SSD laptops
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I recently replaced the spinner in my wife's HP all-in-one with a SSD. I was surprised to find a 16GB SSD mounted on the board, apparently only used for cache. I never saw any indication that it helped anything. That 5+ y/o machine was always really slow. The new SSD and fresh Windows made all the difference as it's now < 10 seconds from power on to Google.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
Yeah, this is what I am not sure of, whether the SSD is just cache, or is the actual boot device. It shows, in Hierans boot CD in a disk scan tool as an unmounted device, it does show up in BIOS as a disk device. The terrabyte disk is mounted, but the disk manager shows some odd partitions, it was partitioned up into windows 10, windows 7, data, linux, android, It seems as if the windows 10, what was the original disk boot partition, has lost its MBR. (I later put on an Ubuntu MBR on this disk, and it then booted either Ubuntu, windows 10, or windows 7). All my data is backed up on a terabyte external USB disk, so I might just get the rescue iso off Dell, and reset the system to its original format, booting windows 10, and running ubuntu and android off VMs. Probably easiest. THe Dell hardware check, long version, didnt report any hardware issues, so it looks like the disks are OK, just the MBR got trashed.
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I have a Dell with SSD, is it correct that the SSD is the boot disk? (Mine is failing to boot, cant find any bootable devices, trying to work out which disk is the culprit)
Windows 10 updates will trash MBR's it doesn't understand, here's just one ref: dual boot - Windows 10 update broke my MBR / GRUB - Ask Ubuntu[^] A better way to go would be install ubuntu (dell even do this themselves in some of their laptops) and run win 10 & 7 out of VM's - more stable and less worries that win updates will mess up vm settings / connectivity or even scan and decide it's suspicious.
Message Signature (Click to edit ->)
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Windows 10 updates will trash MBR's it doesn't understand, here's just one ref: dual boot - Windows 10 update broke my MBR / GRUB - Ask Ubuntu[^] A better way to go would be install ubuntu (dell even do this themselves in some of their laptops) and run win 10 & 7 out of VM's - more stable and less worries that win updates will mess up vm settings / connectivity or even scan and decide it's suspicious.
Message Signature (Click to edit ->)
THats a possible. Right now I just need another windows 10 machine on the C drive that I can use for testing some driver dev work.
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2.5-inch SATA SSDs all have the same cable interface. For the nVME SSD's you can get an appropriate enclosure for those as well. All you have to do is be mindful of the connection type and what type of drive it is (there are apparantly three types, and two? connector types). I'm assuming that the drive in question is a standard 2.5 inch SATA drive.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
That's an M.2 device and USB enclosures are available for those too, so you were still correct with your reply OriginalGriff :-)
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My Dell laptop has an M.2 SSD, so be aware that it is a different connection (ssd is like a horizontal card that slots into a connection on the motherboard and they come in different lengths).
All of the nVME enclosures I've seen support the three most common drive lengths, so only the interface (SATA, PCIe) and connector type (M or B) seem to matter.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
Mark Parity wrote:
That's an M.2 device and USB enclosures are available for those too
Really? That's an immediate add to my shopping list!
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
They're kinda pricey compared to enclosures for normal SSDs. Expect to spend at least $30, and more often than not, $50-60. I have a Samsung 960 EVO 500gb still in the box because I don't have an enclosure yet.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
They're kinda pricey compared to enclosures for normal SSDs. Expect to spend at least $30, and more often than not, $50-60. I have a Samsung 960 EVO 500gb still in the box because I don't have an enclosure yet.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013I'm beginning to see that -- and the fact that there are at least three different connector formats, so it's best to buy the cards first, and then the enclosures to match. You might be lucky on price, though, because it looks like this[^] could be right for your one (if you're willing to wait a few weeks for delivery).
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Both disks are shown in the devices section. In the boot section though it says 'ubuntu' as the first device, then IP4 and IP6 as the second and third. (It had windows 10 on it from the factory, I put on Ubuntu as the main boot OS, and put windows 10 and windows 7 in grub) I am running a Dell long diagnostic on it currently, but using the latest Hierens bot CD the SSD didnt show up in disk manager, and in a disk repair tool it was showing as unmounted. I wounder if the SSD has died...
Munchies_Matt wrote:
...but using the latest Hierens bot CD the SSD didnt show up in disk manager...
If that was from within the XP in Hiren's it probably didn't have the drivers that enable your disk controller to be seen. Check out Sergei Strelec Sergei Strelec - Загрузочные диски[^], look for English version at the end of the description, click it and on the next page scroll down to Downloads, click MEGA, click the big red Download button and Bob's your mother's brother. Burn to USB and boot to Windows 10 environment so you should be able to see everything on modern hardware.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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That depends on the SSD card. Some laptop ones don't use standard SATA connectors, and have to be mounted in the laptop[^].
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
Mark_Wallace wrote:
That depends on the SSD card. Some laptop ones don't use standard SATA connectors, and have to be mounted in the laptop[^].
Don't you have an mSATA/M2 to USB adapter in your kit bag? I have one in my laptop bag at all times along with several other adapters that come in handy.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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They're kinda pricey compared to enclosures for normal SSDs. Expect to spend at least $30, and more often than not, $50-60. I have a Samsung 960 EVO 500gb still in the box because I don't have an enclosure yet.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
They're kinda pricey compared to enclosures for normal SSDs. Expect to spend at least $30, and more often than not, $50-60. I have a Samsung 960 EVO 500gb still in the box because I don't have an enclosure yet.
