Windows Startup Repair query

[RedLad]

Cheers lads,

So it this the best solution? correct me if I'm wrong. Basically I have to connect the SSD to them cables I posted pics of and the SSD has to live in that 'empty bay' area? So moving forward it should not be connected to where it currently is.

I will be away for most of the weekend so probably will not get a chance to try this, but when I do I will give you an update as soon as I can.

 

[GokAy]

Yes, this is what you are supposed to do at the moment:

- Enable AHCI drivers in registry (msahci only is enough)
- Open case right side as instructed on previous post
- Attach the SSD there, don't bother closing it back the case just yet
- Check boot order in BIOS
- Log in to Windows, if all good it will install drivers, and will reboot
- Run AS SSD (run the benchmark too), post screenshot of results

When we see all is good, you can shop for a 2.5"-5.25" bay converter or 2.5-3.5 + 3.5-5.25 converter (these are metallic sheets usually with screw holes for appropriate places) - don't worry about this yet.

 

[RedLad]

Yes, this is what you are supposed to do at the moment:

- Enable AHCI drivers in registry (msahci only is enough)
- Open case right side as instructed on previous post
- Attach the SSD there, don't bother closing it back the case just yet
- Check boot order in BIOS
- Log in to Windows, if all good it will install drivers, and will reboot
- Run AS SSD (run the benchmark too), post screenshot of results

When we see all is good, you can shop for a 2.5"-5.25" bay converter or 2.5-3.5 + 3.5-5.25 converter (these are metallic sheets usually with screw holes for appropriate places) - don't worry about this yet.

Hi GokAy

I managed to connect the SSD in the place you mentioned. The PC booted, but with the message below. Also please find attached the AS SSD Benchmark result. Out of curiosity, is this boot message a result of the Raid option still being enabled?

 

[RedLad]

Just adding this screenshot of my Bios:

 

[GokAy]

Hey, did you check BIOS boot order? Maybe some other configuration in BIOS.

We can't disable the SAS controller because you will need it for your HDD later.

The AS SSD shows that msahci is correctly loaded. And the performance is much better than previous benchmark but the write is still unacceptable. You should have around 450-550 read/write and bit better 4k-4k/64 speed. Access times are much better now, maybe can be better, I don't know. Did you restart the PC after the new drivers were loaded?

I wonder if something is wrong with it. Do you have any friends/another PC that you can check it with?

Check in BIOS:
- Boot Sequence
- Advanced Boot Options
- Secure Boot
for the preferred boot device is missing warning.

 

[gregrocker]

It says clearly you have a RAID card in PCI slot 1. I would disable it under these devices in BIOS or carefully remove it takin precautions against static discharge by touching case metal before reaching inside, no carpet, studying card closely to determine in advance how to unsnap locks and slowly pull it out. Get help if you need.

Then use the onboard SATA at AHCI like everybody else. Again I would ask Dell why they inflicted this crap.

What say you GoKay?

 

[RedLad]

Hey, did you check BIOS boot order? Maybe some other configuration in BIOS.

We can't disable the SAS controller because you will need it for your HDD later.

The AS SSD shows that msahci is correctly loaded. And the performance is much better than previous benchmark but the write is still unacceptable. You should have around 450-550 read/write and bit better 4k-4k/64 speed. Access times are much better now, maybe can be better, I don't know. Did you restart the PC after the new drivers were loaded?

I wonder if something is wrong with it. Do you have any friends/another PC that you can check it with?

The boot sequence is starting with the SSD yeah.

This drive was performing a good bit better than this before, when I got the PC a few weeks ago. It's just when I did the moving of user folders that something went wrong. In saying that, I still had a feeling that it wasn't performing to it's maximum when I got the PC.

I reckon a clean wipe will tell us alot about it. I reckon the wipe will fix a few things? I just find it bizarre that I can't even install a clean, non corrupt version of 3ds Max.

 

[GokAy]

Greg: I guess the problem is, there are only 2 SATA ports. And the rest HDD bays are all tied to the PCI raid controller. So if he removes that card, he won't be able to add any HDDs.

In BIOS screenshot you can see SATA-0 (DVD-ROM) and SATA-1 (SSD), and no other regular SATA ports.

To be honest I believe the SSD should have been working to advertised speeds with the RAID controller too or there would be too much grief on the web. I still believe he is better off with SSD on SATA-1 running msahci drivers though. And installing all data HDDs on the raid ports.

