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Issues migrating Windows 10 from HDD to SSD on Dell XPS 8910 (BIOS/UEFI currently w/ RAID)

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Hello,

Used TI '14 to clone HDD to SSD. System won't boot from SSD.

Computer is Dell XPS 8910. Came pre-loaded with Windows 10 on 1TB HDD.

Added Kingston HyperX Savage 240GB SSD. Installed bundled TI '14 and followed defaults to clone drive.

Changed BIOS/UEFI settings so that only one "Windows Managed Drive" was enabled. System would not boot from SSD. Shows "No bootable devices" error message. Re-enabled second "Windows Managed Drive" and was able to boot back into HDD.

When booted to HDD, am able to folders/files on SSD.

BIOS/UEFI is currently set to RAID (vs AHCI). Does this make a difference? If yes, why?

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It appears that I may have to change from RAID to AHCI. I'm guessing that I can't just use TI to clone the drive and then make the switch.

Would the following steps be correct:

1. create a .TIB file on a USB drive

2. switch from RAID to AHCI

3. restore .TIB file to the SSD

I'm thinking I need to create a bootable TI CD. Is this possible with TI '14?

Take a full, offline backup before you do anything - that's your safety net and recovey point if you can't rever to the original drive. - yes, this would be with your bootable TI CD.  Make sure it boots and sees your drives and take that backup!!!

No, you cannot clone or restore an image taken from RAID to AHCI - SATA mode needs to be the same as Windows is configured to look for that driver setting.  Windows 10 handles this better than previous OS, but not always.

Your Dell is probably set to RAID because it came wiht an NVME PCIE hard drive?  These are newer m.2 (format - looks like a stick of memory) that use the PCIE bus instead of the SATA bus.  OEM's are setting the systems to use RAID with these drives by default - even if they are only 1 drive.  PCIE NVME can take advantage of deeper queue depth with RAID so it gives them more performance.

1) The default rescue media is LInux based.  It does not deal with RAID very well.  2014 also was out before PCIE NVME hard drives were invented so probably lacks the necessary drivers to support them.  RAID is defintely going to be the gotcha with your drive if it is PCIE NVME.  Either way, because you're using newer technology that came a few years after 2014, I"m thinking you mayh want to consider upgrading to 2017.

2) back to RAID - since the linux rescue media has not the correct IRST drivers to support your RAID setup, you need to create winpe rescue media and inject the drivers into yourself.  We've created an MVP tool to make this pretty simple - HOWEVER, it only supports 2016 and 2017 because Acronis changed the PE tools in 2016 and that's were we started our MVP support.  That said, Acronis 2014 only supporst ADK 4.0 and won't detect ADK 6.0 (Windows 10) so you can't build WinPE rescue media for Windows 10 with True Image 2014.

I think you should bite the bullet and upgrade (it's the standard price again right now, but was just $30 for 3 license to upgrade or buy 1 new and get 1 new for $30 not too long ago - maybe they'll cut you a break if you contact support and ask).

Once you have an updated version to support your hardware, you're likely to be in better shape...

As for switching from RAID to ACHI... try it and see if it boots.  That would help your cause.  Windows 10 is much better at handling this than previous OS versions.  If you install the latest IRST drivers in Windows before doing this, it might be all you need.  I'd still recommend doing a full backup before anything else (if you can) as that's your safety net.

If it doesn't boot, then you need to switch back to RAID and prep the OS first - take note about the need for a local admin account so you don't lock yourself out if you're only using a WindowsLiveMail account in Windows 10.  http://triplescomputers.com/blog/uncategorized/solution-switch-windows-10-from-raidide-to-ahci-operation/