Adding SSD to Inspiron 17R Notebook 3D (Inspiron 7720)

Question

Hello,

I have some questions about my Dell Inspiron 17R Notebook 3D (Inspiron 7720) laptop:

1. Under the laptop where the hard drive is at, there is an empty spot and it looks that another hard drive would fit there. What is this empty spot for?

2. Can I add another 250G SSD to this laptop? Where should I put it? Is the empty spot above is for this?

3. I got this laptop about three months ago, and it was really very fast at the beginning. Now it is slowing down and I wonder if this is normal and how much slower can go as the time pass by?

Many thanks for your help.

Mo:emotion-1:

DELL-Vikram M · Accepted Answer

Hi moshken,

The slot above the hard drive is to add another hard drive. You can certainly put a SATA SSD into the empty slot. Below picture shows both the hard drive slots:

Usually, a new system with less data stored on the hard drive will operate faster as compared to a 3 months older system on which you would have installed some applications. However, I will recommend you to run the diagnostics on your system to chek the hardware functionality:

Restart your system and keep tapping 'F12' as soon as the Dell logo appears.
Highlight 'Diagnostics' using up/down arrow keys and press enter.

Please let me know if you get an error code/message.

In case the diagnostics pass, check your system's performance in 'Safe mode with Networking’:

Restart the system and keep tapping 'F8' as soon as the Dell logo appears.
Highlight 'Safe Mode with Networking' using arrow keys and press enter.

Keep me posted. Please reply for any further questions.

moshken · Answer

Than you so much for such a detailed answer. I deeply appreciate that. I will do your recommendations and let you know.

One more question if I add a 250G SSD how can I tell or arrange the laptop to use the SSD drive to run just the applications and the hard drive for storage.

Thank you so much.

Mo

DELL-Vikram M · Answer

Hi moshken,

You would need to install the operating system on the SSD in order to make it a bootable device. There are two ways to boot from SSD and make the hard drive as a storage device:

Take out the hard drive, put the SSD in the primary hard drive's slot and put the hard drive in the empty (secondary slot).
OR
Put the SSD in the empty slot and change the second hard drive as the first boot priority.

Please reply for any further questions.

moshken · Answer

Thanks again for your help. I think I am going to start all over again, so it will be a clean SSD installation.

One thing though Dell original hard drive suppose to have a 32G SSD and I wonder where is it and it is working?

Thank you very much.

Mo

DELL-Vikram M · Answer

Hi Mo,

Usually mSATA is used for caching purpose. It is used for Intel Smart Response Technology. Intel Smart Response Technology is an Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) caching feature that improves computer system performance. It allows a user to configure computer systems with an SSD used as cache memory between the hard disk drive and system memory. This provides the advantage of having a hard disk drive (or a RAID volume) for maximum storage capacity while delivering an SSD-like overall system performance experience.

In case you want to boot from the SSD, the caching feature mentioned above will not work. SSD is optional with your system. If you ordered your system with SSD, it should be there.

Please reply for any further questions.

moshken · Answer

Yes my system came with just 32G SSD and that what I was thinking to add a new one with 250G SSD.

Looking at my computer I just see "C" drive and I wonder where this 32G SSD is located and what is on it?.

Thanks.

Mo

DELL-Vikram M · Answer

Hi Mo,

SSD that is shipped with your system is mSATA SSD is used for caching purpose but not for the storage purpose. That is the reason it is not showing under My Computer. mSATA SSD is smaller in size than a normal SATA SSD. If you want to use SSD as a bootable drive, you may consider purchasing a SATA SSD and connect it in the second hard drive bay as showed in the above picture.

Please reply for any clarifications.

To know more about Dell’s products, services and drivers & downloads, please go to http://dell.to/QjjZDA

moshken · Answer

Vikram M,

Thank you very much for all your help.

I am getting a 250G Samsung SSD to put it in. I am going to reinstall all my program again to this new SSD and leave the hard drive that came with my laptop for the storage.

One question I have is what will happen to mSATA SSD that shipped with my system?

If you have any recommendations please let me know.

Your help is always deeply appreciated.

Mo

RavoxX · Answer

Hey Vikram,

I've ordered the Special Edition off the Inspiron 17R with a blu-ray drive. As far as I know there isn't a cache-ssd installed. If I want to upgrade my laptop with a SSD, should I take a 2.5 inch or a mSATA one? I've read that both are only connected by SATA II to the mainboard, is that true?

ejn63 · Answer

A 2.5' SATA SSD is the way to go - it'll be far faster than an mSATA cache for a conventional hard drive. The 2.5' drive will run in SATA 6G mode.

moshken · Answer

Hello,

I am stuck and I need HELP.

I got Samsung 250G SSD. I took out the original hard drive and put the new SSD there. I put the old hard drive in the secondary place. I did a recovery USB before doing that.

I am stuck and I do not know how to start win 8 on this laptop. I do not a Win 8 CD since the laptop came with Win 8 already installed. Do I have to get a new Win 8 CD to install win 8.

Please help.

Thanks.

Mo

Left C · Answer

You can clone or migrate your hard drive to the SSD using one of several types of software. Samsung has some free migrating software: www.samsung.com/.../MZ-7TD250BW

Have you seen the following tutorial? www.sevenforums.com/.../149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

I hope this helps.

moshken · Answer

Hello,

I spent hours after hours to clone my hard drive to SSD using Samsung and recovery CD and it did not work. Finally I came across a program called "Paragon". This program was a breeze of relief it did that in not time. the only issue I have not I do not see my second drive which is the original hard drive in Window explorer. Any help on this.

Thanks.

Mo

itsik101 · Answer

hi,

about the second option: how can I change in bios of dell inspiron n7720 se the option to boot from ssd as the first boot priority?

(and in 5400rpm 1TB drive to the second priority)?

in short, how am I replace between the priority of the drives?

thanks a lot,

itsik

Left C · Answer

I also used the Paragon software. Easy to use.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Adding SSD to Inspiron 17R Notebook 3D (Inspiron 7720)

Was this post helpful?