m15 R7, SSD upgrade?

Hi @AlphaSierraa welcome to this free user-to-user Alienware laptop discussion forum. 

My OS(C:) boot drive is now 4TB and this is a good investment. Crucial CT4000P3PSSD8 4000.7 GB. Crucial Advisor tool | Crucial.com. UserBenchmark says my boot drive performance has improved more than 100%.  

Please clone (copy) your 512MB NVMe SSD to your new large NVMe SSD. Online OEM purchase of new NVMe SSD usually provides their free clone software with how to use instructions, or use Macrium Reflect Free. Install the new NVMe SSD in second drive slot, or purchase NVMe USB-C enclosure. 

Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks. 

How to clone your PC hard drive using Macrium Reflect | Windows Central. 

Support for Alienware m15 R7 or Alienware m15 R7 AMD. 

@crimsom​ but do i have to clone or just fit it into additional ssd slot? as i gone to crucial website there no compatible ssd option for my laptop. so i am going to buy ssd that you suggested.

Hi @AlphaSierraa ​ the Dell compatible SSD options include 4TB NVMe SSD card ($1,139.99). 

Alienware M15 R7 Parts & Upgrades | Dell USA. 

Crucial products are OEM and their tested database includes 4TB NVMe SSD ($199.99 was $263.99). Crucial provide prompt refund if their SSD does not work in your system. 

Crucial P3 Plus 4TB PCIe M.2 2280 SSD | CT4000P3PSSD8 | Crucial.com. 

UserBenchmark says my Crucial boot drive has exceptional SSD score of 146%. This drive is suitable for heavy workstation use, it will facilitate fast boots, responsive applications and allow for fast transfers of multi-gigabyte files.  

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You do not have to clone (copy) and keep the Alienware windows operating system. Installing a new windows operating system on new higher capacity OS(C:) NVMe SSD card is for you to decide. If same windows operating system, Microsoft online database will automatically register. 

@crimsom​ Okay thanks for the Reply. But during Installation I there any risk of losing my personal data?

Hi AlphaSierraa thank you for sharing update.

When new system arrives, users should always create disaster recovery plan just in case the original OS(C:) boot drive becomes unrecoverable. The most convenient option is to create clone (copy) that can be swapped in within minutes to get system going again. 

To create new OS(C:) boot drive with personal data, etc. the clone (copy) option should always be used. If cloning fails the original SSD has not changed. 

My disaster recovery plan includes create two SSD clones and these are regularly updated. 

Personal data should be stored on SSD Data drive in second drive slot. 

Another option is to copy everything into Cloud account, but you need internet and second laptop or desktop to enter the Cloud account.  PCs are difficult for users to fix and are often thrown away having removed the OS(C:) boot drive and Data drive for installation into new PC.

@crimsom​ Thanks for the Reply. This seems very complicated to me should i go dell store and tell them to do it. As i live in germany and bought my alienware here in Germany. But there is no official dell store in germany? why?

Hi AlphaSierraa​ thank you for sharing update. 

There seems to be an official online Dell store in Germany at https://www.dell.com › de-de.  

You are at liberty to pay Dell or a different organisation to clone (copy) your SSD if you feel that this process is not within your capabilities. 

There should be a YouTube video that shows how to clone (copy) OS(C:) to larger SSD. 

How to clone NVMe SSD to new or larger NVMe SSD (Easy Step by Step Tutorial) - YouTube. 

@crimsom​ i saw that video it seems easy and safe. one more thing as in video he tells that he has only one ssd ports but if he has 2 he does not need to buy external ssd adapter. does my alienware m15 r7 has 2 ssd ports or only one?