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How to install Windows onto a system with mSATA _ Dell US

This article provides a step-by-step guide on installing Windows on a system with an mSATA drive, including pre-installation BIOS settings and instructions for both Windows 7 and Windows 8. It emphasizes the need to enable the mSATA card in BIOS and download the necessary Intel drivers for proper installation. After installation, users are advised to enable acceleration for improved system performance using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Console.

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4 views

How to install Windows onto a system with mSATA _ Dell US

This article provides a step-by-step guide on installing Windows on a system with an mSATA drive, including pre-installation BIOS settings and instructions for both Windows 7 and Windows 8. It emphasizes the need to enable the mSATA card in BIOS and download the necessary Intel drivers for proper installation. After installation, users are advised to enable acceleration for improved system performance using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Console.

Uploaded by

ungke
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to install Windows onto a system with mSATA

This article provides information on how to install Windows onto a


system with an mSATA drive after HDD replacement or format.
Table of Contents:
1. Pre-installation BIOS settings
2. Windows 7
3. Windows 8
4. Enable Acceleration

 Dell ships systems that have mSATA Accelerators with the OS installed on the
Main SATA drive instead of the mSATA. This is because mSATA is used as a
cache drive to increase system performance. Dell does not recommend or
suggest installing Windows on an MSATA drive.

1 - Pre-installation BIOS settings


The mSATA card needs to be enabled in BIOS before an operating system can be
installed.
1. Boot into system BIOS (press F2 at Dell logo)
2. Change the SATA operation to AHCI (Both drives will now be active and visible)
3. Save settings and Exit.

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2 - Windows 7

Boot to the BIOS and change SATA operation to AHCI, save settings and then
reboot to the Windows 7 media.You will need a USB flash drive and the Windows 7
install media. Before you begin you will need to download the Intel® Matrix
Storage Manager driver from HERE
(https://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?
httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/17882/eng/f6flpy3289.zip&lang=eng&Dwnldid=17882%20)
and unzip it onto your flash drive.

1. With the SATA controller in ACHI mode you can see both the HDD and the mSATA
drive. Format both of these drives from within Windows setup.
2. Boot to the BIOS and switch the SATA operation to Intel Rapid Start, save settings
and reboot to the Windows 7 media.
3. You can then load the driver from the pre-prepared USB stick on to the system at
the prompt ( need drivers) at this point only one drive should be available, most
likely the main SATA drive.
4. Continue with the installation of Windows 7, and install the drivers as normal. You
will need to install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver from
www.dell.com/support (https://www.dell.com/support/home?app=drivers)
5. When this has been installed and the system has been re-booted you will need to
enable acceleration. See Section 4.

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3 - Windows 8


When installing Windows 8 booting from the media, the system will not show
"Windows is loading files". It just displays the Windows logo and looks like the
system is unresponsive/ not posting as caps lock etc do not respond. This is
normal, the system will stay like this for around 5 minutes or so before it will show
the next screen. Leave the system to complete loading files.

You will need a USB flash drive and the Windows 8 install media. Before you begin
you will need to download the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager driver from HERE
(https://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?
httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/17882/eng/f6flpy3289.zip&lang=eng&Dwnldid=17882%20)
and unzip it onto your flash drive.

1. Boot to the BIOS and change SATA operation to AHCI, save settings and then
reboot to the Windows 8 media.
2. With the SATA controller in ACHI mode you can see both the HDD and the mSATA
drive. Format both of these drives from within Windows setup.
3. Boot back into the BIOS and switch the SATA operation to Intel Rapid Start, save
settings and reboot to the Windows 8 media.
4. You will receive an error asking for drivers to be loaded at the screen where you
select to install : this is due to the accelerator SSD you have in the system.
5. You can then load the driver from the pre-prepared USB stick on to the system at
the prompt ( need drivers) at this point only one drive should be available, most
likely the main SATA drive.
6. Once Windows 8 is installed you will need to install the Intel Rapid Storage
Technology Application from HERE
(https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/DriversDetails?DriverId=5C95T)
7. The system will now show the SATA HDD and SSD (mSATA) working together one
for storage one for cache.
8. When this has been installed and the system has been re-booted you will need to
enable acceleration. See Section 4

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4 - Enable Acceleration
Once you have installed Windows and updated all the relevant drivers, you will
want to enable acceleration again to improve the performance of your system.
This is achieved by running the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Console.
Click on the Performance tab at the top, then Enable acceleration

In the popup window, select Full disk capacity and Enhanced mode (these are the
default)
Click OK, then the system will accelerate and after a reboot the system will be
ready to use as normal.

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Quick Tips content is self-published by the Dell Support Professionals who resolve
issues daily. In order to achieve a speedy publication, Quick Tips may represent
only partial solutions or work-arounds that are still in development or pending
further proof of successfully resolving an issue. As such Quick Tips have not been
reviewed, validated or approved by Dell and should be used with appropriate
caution. Dell shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to loss of
data, loss of profit or loss of revenue, which customers may incur by following any
procedure or advice set out in the Quick Tips.

Article ID: SLN286337

Last Date Modified: 03/14/2018 04:55 PM

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