me to reboot to finish installing updates and drivers but when I did, the computer stopped booting up. It did the exact same thing it does after cloning with imaging software, it tries to load and then says no bootable medium found. I started checking my BIOS and apparently when I start my laptop, it detects the new SSD just fine and tries to boot from it, but after crashing and rebooting, if you go into BIOS the disk is not detected anymore. The M.2 slot says empty. I've tried this now 3 times and now know for sure that if Intel Rapid Storage drivers get installed, the computer will stop booting. I should add that IF the intel drivers get installed, the computer won't boot up no matter what the BIOS setting is, AHCI or RAID. Now, at this point I would be content running in AHCI mode since there seem to be very little advantages (if any) when running with the latest Intel Rapid Storage drivers but I can't do that without having to worry that at some point Windows update or Dell Update will try to install the intel drivers and make my system unbootable. Does anyone has any idea what is going on? Is my new SSD just not compatible?

Clintlgm · Answer

I would suggest that you go back to Zero, Hopefully, when you created your SSD/Image you included all partitions?

First off ensure that your new SSD is in RAW condition if you have done anything with it. You'll need to use Diskpart to To clean it. leaving it RAW as it came from the factory.

Put your BIOS back the way it was when you created the SSD Image.

When you boot to your MR Recovery USB boot up spamming the F12 key and select the UEFI USB MR, it's important to boot it up UEFI not just USB or USB MR

Now once you get into the MR Windows PE recovery program your New SSD will be available to Restore your Image too. Tutorial How to use Macrium Reflect

It's important to follow the correct procedure to get the results you want. Used correctly MR has never failed me in the last 8 years with many clones and restores on many different computers

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

Welcome to the Dell Community @bermudi

To better assist you, the members and I would need the exact model number of your laptop/desktop???

Identify your Dell:

https://www.dell.com/support/contents/us/en/04/category/product-support/self-support-knowledgebase/locate-service-tag?dgc=SM&cid=226210&lid=spr2429124398&linkId=69606563

When doing a fresh W10 install do you disconnect the other HDD until after the install and all updates???

Best regards,

U2

PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY SERVICE TAGS!!!

bermudi · Answer

PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY SERVICE TAGS!!! I have a G7 15, don't know how else to identify it. The link provided only helps identify service tags

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

@bermudi  Sorry I guess I should have included the location to look-up your S/T number. https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/?l=en Regards, U2

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

@bermudi

NO.

You go to the link.

Then you put in your Service Tag number.

Then it will tell you your model number.

Then you can post the exact model number without posting your Service Tag number!!!

Regards,

U2

bermudi · Answer

wait, you want my service tag? sorry but I don't feel comfortable sharing that publicly

@U2CAMEB4ME wrote:

@bermudi

Sorry I guess I should have included the location to look-up your S/T number.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/?l=en

Regards,

U2

bermudi · Answer

Ok, I will try this although before doing anything to the drive, I still had this no-show under RAID settings with the drive and neither WIndows nor MR could see it, it was only being detected by the BIOS.

I'll try to run diskpart and see how it goes.

Clintlgm · Answer

You would use your Recovery thumb drive and your RAW SSD will show up in Windows PE the environment that MR uses for recovery.

bermudi · Answer

I booted with Win10 installation media but had to change the BIOS setting back to AHCI for it to be able to see the SSD. I zeroed it with diskpart and started testing again but nothing changed, Windows still wont see it when set up as RAID and if I reinstall in AHCI, Dell Update kicks in and installs the Intel driver making my system unbootable.

bermudi · Answer

oh sorry! one can never be too careful these days.    Dell G7 15 7588

Clintlgm · Answer

If you have lost the data on your old hard drive and now have to Clean Install this link should help get you on the right track. https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln297920/reset-or-reinstall-windows-10-on-your-dell-computer?lang=en

my past reply was for using the MR Image you have created

bermudi · Answer

I can Install just fine. The problem is when Dell Update installs the Intel drivers, after that the system becomes unbootable regardless of BIOS settings

Inspiron

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