HOW TO: Clean Windows 7 Install (Driver Install Order) Guide for Alienware Systems

[Mr. Fox]

Amazing guide!
Now I just need to find out if I can have a 128gb ssd + 2x 500gb hdd raid 0, one of which moved to the dvd bay. Not sure how the hdd in the dvd bay would work, performance wise.

I got my m17x r4 from the outlet, so it will arrive preconfigured with the 2 hdd in raid 0.

The other (easier) option would be ssd+hdd+dvd and sell the spare hdd ^__^

It works great. The HDD performs at full SATA 3GB/s speed. More details in this thread... HOW TO: SATA III-SSD-RAID0-Windows Installation: Questions, Troubleshooting Thread The opening post has OS setup information. Toward the end of the thread you will find details on using the optical drive bay, including photos.

[IbisOZ]

It works great. The HDD performs at full SATA 3GB/s speed. More details in this thread... HOW TO: SATA III-SSD-RAID0-Windows Installation: Questions, Troubleshooting Thread The opening post has OS setup information. Toward the end of the thread you will find details on using the optical drive bay, including photos.

Thanx for that!

So the dvd bay works on sata2...uhm...annoying xD

Basically my configuration will be:

bay 1: SSD on sata 3 (boot)
bay 2: hdd 500gb raid 0 on sata 3
bay 3: hdd 500gb raid 0 on sata 2

Dvd reader will get an external enclosure.

Would have been sooo much easier if that dvd bay was on sata 3 as well...insert ssd...set up as boot drive...install w7&drivers....all done xD

[Mr. Fox]

All Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge mobile chipsets support a maximum of 2 ports at SATA 3.0 6GB/s. That's OK for most people though, because hardly any normal HDD runs at SATA 3.0 GB/s... almost all are limited to SATA 2.0 3GB/s. SATA 3.0 is pretty much only useful for SSD.

In addition to the parts I posted on the other thread, as another option you can buy all the parts in a single package. Check out the SilverStone TS06 at NewEgg.

[IbisOZ]

All Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge mobile chipsets support a maximum of 2 ports at SATA 3.0 6GB/s. That's OK for most people though, because hardly any normal HDD runs at SATA 3.0 GB/s... almost all are limited to SATA 2.0 3GB/s. SATA 3.0 is pretty much only useful for SSD.

In addition to the parts I posted on the other thread, as another option you can buy all the parts in a single package. Check out the SilverStone TS06 at NewEgg.

I guess sata 2 for the hdd will be ok xD
Can the third bay (i mean the sata 2 dvd one) be setup for raid 0 ?

[christo493]

Please excuse me if this has been answered before, but I'm going to be installing a 64gb Msata for booting right when I get my laptop, so clean install is no problem. First of all, does having raid 0 HDD affect the boot drive at all? Do I need to change anything you posted for fresh installing windows on an SSD? Also, isn't there an alienware disk you get with all the standard drivers on it? (minus maybe the graphics drivers)

[anthony212]

Please excuse me if this has been answered before, but I'm going to be installing a 64gb Msata for booting right when I get my laptop, so clean install is no problem. First of all, does having raid 0 HDD affect the boot drive at all? Do I need to change anything you posted for fresh installing windows on an SSD? Also, isn't there an alienware disk you get with all the standard drivers on it? (minus maybe the graphics drivers)

Yes, you do get a resource DVD with drivers on it. Although, to make sure you are getting the most up-to-date drivers, it wouldnt hurt to download them all and save them on flash drive yourself before installing.

[steviejones133]

Please excuse me if this has been answered before, but I'm going to be installing a 64gb Msata for booting right when I get my laptop, so clean install is no problem. First of all, does having raid 0 HDD affect the boot drive at all? Do I need to change anything you posted for fresh installing windows on an SSD? Also, isn't there an alienware disk you get with all the standard drivers on it? (minus maybe the graphics drivers)

Yes, you do get a resource DVD with drivers on it. Although, to make sure you are getting the most up-to-date drivers, it wouldnt hurt to download them all and save them on flash drive yourself before installing.

Never rely on drivers from the resource disk - always grab all the latest drivers for your system from Dell Drivers & Downloads as they will be more up-to-date and you wont miss any important ones.

As far as having a HDD raid & mSata boot, the raid should not affect your machine regards to booting windows from the mSata OS drive.

[TrekonBT]

I followed the steps for my M11x but I am still not getting HDMI audio. What could i possible be doing wrong?

[Shibumi]

Thanks for this! One of the first things I plan on doing after I get my Alienware is to pick up a shiny new 240GB SSD. I recently upgraded my Desktop to an SSD and I can never go back. Unfortunately buying the Alienwares with SSDs as stock is just far too overpriced.

[IbisOZ]

The problem i'm having with my new m17x r4 may have something to do with windows or some other software I'm unaware of...

Please refer to this thread: Just received my m17x r4, problem with date and time (bios?)

Date and time keep resetting after each restart. Note that it's not the cmos battery! If I setup the correct date and time in the bios, restart the computer then check the bios again, everything is perfect. As soon as windows 7 loads I find the system setup 6 days in the past, and after the next restart it will become 1st january 2011 (with countless errors showing on startup).

The whole motherboard has been replaced and i've already done a clean installation of windows 7 with no results. Every driver has been installed and updated, yet the problem persists.

Any idea?