Well maybe we can rule out a Windows problem with a Live Linux distro and running a bechmark in it. I have no idea which distro has such a capability though.

 

[RedLad]

Hey, did you check BIOS boot order? Maybe some other configuration in BIOS.

We can't disable the SAS controller because you will need it for your HDD later.

The AS SSD shows that msahci is correctly loaded. And the performance is much better than previous benchmark but the write is still unacceptable. You should have around 450-550 read/write and bit better 4k-4k/64 speed. Access times are much better now, maybe can be better, I don't know. Did you restart the PC after the new drivers were loaded?

I wonder if something is wrong with it. Do you have any friends/another PC that you can check it with?

Check in BIOS:
- Boot Sequence
- Advanced Boot Options
- Secure Boot
for the preferred boot device is missing warning.

Hi GokAy,

In Boot Sequence the top item is the SSD.
Advanced Boot Options - the only option in here is 'Enable Legacy Option ROMs' and this checkbox is enabled.
Secure Boot - the is set to 'Disabled.' Should it be enabled??

In your post where you mentioned drivers being installed when I booted up with the SSD connected to the SATA port - I didn't see this happening. Usually a window appears saying it's installing drivers, is that right? Or sometimes in the bottom right you see a message about installing drivers is taking place. But I didn't see that.

 

[GokAy]

Yes, you should have seen that little window,hmm, so you didn't restart PC until you took the BIOS screenshot after running the previous AS SSD? Run it again and see if it is better now. No need to post results if it is somewhat same as last time (do say if it is same though). Also does your SSD show as ATA device now under disk drives?

You can try disabling legacy option ROM and see if it will boot. Not familiar with that kind of setting.
No idea what secure boot is.

 

[RedLad]

I'm nearly sure I restarted. I just did another restart and ran the test again. Different results again. Also attaching disk drives screengrab:

 

[RedLad]

I also notice this driver update on the Dell site, for my PC. Should I install it?:

 

[GokAy]

Did you get to this update automatically or manually?

Neither your SSD is PCIe nor your RAID card an Intel one, unless I am missing something.

You can check the details etc though.

You get different results each run, very confusing. Now read is good enough and write has doubled. 4ks have gone down, variation in access times as well.

 

[RedLad]

Did you get to this update automatically or manually?

Neither your SSD is PCIe nor your RAID card an Intel one, unless I am missing something.

You can check the details etc though.

You get different results each run, very confusing. Now read is good enough and write has doubled. 4ks have gone down, variation in access times as well.

I logged in with my service tag, and in the drivers section, that was the top of the list.

Yeah, very strange indeed about the different results. It's getting late here, I will leave it at that tonight. This saga really is drawing out, but thanks so much for your patience.

I think the next best move is the SSD wipe once my Windows 7 disc arrives from Dell, would you agree?

 

[GokAy]

No worries, I was really hoping that the SSD move would correct the performance issue

Before the install disk arrives:
- Search for a live Linux distribution with SSD performance benchmark
- Take the SSD to a friend, attach it like a data disk and run AS SSD there. If it underperforms there too, then there is a problem with the drive.

 

[gregrocker]

Chances are they saw some advantage to SSD on RAID controller if there is a specified driver for that build.

Secure Boot is only for Win8. Must be disabled. What other settings avail for UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS?

 

[RedLad]

No worries, I was really hoping that the SSD move would correct the performance issue

Before the install disk arrives:
- Search for a live Linux distribution with SSD performance benchmark
- Take the SSD to a friend, attach it like a data disk and run AS SSD there. If it underperforms there too, then there is a problem with the drive.

Yeah, so was I. Could I connect it to my laptop somehow to test it? Or would that just be messy?

 

[RedLad]

Chances are they saw some advantage to SSD on RAID controller if there is a specified driver for that build.

Secure Boot is only for Win8. Must be disabled. What other settings avail for UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS?

I will check these tomorrow Greg, cheers

 

[GokAy]

Hmm, if your laptop has 2 HDD slots of course. Or if you have a USB3 dock.

 

[RedLad]

I'd love to plug it in externally, but would probably need a special cable for this.

Just about that message I was getting upon boot GokAy. Would that be simply because the PC was built to only have the SSD in the first place I had it? In the Raid part. Maybe it is not built to be put in a Sata place like we currently have it?

Or is that just an assumption by me that shouldn't exist?