Yes, I think your best bet is a fresh Windows installation. If you want a chance to save your data then you can grab a new SSD and install Windows on that or you can just format your old drive. If you still have your Alienware Windows install CD then use that or you could try installing Windows 10 by using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and downloading Windows onto an 8gb USB flash drive.
Remove your old drive, install the new SSD and insert the CD or USB drive. The Windows installation should start automatically. You should have a spare drive bay so after the installation you can reinstall your old drive in the spare slot and you may be able to recover your data.
Yeah that is strange. If there is an SSD available then that's usually where the OS is installed. In some older machines they would install the OS on the HDD but have a small mSata SSD that was used as a cache drive to make it feel like you were running on a full sized SSD. They wouldn't use a 128gb drive though (usually a 32gb or 80gb drive)
I'm glad you got it sorted.
EDIT: I just had another look at your first post and it sounds like it was set up as a cache drive. That's why your OS was on the HDD
Hopefully this issue won’t occur again when your using your laptop. What I’d recommend though is to use Windows 10 as much better Driver support and Application usage is improved on Windows 10.
*NOTE: I am NOT a Dell employee, But I am a Community Rockstar*
Quick Tip: If your laptop has voltage / charging issues, try shutting it down, unplugging power from laptop, hold power button down for 30 seconds to do a full reset!
mattyb3
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Posted July 5th, 2020 14:00
Yes, I think your best bet is a fresh Windows installation. If you want a chance to save your data then you can grab a new SSD and install Windows on that or you can just format your old drive. If you still have your Alienware Windows install CD then use that or you could try installing Windows 10 by using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and downloading Windows onto an 8gb USB flash drive.
Remove your old drive, install the new SSD and insert the CD or USB drive. The Windows installation should start automatically. You should have a spare drive bay so after the installation you can reinstall your old drive in the spare slot and you may be able to recover your data.