UNSOLVED
XPS8500, adding a SATA III SSD
I wasn't aware that this computer really has a single SATA III port, but before I got the computer I order an OCZ VERTEX4 128GB SATA III SSD.
I initialized and checked out the 8500. I then installed the SSD into Port 0 (SATA III) and moved the 1TB drive to a SATA II port. I verified that the computer was still working fine. I actually didn't notice and slowdown with the 1TB drive running on SATA II nor did the Windows Experience Index change from 5.9, due soley to the disk drive.
Now the 'fun' began. I used AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro to CLONE the C: drive to the SSD. Before doing that I reduced the 1TB partition to 128GB's and created a logical drive with 2 partitions in it. Cloning went OK with no reported problems.
Now I went to the BIOS and enabled the SSD as the first hard disk. Booted QUICK, but there was a problem.
First, the mouse and keyboard were not immediately active? I know it booted FAST, but was this a 'problem' or due to the fast booting. I mean I see the MS flags never complete, a brief black screen, and then the desktop with the circular ring over the mouse pointer, and then about 40 seconds later a 'boop' out of the speakers and they are active (mouse and keyboard at the same time). The laser mouse bars are lit all the time, but the keyboard caps lock light will not work until I hear that 'boop'. The keyboard DOES work when the BIOS screen is on. So is the bars on the mouse, but the mouse bars go off for a second or two when the BIOS switches over to W7, so I'm assuming it sees it, just hasn't fully initialized it yet?
I've got some other problems, not major, like the media drives not apparently fully initializing too, but I'm not too worried about that?
Has anyone else added an SSD to the XPS 8500? Does the mouse initialize and work the second the desktop appears?
Am I worring for nothing or is there a problem here?
Irv S.
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Posted July 21st, 2012 07:00
Well, Dell doesn't ship INSTALL MEDIA with the XPS 8500. You can create disks that are recovery or use the hidden partition to go back to Factory shipped state. Support has told me if I use the MS ISO's I'd have driver problems.
Cloning programs do the job though. I've done it on my XPS Studio One 435T without a problem (also running W7 x64). There are quite a few out there and they all work well. W7 knew it was on an SSD, CHKDSK was disabled, drive IS aligned, all that sort of stuff.
I just can't understand the keyboard and mouse not initializing immediately? Using F12 I can switch back and forth from booting either drive. Mouse and keyboard are working as soon as the desktop comes up when booting from the 1TB shipped drive, up to a minute after the desktop is up when booting from the SSD.
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Posted July 21st, 2012 11:00
I messed with the computer ALL morning. I made sure the SSD was completely out... Restored the C: yet again... then ONE last time I put the SSD back in (to port 2 this time) and booted it (under SATA II).
Mouse IS working immediately! The keyboard, no, still doesn't come up for 30 seconds or more. Fooled with that and gave up. Next I re-ordered the drives and those ALL seem to be working fine now?
Only problem appears to be the keyboard, but usually I can wait for that anyway?
Still need to do some checking and even installing s/w. Also I'll be replacing the mouse with a trackball (wireless) and if nothing else, one of the keyboards I have lying around here. Has to be better than the one that came with the machine.
If I hit a roadblock I've already got Norton Ghost installed and before I do anything I'll back up the C: drive just in case.
Last resort is a CLEAN install though, I have most of what I need. So far however no one has answered who has done this, put an SSD as the boot drive on this model.
1177
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Posted July 21st, 2012 11:00
You can download an official Windows 7 with SP1 from Microsoft's download site here: www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html
That would hopefully allow you to install a fresh Win7 onto the SSD (which as mentioned already is the ideal way to install an SSD drive)
Of course this doesn't help with any Dell supplied software that may have come with the PC such as bonus software.
1177
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Posted July 21st, 2012 16:00
Well, the last try seems to have worked? I gave up on the Dell keyboard and substituted the Multimedia one I had from my XPS Studio One 435T when I switched to wireless keyboard and mouse. I had NUMLOCK and Multimedia as well as app buttons (that ALL work) but NO Sleep button.
1TB drive works fine, mouse and keyboard initialize immediately. Cloned it over, and SURPRISE, all is working fine now?
More testing, but it seems something to do with the keyboard was the problem?
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Posted July 21st, 2012 22:00
I am using a vertex3 ssd and it is ok..the major problem I have is that adding in an additional sata pcie card is not recognized by the motherboard at all...there is another thread which identifies several folks having the same problem of "vanished" hardware.
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Posted July 22nd, 2012 05:00
JamesL, sorry, couldn't locate that 'vanished' thread? Can you post a link to it?
So far the SSD, Mouse, and Keyboard appear to be working fine. I don't know what I did different other than using a different keyboard to 'fix it'?
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Posted July 22nd, 2012 10:00
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Posted July 22nd, 2012 12:00
OK, thanks, saw this one I think?
Well, I guess I spoke too soon? Mouse and Keyboard went back to not initializing when the desktop first appears.
All I can remember is looking at the hidden items on the Systray and saw Dell's DataSafe Local icon there. Didn't need that, probably wouldn't work with the SSD as the boot drive anyway. So I opened MSCONFIG to stop loading it. On reboot my mouse and keyboard appear to work about 40 seconds after the desktop appears.
I have NO CLUE what happened?
I've got a Ghost image a few hours old, I'll probably restore that and see.
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Posted July 23rd, 2012 04:00
I've just about given up on using an SSD. I went all the ways back to the original image cloned over again. As I started to add things I lost the mouse and keyboard initialization once the desktop appeared. I haven't a clue what causes this and how to fix it. My fear is that even if I do, it will happen again. Either adding programs or changing a system setting seems to 'do it'. At first I though it was the Dell Datasafe being disabled, but it happened this time just installing my printer driver.
I'll see what happens when I finish working on the original drive now. If it stays working, I'll remove the SSD. If it 'breaks', "Hello Dell".
Davet50
6 Operator
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14442 Posts
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Posted July 21st, 2012 06:00
When one installs a SSD as a boot drive you really should do a clean install, as window will then recognize the drive as an SSD and properly initialize the the OS to the drive. I would recommend this and leave your other drive to house your programs and files so that you don't fill up your SSD and use it for file storage.