Aurora R10, can't install new SSD

Question

Hi All,

I made the mistake of buying an R10 with only a 128GB NVMe SSD drive. It also has a separate 1TB drive. I bought a 2280 512GB NVMe SSD drive from Dell to upgrade, and I will use Acronis True Image 2021 to clone the 2230 128GB drive. I cannot install the 2280 drive. The existing 2230 drive appears to have some sort of mount in the motherboard that the small screw fits into. This mount does not appear to be removable. Dell customer support says the screw they sent me is the only screw to install the drive, but it is clearly far too narrow (will not thread) in the slot for the 2280 drive. I am clearly missing a part or there is a larger screw for this 2280 drive that I don't have. Does anyone know how to resolve this issue? Thanks!

r72019 · Answer

You can't remove the standoff from the 30mm hole and drop it down to the 80mm hole for the new drive?

Vanadiel · Answer

This might be of help to you: Information

RickH5 · Answer

I am not sure.  I didn't want to force it and break anything.  Is that supposed to be a removable piece?

r72019 · Answer

Yes, it can go in one of the 3 or 4 holes. There might be a screw attached from the bottom though.

RickH5 · Answer

I will take a closer look to see if I can remove it.  Thanks!!!   It looks like Amazon carries some of these spacers too.

Vanadiel · Answer

1 more thing to add would be to ensure you clone the whole original disk, not just the C: partition.

This will ensure the recovery partition etc.. is also moved over to the new drive.

After cloning you can expand the c: volume to use the remainder of the disk space, since the new disk will be larger than the original.

coa132435 · Answer

@RickH5

I did not order the NVMe but it I remember correctly you have the M2 connector and then 3 holes in the motherboard where you can install the stand-off. Those wholes were not M2 in my motherboard, the correct screw was M4 in my case. Does it look like the picture below? It is from R10 Manual Service. You can see the screw installed ( just below the big blue connector) to the opposite side of connector #9. The hole there is M4.From Dell Manual Service

RickH5 · Answer

On mine the holes for 2242 and 2280 are definitely the same size. I haven't tried to remove the stand-off for the 2230 yet to see if that will work in the 2280 slot. If the threads for that stand off are the same size as the M2 threads, then it definitely won't work. The screw that is in the stand-off now (for 2230) is definitely the same size as the screw set Dell just sent to me. Ugh. This is way more complicated than it needs to be. For a $250 or whatever it was drive, it should have all the right parts included and some decent instructions.

r72019 · Answer

'for a $250 or whatever it was drive' Slightly off topic, but wow, that's really expensive, where did you get it?  A decent Samsung 500GB M2 PCiE NVME drive for the R10 should run around $60 to $80.  https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-970-EVO-Plus-MZ-V7S500B/dp/B07M7Q21N7/ A 1TB Samsung drive should run around $150.  https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-970-EVO-Plus-MZ-V7S500B/dp/B07MFZY2F2/

Vanadiel · Answer

'I bought a 2280 512GB NVMe SSD drive from Dell to upgrade' Sounds like he got it from the OEM.

RickH5 · Answer

I bought it directly from the Dell website. I knew it was overpriced, but figured I would just got with Dell since the computer is only a few months old.

Dell tech support got back to and said the stand-off for the drive that is in there now should screw out and fit in the 2280 slot (as mentioned in an earlier post on this thread). I am going to try it. I am just waiting to get an SSB enclosure for cloning first which I should have tomorrow.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Sounds like you are going to a lot of extra effort to save the Recovery partition that is of little practical use.

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/m-p/6073081/highlight/true#M3401

Or, create this now and use later if you want:

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-factory-reinstalling-Windows-10/m-p/6237210/highlight/true#M7547

Alienware Desktops

Aurora R10, can't install new SSD

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