Transfering Windows 7 to SSD from HDD on new laptop?

gregrocker · 21 Jan 2013

Yes, but there's always someone here who can help.

Many know laptop hardware better than I do.

DellXPS14 · 21 Jan 2013

Here's the configuration, I'm not really sure how I would re-wire things but would definitely be up to trying if it's a feasible possibility.

gregrocker · 21 Jan 2013

I see the HD but not the SSD. Wonder even if its a chip on the mobo. Trace the SATA cable to its port and see if any other ports are nearby, what connects to them.

I'm not sure whether I'd ask your Tech Support about this since it may void hardware warranty. Did you break any stickers for that purpose? You could ask them hypothetically but I wouldn't offer that you've done it. They may or may not help, but might reveal enough to let you know whether this could be the issue.

I was thinking maybe there were two accessible drive ports you could swap around. I don't know if I'd go much deeper into it since there are risks involved with proceeding regarding static electricity (no carpets, touch metal case before touching anything inside) and how easy some plastic parts can snap inside a laptop.

I'll ask for some hardware expertise.

DellXPS14 · 21 Jan 2013

gregrocker said:

I see the HD but not the SSD. Wonder even if its a chip on the mobo. Trace the SATA cable to its port and see if any other ports are nearby, what connects to them.

Sorry I didn't specify, the SSD is the green chip in the back.

I will draw some lines to show you the paths each HDD take

DellXPS14 · 21 Jan 2013

Here is a map explanation, you'll be able to read the labels of some of the ports when you look at the other detailed photos. Let me know if that helps.

The pink line connects to JSATA ports while the blue line connects to a JHDD port

gregrocker · 21 Jan 2013

This is above my pay grade. I'd wait for hardware help I've asked for, or call Toshiba tech support to probe them for info without acknowledging at all that you have even opened your case.

Just troubleshoot the prob with slow boot and ask if it could be port, and if ports are changeable.

Problem is they work from scripts and won't have that deep of information, unless agent is tech savvy on this. So it's worth asking a few of them to see if you get lucky, or wait for someone who knows here.

DellXPS14 · 21 Jan 2013

no problem, i'll wait for someone who knows here. i'll just keep checking the thread

gregrocker · 22 Jan 2013

Do the cables and ports look like the drives could be switched around?

I think until you hear back from hardware experts who think that switching around the drives will work I would carefully put it back together, boot into BIOS and check the SATA controller setting. Is it AHCI? This might make a difference. AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista - Windows 7 Forums

Also let's make sure if its installed to EFI BIOS or Legacy BIOS. What are the exact settings for Legacy BIOS? What are the devices shown in BIOS Boot Priority order? Is any EFI device listed?

Do you have a Compatibility Settings Modes (CSM), what is chosen and what are the other choices?

Is the SSD formatted as MBR format? To check this look in Disk Mgmt at the map to find the SSD drive, rightclick on the box same as the one outlined in red for Disk1 below, see if the same choice "Convert to GPT Disk" shown in the red box appears but do not click any choice.

This means you have an MBR formatted HD which could only be a Legacy BIOS install.

Now check the same thing for the HDD.

It is very strange that Dell set up a laptop where the HD had the OS while the much faster SSD was for secondary storage. I would actually use your free Tech Support to ask them why they did this, and what they recommend for installing the OS to the SSD. They may tell you to install in UEFI mode to get better performance, even faster boots. If they don't tell you this I still think it would be worth trying.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

Britton30 · 22 Jan 2013

What it appears to me is you have a mSATA SSD and a SATA HDD. The two connectors are not compatible.
Post a snip of Device Manager with Disk Drives and Storage Controllers expanded.

As has been suggested, if you are booting from the SSD OK and have drivers installed, wipe, or Clean the HDD. Don't get too concerned about boot or shut down times of 30 seconds, I'm sure the laptop will perform very fast.

Dave76 · 22 Jan 2013

Agree with Britton30, the SSD is mSATA and the HDD is SATA connection, they can't be swapped, different connections.
Need to see the Disk Management snip and if it is MBR or GPT.

Dell drivers will auto install from Windows, they probably went to the HDD OS.

In your post #28 you have 'Intel Smart Response Technology' enabled, this may need to be disabled, leave it unless you are having more problems.
Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide
The Definitive Guide to Clean Install OS on a mSSD Cache Equipped Laptop
Found this quote in the above link, post #19:

Also the master boot record has to be on the sata0 disc drive. I also followed the definitive guide also you can not delete the other os untill you set up a mbr.

Note: I would not use a large SSD (40GB or larger) as a cache system (Intel Smart Response Tech), installing the OS on the mSATA SSD will have much better performance.

I had a similar issue when I installed W7 and Windows 8 UEFI/GPT on a new SSD, had W7 installed on my HDD and couldn't boot until I secure erased the HDD, formatting the System Reserved and OS partitions didn't help, it must have been the MFT (Master File Table) on the HDD. Another HDD that had no OS installed did not affect the boot process. When the problem HDD was erased and added to the system, it would boot normally.
This is probably causing your long boot and shutdown times, the BIOS and OS are searching the HDD for OS installations. Wipe/clean the HDD, if you don't have anything on there that you want to keep.