Installing SSD on Dell XPS 8700


  1. brenthyatt
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
       New #1

    Installing SSD on Dell XPS 8700


    I'm considering installing an SSD on my desktop computer, and have read several places I need to set my BIOS to AHCI mode. I have no such mode listed in my BIOS. The only 2 options listed are LEGACY and UEFI. Is Legacy just Dell's description for AHCI? Can I just install using LEGACY? I can't seem to get any answers from the Dell forums. I'm using Windows 7 64 bit OS. I think the bios version is 8. If I use the LEGACY mode, will Trim still work? This will be a clone, not a fresh Windows install.
    Thanks.
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  3. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #2

    Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
    Nothing for ssd's is automatic in 7
    If you get a Samsung ssd they have a utility that makes using an ssd easy though
    It's called Samsung magician a separate download.
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  4. ICIT2LOL
    Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       New #3

    Hello and welcome brentyat yes mate a good idea to install the SSD and show us a pic of the BIOS screen please because unless I am terribly wrong that machine should be a EUFI BIOS and you set the ACHI in it - and in the legacy form BIOS too.

    Cloning is very easy using this too
    Macrium Reflect Free

    When you are done see this too Optimize Windows 7
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  6. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #4

    Hi,
    Any machine with uefi bios would already have ahci enabled and probably would not show or use IDE anyway since that is xp days stuff :)

    Legacy bios would show ide
    Installing SSD on Dell XPS 8700-acer-bios-integrated-p-2-ahci.jpg
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  7. ICIT2LOL
    Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       New #5

    Hmm TZ if I am correct I had to set the ACHI on the Asus board when I built my Ivy Bridge but I could be wrong I will check when I get home:)

    But in any case the query I asked re the BIOS from what I saw on the Dell site it has to be EUFI. I did see from a few pics too that the CPU is fitted with a stock cooler - something I would look at doing something about.
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  8. Golden
    Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       New #6

    brenthyatt said:
    I'm considering installing an SSD on my desktop computer, and have read several places I need to set my BIOS to AHCI mode. I have no such mode listed in my BIOS. The only 2 options listed are LEGACY and UEFI. Is Legacy just Dell's description for AHCI? Can I just install using LEGACY? I can't seem to get any answers from the Dell forums. I'm using Windows 7 64 bit OS. I think the bios version is 8. If I use the LEGACY mode, will Trim still work? This will be a clone, not a fresh Windows install.
    Thanks.
    Legacy and uEFI refer to the type of BIOS. AHCI refers to the type of disk controller. These are 2 different things and should not be confused. Both Legacy BIOS and uEFI will both have an AHCI mode.
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  10. AddRAM
    Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       New #7

    Yep, it should be under the option Sata Mode as shown in the picture above.
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  11. Megahertz07
    Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       New #8

    Brenthyatt, the easyest way to install the SSD would be to clone the HDD to the SSD. But as your HDD is huge (2T?) it's not so simple.
    You don't need to change anything on BIOS!!!!
    As you have a desktop with a HDD, you don't need a large SSD.
    You can have the speed of a SSD with the space of a HDD.
    I have a 128G SSD with Win 7 and Linux and there still plenty of space on it. And for Data I have a 1T HDD.

    To guide you on the installation, I need some information:
    - How big is your HDD?
    - How many free space you have on it?
    - Do you have the Win 7 Installation disk?
    - Do you have a backup of your data?
    - Open Disk Manager, expand the columns so we can read them and with the sniping tool take a snapshot.
    On your reply post, go Advanced - Manage Attachment - upload the image
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Installing SSD on Dell XPS 8700-my_tree.jpg  
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  12. brenthyatt
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    " Legacy and uEFI refer to the type of BIOS. AHCI refers to the type of disk controller. These are 2 different things and should not be confused. Both Legacy BIOS and uEFI will both have an AHCI mode. "
    Thanks Golden! After your explanation, I was able to find the AHCI setting under Disk Controller. All is well now....I think.
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  13. ICIT2LOL
    Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       New #10

    Yep well I checked my Ivy Bridge BIOS SATA setting and have four options Disable ACHI IDE and RAID.
    Oh and these were under the SATA settings
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