XPS 15 9550 1TB + 32GB SSD upgrade to 256GB SSD only

Hi there,

My XPS 15 9550 came with the WIN10 installed on the 32GB as a standalone system drive instead of using it as a cache. The 32GB and 1TB are 2 separate drives listed under my computers and in Intel RST. But the strange thing is in the BIOS boot sequence, it shows only the Windows Boot Manager and the 1TB drive. The 32GB SSD is NOT there. Anyway, my plan is to remove both drives and put in a 256GB SSD to the original 1TB SATA slot. Newbie here, can any expert give a step by step procedures? Thank you sooooo much!

 

There are lots of posts here. Dell had some odd refurb configurations with that 32GB drive that made no sense.

Remove the 32GB garbage. If you have a m.2 nvme (or sata) drive for that slot you can keep the 1TB HDD. Else, install your new drive in the big bay.

Then wander over to M$, download Windoze 10, and clean install. I pick up all the drivers beforehand but I don't think you need many anymore (maybe just the wifi but search the threads here).

 

The 32GB SSD is configured as cache in Intel RST ("Intel Smart Response" or something). Disable this, and you should see two drives.

 

I am having issue booting from usb drive for a clean install. If I do it in UEFI, it will go to Language then Country and then Choose Drive and then black screen and then restart. If I do it in legacy mode and force it to the usb drive, it went straight to Dell assistant diagnostic. Is there any BOIS setting to change? I did not do all these in safe mode though. And i did not remove the 2 drives either.

 

It’s already shown as 2 separate driveS in intel RST. The 32GB is shown as “system” which has the Win10 OS on it.

 

For ISR caching, the 32GB SSD is configured to be cache for the HDD. Both should act as one drive in Windows, but the cache drive should probably visible somehow in Intel RST, maybe with the same name.

Or has acceleration been removed already? Sorry I don't have this anymore, so I can only advise you to "RTFM"
Open Intel RST Help, Optimizing the storage system, Accelerating the storage system, Disabling acceleration