@Max-Dean I would install Windows on the mSATA drive since you have a 1TB drive for additional storage. The 250GB mSATA drive should have more than enough space for Windows and installing some applications. I would disconnect the 1TB drive before installing Windows. After Windows is installed, you can reconnect the 1TB drive, boot from the mSATA, and then reinitialize the 1TB using DiskPart. Here is the procedure for reinitializing a drive using DiskPart: https://macrorit.com/partition-magic-manager/initialize-disk-gpt-mbr-from-cmd-diskpart.html
Make sure you are booting from the mSATA, use the 'list disk' command to identify the 1TB drive, and the 'select disk' command to select the disk correct to reinitialize.
In Windows 10 it is easy to specify another drive for additional storage. Go to All settings / System / Storage / click on "Change where new content is saved" / then change where new apps, new documents, new music, new photos, new movies, etc. are saved. Note that existing documents, music, photos, movies, etc. remain in their current locations and have to be moved (copied to the new locations and deleted (if you wish) from the old locations. Existing apps have to be uninstalled and reinstalled, except that some apps prefer to be installed on the OS drive. Also, some apps default to saving content on the C drive.
SATA mode set to AHCI is OK. You should install Windows with only the drive you wish to put Windows on installed. You should remove the 250GB drive. It is possible that Windows was previously installed on the 250GB drive? You did not describe the configuration of your PC prior to your upgrade, but I think normally Dell installs the OS on the mSATA drive, so it is possible that your PC is still trying to boot from that drive.
In the original configuration, on the SSD msata Windows 8.1 was installed by Dell. The Windows OS booted faster from a SSD at that time. The data storage was on the HD (non SSD).
If I understand you correctly, the 1TB SSD is not seen as a first boot. The msata is seen as such. Although the bios shows both SSD. Since no OS is installed, that would explain the message. If I remove the msata must I reinstall Windows 10 on the 1TB SSD. Or can I install Windows 10 on the msata SSD, remove Windows from the 1TB SSD. And use the 1TB SSD as a extra data storage. A other option could also be to increase from 1 TB to 2 TB a no longer use the msata SSD ?
Your help is must appreciated.
Regards M-D
(English is not my native language. So I apologize if my English grammer is not correct).
Vic384
4 Operator
•
3.2K Posts
1
October 28th, 2020 13:00
@Max-Dean I would install Windows on the mSATA drive since you have a 1TB drive for additional storage. The 250GB mSATA drive should have more than enough space for Windows and installing some applications. I would disconnect the 1TB drive before installing Windows. After Windows is installed, you can reconnect the 1TB drive, boot from the mSATA, and then reinitialize the 1TB using DiskPart. Here is the procedure for reinitializing a drive using DiskPart: https://macrorit.com/partition-magic-manager/initialize-disk-gpt-mbr-from-cmd-diskpart.html
Make sure you are booting from the mSATA, use the 'list disk' command to identify the 1TB drive, and the 'select disk' command to select the disk correct to reinitialize.
In Windows 10 it is easy to specify another drive for additional storage. Go to All settings / System / Storage / click on "Change where new content is saved" / then change where new apps, new documents, new music, new photos, new movies, etc. are saved. Note that existing documents, music, photos, movies, etc. remain in their current locations and have to be moved (copied to the new locations and deleted (if you wish) from the old locations. Existing apps have to be uninstalled and reinstalled, except that some apps prefer to be installed on the OS drive. Also, some apps default to saving content on the C drive.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
1
October 28th, 2020 16:00
Don't you need to set the first boot option to Window Boot Manager?
Vic384
4 Operator
•
3.2K Posts
0
October 28th, 2020 11:00
SATA mode set to AHCI is OK. You should install Windows with only the drive you wish to put Windows on installed. You should remove the 250GB drive. It is possible that Windows was previously installed on the 250GB drive? You did not describe the configuration of your PC prior to your upgrade, but I think normally Dell installs the OS on the mSATA drive, so it is possible that your PC is still trying to boot from that drive.
Max-Dean
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
October 28th, 2020 13:00
Hello Vic384,
Thank you for your answer to my question.
In the original configuration, on the SSD msata Windows 8.1 was installed by Dell. The Windows OS booted faster from a SSD at that time. The data storage was on the HD (non SSD).
If I understand you correctly, the 1TB SSD is not seen as a first boot. The msata is seen as such. Although the bios shows both SSD. Since no OS is installed, that would explain the message. If I remove the msata must I reinstall Windows 10 on the 1TB SSD. Or can I install Windows 10 on the msata SSD, remove Windows from the 1TB SSD. And use the 1TB SSD as a extra data storage. A other option could also be to increase from 1 TB to 2 TB a no longer use the msata SSD ?
Your help is must appreciated.
Regards M-D
(English is not my native language. So I apologize if my English grammer is not correct).