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Refurb Optiplex 7450 AIO; Install NVMe SSD 2280 to replace Kingston 2.5" SSD???
Here's your info:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz 3.41 GHz
16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Kingston 250 GB 2.5" SSD (not sure if this was OEM or not, but)
Alright, so I purchased the Optiplex a couple years ago, the seller (a university reseslling it's retired tech) installed Windows 11 Pro on it, I've been getting low space messages for ages and I'm over it. Picked up a KingSpec 512GB, Gen 3x4 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD to replace the old drive via cloning. I was fairly certain that component was compatible, that may have been error one(?). Cracked 'er open, put in the M.2 fresh outta the box to begin the cloning procedure... with it installed BIOS won't even BIOS, alright... Boot order looks good, checking off boxes for the process, looks like Windows was installed RAID On, probably a problem, possibly THE problem. Can't turn it to AHCI or BSOD no boot device... Picked up an enclosure, maybe the issue is the lack of unitialized drive? This is where I realized my lack of experience is getting in the way. I'm not an IT guy, but I'm also not entirely computer illiterate and humble enough to know to ask for help before the computer bursts into flames. What's my process here y'all? I know there's cloning software, hadn't gotten there yet but how do I overcome Windows installed w/ RAID on when it comes to the clone and booting Windows from the new drive, etc., etc.? I plan to keep the old drive right where it's at, use it for extra storage, 'cuz why not. Youtube and Google are giving me specks of info, (enough that I can tell you what hasn't worked, possibly why) but I need specifics for this machine...
Help? Please, thank you and much appreciated!
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Posted May 25th, 2026 21:54
@jason533 I've heard tell that the NVMe drives don't jive well with the RAID On setting, do you expect that'll be a problem?
Also, I'm hung up on the concept of the drive lettering. When I initialize and set up the drive Windows will want me to assign a drive letter, right? Well I can't assign it C: because of the original drive so I do what, just allow it to float the drive letter?
So let's say it's all said and done, new drive fires up no issues and I'm ready to physically re-install the old SSD, what will the system do with that drive once it sees it if, 'cause I'm assuming it'll wanna call itself the C: drive or am I massively overthinking things?0
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Posted May 26th, 2026 03:11
Just assign a letter to the NVME drive that's not the letter "C." Something like "D" is fine. PC will see it as a "D" and the other one as "C."
Be sure not to waste time if you plan to have both SSD's installed.* Go into Disk Management and reformat it. It can be reformatted the same as it is and it will be wiped and ready for storage.
*If there's 2 SSD's installed with same Win11 OS, it will eventually start with "Disk Checking." Then one or both drives will go BSOD. Only way to recover is to reload.
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Posted May 26th, 2026 20:36
Alrighty, thank you... this is all incredibly helpful. I'm seeing two differing approaches here. Anybody brave enough to breakdown what the pros/cons of either approach are? I've read that cloning using 3rd party has a track record of being unreliable, but it seems easiest. Vs., I have all the equipment to clone using Windows built in system image and bootable media (obscene number of drives laying around), a process that seems a bit on the arduous side but I can understand the potential merit.
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Posted May 27th, 2026 21:33
@jason533 It didn't boot normally, it did nothing. Which brings me back to what I said about how the first time I attempt to plug it in, BIOS wouldn't even show up. A new symptom, which a post-it note on the monitor prevented me from noticing the last time was the blinking red light on the monitor telling me the computer can't complete it's power up.
So... anyone?
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Posted May 27th, 2026 22:59
Did you try a fresh install of Windows from a flash drive loaded from the Microsoft site?
Do so with the previous SSD disconnected.
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Posted May 27th, 2026 23:19
@bradthetechnut Could I even get into the recovery environment to do the install if it won't power up properly?
