Time to Cleanup Partitions

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Most of what shouldn’t be there came about after a couple of Windows re-installs at version 1803. The pc is a Dell XPS 2720 16GB, 2TB HDD, 32GB mSata SSD (caching with Intel Rapid Storage Technology). Delivered new in early 2014 with windows 8 Pro, currently up to date 20H2.

The final re-install required a setting change in BIOS config from RAID to AHCI and Intel RST software was never re-installed. That’s my next project but I bring it up so we don’t remove anything that may be related to the not obvious SSD. The New Volume (D:) partition I don’t understand at all. Should I see the SSD in Disk Management views?

Other questions are;

Does changing partitions affect image backups?

Should Bitlocker be turned off during changes?

Where do we start?

Attached are two views of HDD and XPS storage specs

 

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You have “lost” about 1GB of space and the process of moving the partitions around is slow. I would choose the “do nothing” option and make sure I had a good disk backup.

I would not use the SSD cache / RST driver. Buy a 500GB SSD and replace the HDD / SSD cache. You can then use the HDD as an internal backup / data disk.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

PFC

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Paul T wrote:

Buy a 500GB SSD and replace the HDD / SSD cache. You can then use the HDD as an internal backup / data disk.

this would be a great option. What will make the new SSD appear in Disk Management?

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PFC wrote:

What will make the new SSD appear in Disk Management?

Connecting it to the machine.
An SSD is a standard SATA disk as far as Windows is concerned.

It seems there are 2 ways to upgrade to SSD. Replace the 3.5HDD with a 2.5SSD, replace the M2 cache SSD with a 256GB M2 SSD and keep the HDD – I would upgrade the M2.
There is a 256GB limit on the M2 slot according to this Dell post.

Follow this post, with nice pics, for upgrading the SSD.
https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-Wiki/XPS-27-one-2720-replace-32GB-mSATA-for-250GB-mSATA/ta-p/5189708

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

PFC

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Paul T wrote:

Connecting it to the machine.
An SSD is a standard SATA disk as far as Windows is concerned.

the 32gb ssd has never been disconnected and I don’t see it?

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That’s because it’s hiding behind the Intel RST controller. Try changing the BIOS settings.

cheers, Paul

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[PFC]

PFC wrote:

the 32gb ssd has never been disconnected and I don’t see it?

is it possible I just need a driver?
and
I came across this;

Re: XPS One 2720: Upgrade to SSD and keep existing 1TB HDD?

I upgraded the original mSATA SSD installed on the motherboard with a 1TB Samsung

Samsung 840 EVO MZ-MTE1T0BW 1TB mSATA Internal SSD Single Unit Version. (end of copy)

Is it also possible the 256gb limitation is only a limit if the caching option is intended?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by PFC.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by PFC.

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Paul T wrote:

That’s because it’s hiding behind the Intel RST controller. Try changing the BIOS settings.

cheers, Paul

not sure what BIOS setting to change. what setting is RST controller?
device config was changed from RAID (when SSD was caching) to
AHCI (before re-installing windows).

how about two questions at
#2334048

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If you have RAID disabled it should show both disks.
Can you see it in the BIOS per the picture in the link I posted?

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

If you have RAID disabled it should show both disks.
Can you see it in the BIOS per the picture in the link I posted?

cheers, Paul

yes, I find it in BIOS, have to drill down in MAIN\SATA Info, where I see;
SATA 1 (desc shows my 2TB HDD)
SATA 2 (desc shows my DVD)
MSATA Device (desc shows my 32GB SSD)

Advanced\Sata Mode is AHCI (choices are ATA, AHCI, RAID)
Boot sequence is USB storage, Windows boot manager, Internal ODD, USB Floppy, Onboard NIC

Other BIOS settings I saw are, Onboard LAN Controller Enabled and Onboard LAN Boot ROM Disabled.

If I replace SSD and want to boot from it (regardless of size (for now)) do any of the above settings need change?
What would make the mSATA appear in Disk Management display? and in Image Backup software?

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According to the article I linked (you did read it didn’t you?), AHCI is correct.

Disks need to be initialized in Windows to be seen, but Disk Management should show the disk and offer to initialize it. As yours is not seen it may be a driver issue.
Try booting from a Linux live USB to see if the disk shows. (In a terminal window, type: lsblk)

cheers, Paul

 

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Paul T wrote:

According to the article I linked (you did read it didn’t you?), AHCI is correct.

Disks need to be initialized in Windows to be seen, but Disk Management should show the disk and offer to initialize it. As yours is not seen it may be a driver issue.
Try booting from a Linux live USB to see if the disk shows. (In a terminal window, type: lsblk)

cheers, Paul

 

yes I did read it.
I’m really looking for a solution that does not require re-loading windows.
I’d like to clone my C: drive to larger SSD (msata) (after some cleanup of C:)
Get msata in boot order
go from there

Is there a strategy to do that?

Paul T wrote:

Try booting from a Linux live USB to see if the disk shows. (In a terminal window, type: lsblk)

you’re sending me to a foreign land and I don’t speak the language.

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We need to know if you can see the M2 disk before suggesting an upgrade.

Do you have a Windows boot USB/disk? Try booting from that and running Disk Manager.
Or a backup boot USB.

cheers, Paul

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I’ve got 2 flash drives, a Macrium (free) rescue which I’ve tested, boots and has access to my images on external hd.
Also have a repair flash drive that gets me into advanced recovery, this provides access to Command prompt.
I did not re-install OS from this usb so I couldn’t find a way to Disk Manager. If the cmd prompt is useful for you to give me instructions, I’m comfortable with that.

also attached is utility (from OlderGeeks) output showing it recognized mSata (bottom left).
Maybe it can provide us with more info.

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That hardware list looks promising.

Boot from the Macrium rescue and open a Command Prompt – next to the restart button.
Type the following:
diskpart
list disk

You should see all the disks on your system.

cheers, Paul

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[PFC]

list disk shows:

DISK ###  Status      Size        Free   GPT

Disk 0         Online   1863 GB   8 MB   *

Disk 1          Online     931 GB   0  B      *

Disk 2         Online       28 GB  27 GB

—————————-

0 = C:       1 = WD ext hd    2 = size of SSD

sorry I couldn’t snip. I also did a list volume and nothing ~28GB is listed,

only that New Volume D: of 12GB is listed, whatever it is

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by PFC.

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The SSD is shown in all your views, so you should be fine to upgrade the M2 SSD to 256GB.

You could backup the existing HDD and restore to the new SSD – you seem to have enough space.
Alternatively, upgrade the HDD to SSD and ignore the M2 SSD.

cheers, Pau

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Paul T wrote:

The SSD is shown in all your views,

where is it in this view?

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Pass.

If you are not happy upgrading the SSD, upgrade the HDD. Your machine, your money…

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

PFC

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