XPS 8700 Adding SSD and Loading Windows 10 OEM

Question

Good day everyone,

I am getting ready to upgrade my XPS 8700 with a new Samsung 850 Pro 256Gb SSD and performing a fresh install of Windows 10 Pro OEM using the SSD for the OS and Applications, and using the existing 1TB SATA HDD for user data files, pictures, video, etc. My current OS is Win 7 Home and I plan to image the existing HDD and then backup all user directories to a USB. Once WIN 10 is loaded on the new SSD, I will wipe and reformat the HHD and restore the user data. My questions are:

1. With the A14 BIOS currently installed the SATA Mode is set to AHCI. I know I will need the HECI driver for the Samsung SSD and assume that the WIN 10 Pro OEM install booting from DVD will work without the driver, and then Windows Update will take care of adding the necessary drivers, or Dell Update if WU doesn't. Is this a correct assumption and the best way to go?

2. I currently have a new Dell Inspiron 3790 Win 10 Pro OEM laptop with a 256Gb Crucial SSD and a 2 TB SATA HDD with the OS and Apps on the SSD and user data on the HDD. I have the same applications on the both the XPS 8700 and the Inspiron 3790. Is it possible to do something a little differently on the install/update of the XPS 8700 to avoid the re-installation of all my apps?

Thanks for any help and/or suggestions.

Happy Thanksgiving

Best regards,

Duane

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. No additional OS drivers are required for SSD or AHCI.

The new SATA-SSD will work fine with just the Windows-supplied drivers.

BTW, do yourself a favor and never install Intel-RST .

2. No. Install them normally.

savvy2 · Answer

there is the great program that backups applications I testing. called. EASEUS, todo PcTrans, that does work.

the w10 installs to SSD in like 30mins, answering 12 NO's take me longer, it seems.

do not fool with w10 partition just let the installer do all that and RST is never a problem now. (v1903 up w10 ok?) ( RST is cured now,) but I use Ethernet connected during Installs that makes installs smarter and better.

try as I might not one RST error seen by me, on any dell even back to 2009 made. ( RST is cured now.)

id backup APPS and data using the above PCtrans after upgraded.

then install w10 fresh. (or cloned)

and then do the reverse of PC trans, I tested PCtrans and it works great.

but the w7 must be upgraded to 10 first for PC trans works. (w10 to w10 is the path)

the best first step anytime fooling with any OLD HDD< is be 100% sure SMART test pass in that old HDD First.

if not backup it up first. what can be that is.

the upgrade is free, w10 runs for 30days, so do it, first. then clone the HDD to SSD saving cost of PC trans

or use PCtrans.

you call, choices are many.

savvy2 · Answer

if you let the MS dot com, PnP servers DO THERE JOB

there is no problems. (connect that Ethernet cable from PC under install, and let it rip)

and use only today's fresh, MS w10 v1903 or newer ISO built USB stick using MS builder to its job.

fresh, no stale ISO ever. OK?

this gen4 CPU PC is childs play , installed. the DM will show no errors after the installed the worst case

is a better GPU card driver, if you have such a card.

XPS Desktops

XPS 8700 Adding SSD and Loading Windows 10 OEM

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