Boot OS from mSATA at Inspiron R17 7720? SImple!

Question

Firest of all - sorry for my english.The second - this procedure is NOT good solution in case, when you plan to use TrueCrypt for your system partition, like me.This procedure lead in GPT system partition only, which is not compatible with TrueCrypt. In this case you must wait until DELL upgradeBIOS to version, which accepts boot from mSATA in legacy mode. Previus format partition of mSATA to MBR will resulkt Note: All content on the disks will be deleted, so before this be sure you have full instalation media (not upgrade or recovery) handyand corresponding SP1 handy !!!Also have handy extracted F6 drivers from f6flpy-x64.zip (or f6flpy+x86.zip in case when installing x86 OS) on USB stick. You can find them on your drivers and software support DVDIf you wish not to loose your content, REMOVE your disk(s from machine, except mSATA, where you will install OS.Removing all disks except mSATA seems to me be possibly good solution, but not recomended. The sure procedure is based on backing up your data and leave disks inside.Note: if removed disks containing old install's boot sector, procedure success is not guaranteed. The procedure seems to me the same for Win 7/8, tested successfully with Win7U Be sure, you have these BIOS settings active (enter BIOS by pressing F2, when DELL logo appears):- SATA controller is in Intel Rapid Storage Technology mode- Secure boot disabled, this is only supported by Windows 8- UEFI mode available - this mode cam sniff boot from everywhere, including your mouse :) After you set BIOS properly shut your Dell off Win-PE (a part of Win7 install DVD) will be needed.1) Switch it on and press F12 when Dell logo is visible and pick from boot meny your optical drive2) Start the install rpocedure from Windows setup DVD and pick REPAIR your Windows option, when available and then selecttop radiobutton and continue3) Use command promt at the bottom of menu, when confiremd DOS console opens4) Enter these commands and confirm by enter one by one. When you have only one HDD, only two disks will be listed and cleaned. diskpart list disk select disk 0 clean select disk 1 clean (select disk 2 clean) exit 5) Close command console, return back to Windows setup menu and INSTALL your OS6) When your mSATA disk is not visible, use your USB stick in advanced mode and install the driveIt also hleps with  'Windows can not install on this hardware' issue7) Immediatelly after successful first login instal SP18) Now you can reboot your machine, or shut it down and return previously removed disk(s) with NO boot´possibility. Finished

fireballcz · Answer

Revision of my previous text: ...Previous format partition of mSATA to MBR will.... result in impossibility to install OS

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