Is this forum monitored by Dell employees? I can't ask a real "support" question because I don't have my machine yet. I am trying to plan ahead.

ok cool. I also ordered the USB Windows Recovery stick, but it wasn't clear if that is just windows or all of the same software that ships on the drive. 

I will use respawn to go to an external disk, and then boot off that as you suggested, thanks!

I just received my 15 today and tried this exact thing. Drivers aren't even available for the graphics card so I'm sitting with a giant paperweight. The recovery USB only comes with Windows 8.1 on it and NO drivers/software. You'll have to get that off of the support site once you put in your ID for the machine. Beware that the drivers are not available yet so it is HIGHLY to your advantage to not install any HDs in it as soon as you get it. Returning mine tomorrow for a new one.

This is why I recommend using the alien respawn software. It creates a complete factory image, drivers and all. I think it only requires an 8gb usb drive, but I ended up using a 32gb that I had.

I appreciate the advice on the respawn. I am going to do this as soon as my replacement 15 arrives. 

Did your Samsung SSD come with a transfer cable? The last one I bought came with a cable and some software that allowed me to transfer the entire contents of the system on to the new SSD. After this completed I simply swapped the drives over.

Exactly KB.

Well, there are many different ways to do this easily and properly.

But the key thing is that you don't erase your original drive until the SSD is working. You can always re-install the spinning HDD and be back where you started.

It also doesn't hurt to have a full partition image backup ... for extra insurance in case of catastrophe. But you are starting with 2 drives, so it's really just a Cloning operation that needs to be done ... easy.