Got my mSATA/M2 to SATA/USB adapter for either AUD$20.00 or AUD25.00, the shop had them on the shelf.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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I'm beginning to see that -- and the fact that there are at least three different connector formats, so it's best to buy the cards first, and then the enclosures to match. You might be lucky on price, though, because it looks like this[^] could be right for your one (if you're willing to wait a few weeks for delivery).
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
The good thing about standards ... and so on. I had my university education learning networking from the first edition of the Tanenbaum book that expressed this lament, years before it became a commonly known adage. For those without access to the book: Tanenbaum made the remark to those very minor, yet very significant, differences between the HDLC link level protocol and IBMs SDLC line level protocol. Personal note: I decided to give up my belief in SCSI as a future standard when I had to pay aorund USD 60 for another SCSI cable for the ninth SCSI plug in my computer setups, and the guy behind the counter said "You are lucky - there are fourteen different SCSI plugs, all defined as 'standard'".
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Mark_Wallace wrote:
That depends on the SSD card. Some laptop ones don't use standard SATA connectors, and have to be mounted in the laptop[^].
Don't you have an mSATA/M2 to USB adapter in your kit bag? I have one in my laptop bag at all times along with several other adapters that come in handy.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
Michael Martin wrote:
Don't you have an mSATA/M2 to USB adapter in your kit bag?
Not yet. Give it a couple of days.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Munchies_Matt wrote:
...but using the latest Hierens bot CD the SSD didnt show up in disk manager...
If that was from within the XP in Hiren's it probably didn't have the drivers that enable your disk controller to be seen. Check out Sergei Strelec Sergei Strelec - Загрузочные диски[^], look for English version at the end of the description, click it and on the next page scroll down to Downloads, click MEGA, click the big red Download button and Bob's your mother's brother. Burn to USB and boot to Windows 10 environment so you should be able to see everything on modern hardware.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
It is WIndows PE 10 on the latest Hierens (that works with UEFI), so the same as in your link. So perhaps the SSD is just cache, and not bootable disk. The BIOS only shows one boot option, 'Ubuntu', after that IPv4, and IPv6. Since I had Ubuntu instaled as the main OS(which had windows boot in grub, and the windows boot then gave me windows 10 or 7), and the BIOS cant find any MBR, it is the ubuntu one which is damaged, so I am looking at trying to repair it, but thanks for the tip
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Munchies_Matt wrote:
...but using the latest Hierens bot CD the SSD didnt show up in disk manager...
If that was from within the XP in Hiren's it probably didn't have the drivers that enable your disk controller to be seen. Check out Sergei Strelec Sergei Strelec - Загрузочные диски[^], look for English version at the end of the description, click it and on the next page scroll down to Downloads, click MEGA, click the big red Download button and Bob's your mother's brother. Burn to USB and boot to Windows 10 environment so you should be able to see everything on modern hardware.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
Hiren updated to Win10 too. Have a look: Hiren's BootCD PE[^]
Quote:
Hiren’s BootCD PE (Preinstallation Environment) is a restored edition of Hiren’s BootCD based on Windows 10 PE x64
only problem...
Quote:
It is being developed for the new age computers, it supports UEFI booting and requires minimum 2 GB RAM.
What I do like most... the old versions list Old Versions – Hiren's BootCD PE[^] Kudos for the people supporting the project.
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Hiren updated to Win10 too. Have a look: Hiren's BootCD PE[^]
Quote:
Hiren’s BootCD PE (Preinstallation Environment) is a restored edition of Hiren’s BootCD based on Windows 10 PE x64
only problem...
Quote:
It is being developed for the new age computers, it supports UEFI booting and requires minimum 2 GB RAM.
What I do like most... the old versions list Old Versions – Hiren's BootCD PE[^] Kudos for the people supporting the project.
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
Nelek wrote:
Hiren updated to Win10 too. Have a look: Hiren's BootCD PE[^]
Thank you, I gave up checking a couple of years ago.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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Nelek wrote:
Hiren updated to Win10 too. Have a look: Hiren's BootCD PE[^]
Thank you, I gave up checking a couple of years ago.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
You are welcome :)
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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It is on UEFI boot, always has been, so that shouldnt be a problem. About the SDD dying, this is what I am tying to establish. If it is the main boot disk then it is odd that a solid state drive should fail.
Did you install grub-efi-bin after the Ubuntu installation. The new boot type ignore device discovery and only search for the catalog inside the small UEFI partition. You can put that on your HDD or SSD, but it needs to be GPT, has bootable flag and a proper GUID. 512 MB is usually enough. UEFI multiboot is a pain, not because it is impossible, but it requires so many stuff to be done manually.
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It is on UEFI boot, always has been, so that shouldnt be a problem. About the SDD dying, this is what I am tying to establish. If it is the main boot disk then it is odd that a solid state drive should fail.
Did you install grub-efi-bin after the Ubuntu installation. The new boot type ignore device discovery and only search for the catalog inside the small UEFI partition. You can put that on your HDD or SSD, but it needs to be GPT, has bootable flag and a proper GUID. 512 MB is usually enough. UEFI multiboot is a pain, not because it is impossible, but it requires so many stuff to be done manually.
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You don't even need an enclosure - you can connect a SSD directly to any desktop that has a spare SATA port and power connector.
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640 Never throw anything away, Griff Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay... AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
