Dell XPS 13 9365 - Won't boot USB in SATA Mode AHCI - Trying to install Ubuntu

I never tried to use the Toshiba drive as PCIe.  What I suggest you do is try to load Windows on the system to see if it will do that.  The Bios update may be causing a problem for that drive as it seems to be for the 9360s.  I am assuming you are working with a clean drive while installing since the Windows installs have the drive being used as SATA?

You may just want to configure it as SATA and leave the setting on RAID..

I also would not have an SD card in the reader.  Until a driver is loaded for the reader it may have problems.

I will check my exact bios settings tonight and post it here for reference.

I have the exact same problem with the system seeming to hang during POST after setting to AHCI.

I tried with the installed BIOS (think it was .2) then upgraded to the latest (.5) with the same behaviour.

If this won't work and I'm unable to install Linux on this laptop I will ask for a return.

If this won't work and I'm unable to install Linux on this laptop I will ask for a return

I don't understand this statement.  If it won't work as PCIe (AHCI setting) why not just leave it set as RAID and use the drive in the SATA mode?

Nothing sees the PCIe drive in RAID mode, not even Windows.  It runs as a SATA drive and that is how my one week old 9365 was configured.

I am now running a Samsung 960 Pro which is recognized fine in Windows as a PCIe drive.  I do not know if Windows will pick up the Toshiba as a PCIe drive or not since mine came configured as SATA (RAID) and I did not try to reconfigure it.

1. msconfig in windows 10. Set safe boot option. This is necessary as windows won't boot normally once AHCI set. 2. reboot and enter bios (F12) 3. uncheck legacy ROM option and switch from RAID to AHCI 4. let windows 10 boot in safe mode 5. run msconfig and uncheck the safe boot option 6. Reboot into Windows (should work now)

Thanks for checking that process.  We have been using in Windows for years I just wasn't sure it would work with this configuration.  I have reinstalled the original drive and can confirm the process works.

Still not sure why you folks needed to change the SATA settings.  Linux should have installed fine on the Faux SATA drive, but I have not tried on this configuration.

If you already have a pre-installed OS like windows like Windows 10 then it won't allow to install old version of OS like, xp and windows 7.  The best idea is to either disable from BOOT section (please note that is diff between bios and cmos) and then install via bootable cd, i have seen that many times booting from pen drives takes lot of time.

Still not sure why you folks needed to change the SATA settings.  Linux should have installed fine on the Faux SATA drive, but I have not tried on this configuration.

Because in RAID mode (as the 9365 ships) linux won't see any drive it can install to. Hence we need the drive to be in AHCI mode for installation of Linux. This was mentioned and verified by multiple users in this thread, including me.

Because in RAID mode (as the 9365 ships) linux won't see any drive it can install to.

I agree.  I used the live version of kernel 16.10 to check for the drive.  In AHCI/Disabled the drive was visible but in RAID it was not..  Possibly no SATA drivers being loaded for that configuration.

I did not have any problems booting the USB media and no Bios changes were necessary regarding Secure Boot or anything other than the SATA situation.

I did have to get another pair of glasses to see what was on the screen.. ;)

In January I ordered a 7510 Developer laptop running UBUNTU.  I could not boot from the USB port unless ALL hard drives were disabled.  Dell had me send the machine back after the second machine they sent had the same issue.  Dell stated it was an Engineering problem.  I never heard about a fix or the reason why it would not boot.  Does anyone have experience with the 9360 developer UBUNTU 16.04 ?  Will it boot from the USB port?

I have this problem but have had no success even when using a WinPE disk!!! This is a bugger!

I have a client that has a normal Windows 10 Pro XPS 13 9365. SSD is listed as Samsung 961.

I switched to AHCI mode (painfully slow, grueling, annoying boot process once switched over)

BIOS/UEFI and everything else updated and the most recent blah blah blah..

I can boot into various recovery boot disks (cd or USB) regardless if it is in RAID or AHCI mode BUT none of my recovery or imaging disks see the boot drive!

Example - Acronis (linux based boot cd) works fine but cannot find boot drive.

Macrium Reflect - works fine as a boot disk created with latest WinPE files for W10, but does not see boot NVME drive.

Anyone have any suggestions?

For Linux to see the drive, it has to be in AHCI mode.  For the drivers to be loaded, you have to boot the install media in UEFI mode.  Any device wanted to be booted as UEFI has to be available before boot or reboot so it can be read.

I know Ubuntu can boot as UEFI and Secure boot.  I am not sure about any other versions.

If you are imaging a system originally running as RAID, you may have to go through the process which uses msconfig.exe to switch SATA controllers.  

My 9365 runs Win 10 fine on a Samsung 960 Pro as PCIe and I did try Ubuntu also, which did see the drive and install.  Ubuntu would not see the drive is in RAID mode.  I am running the latest Bios.

As explained in the answer by wahwah80, to be able to see the boot drive, you need to be in AHCI mode AND uncheck the "Legacy ROM" option in advanced boot options

It does not work for Dell xps13 9365 2-in-1.