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Posted May 27th, 2026 23:26
A blinking red or amber light on a Dell OptiPlex All-In-One (AIO) is a diagnostic error code indicating a specific hardware failure. Counting the exact number of blinks (e.g., 2 blinks, pause, 3 blinks) tells you exactly what is failing.power light blink pattern 2, 1 two blinks followed by a short pause, one blink, a long pause, then repeats. Bad Motherboard 2, 2 two blinks followed by a short pause, two blinks, long pause, then repeats. Bad Motherboard, Power Supply, or Power Supply cabling 2, 3 two blinks followed by a short pause, three blinks, long pause, then repeats. Bad Motherboard, Memory, or Processor 2, 4 two blinks followed by a short pause, four blinks, long pause, then repeats. Bad coin-cell battery 2, 5 two blinks followed by a short pause, five blinks, long pause, then repeats. BIOS Checksum Failure 2, 6 two blinks followed by a short pause, six blinks, long pause, then repeats. Bad Processor 2, 7 two blinks followed by a short pause, seven blinks, long pause, then repeats. Memory failures 3, 1 three blinks followed by a short pause, one blink, a long pause, then repeats. PCI Device or Video subsystem failures 3, 2 three blinks followed by a short pause, two blinks, long pause, then repeats. Video Subsystem failure 3, 3 three blinks followed by a short pause, three blinks, long pause, then repeats. No Memory detected 3, 4 three blinks followed by a short pause, four blinks, long pause, then repeats. Storage Subsystem failure 3, 5 three blinks followed by a short pause, five blinks, long pause, then repeats. Memory configuration or incompatible error 3, 6 three blinks followed by a short pause, six blinks, long pause, then repeats. System board failure 3, 7 three blinks followed by a short pause, seven blinks, long pause, then repeats. Possible memory failure (edited)
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Posted May 29th, 2026 10:10
Hi
Hope this helps.
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Table 2. SSD
- 2.5" 256 GB SATA Solid State Drive Class 20
- 2.5" 512 GB SATA Solid State Drive Class 20
- M.2 128 GB SATA Solid State Drive Class 20
- M.2 256 GB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive Class 40
- M.2 256 GB PCIe NVMe Self Encrypting Solid State Drive Class 40
- M.2 512 GB PCIe NVMe Solid State DriveClass 40
- M.2 1 TB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive Class 40
A KingSpec 512GB Gen 3x4 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD is a solid-state drive for a laptop or desktop that uses the M.2 2280 physical size and PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe interface.
NB: There is a suggestion that if your device only supports SATA M.2 drives, this type will not work.
It must be an M.2 2280 slot, not just any M.2 length or keying.
If you’re cloning an existing drive, make sure the BIOS is set up appropriately and the system firmware is reasonably up to date.
Kind Regards
anne_droid
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Posted June 2nd, 2026 20:07
@redxps630 Good to have that reference for the future, thank you. I've taken apart, unplugged/plugged in components enough and been lucky not to make this thing unusable and I'd rather not take the risk of plugging the NVMe back in just to count the blinks if it's causing that serious of a failure. What I can tell you is that I'm using the same computer right now. Once the original SSD is plugged back in (without the NVMe), it fires right back up with zero issue. Using the USB enclosure the NVMe functions just fine, I cloned the original drive onto it with no issue. So the problem would then theoretically lie specifically with the M.2 port itself being faulty in someway or some deeper programming such as the whole RAID On thing? I don't see any bad pins, dirt/debris, loose wiring, etc, but...
At this point I'm strongly leaning toward simply returning the NVMe and just buying a higher capacity 2.5" SSD, that seems like the best route to take without knowing if the M.2 port itself is somehow damaged. The NVMe was just a novelty, one proving to be more trouble than I'd like to deal with.
redxps630
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Posted May 25th, 2026 04:18
put the 2.5 ssd back. remove the nvme m.2 ssd for now.
follow this clone ssd to ssd instructions
how to clone ssd to another ssd without third party tool | DELL Technologies
you would need an external usb HDD and a small USB flash drive as tools.