Added SSD to Alienware X51, UEFI troubles

[firebirdude]

Not discussing the rig in my sig. Rig is an Alienware X51 R2.

We added a 500G SSD, initialized it as a storage drive and it showed up under My Computer, cleared the Alienware HDD down to under 500GB, used EaseUS Todo to clone the HDD onto the new SSD. The plan was now to just switch the boot order, wipe the HDD and use it for storage. However, I cannot change the boot sequence while under UEFI (default). And if I change it to legacy, neither of the two drives will boot into Windows. I have to leave it on UEFI and then it will boot into Windows properly (off the HDD still connected). I have tried disconnecting the HDD, but it will not boot at all. "Internal Hard Disk Drive not found" error. Both drives show up in BIOS just fine. But like I said, switching to Legacy is the only way I can adjust boot order, but then it will not boot off either drive. I must leave it in UEFI for a successful boot.

We're doing the cloning method because we don't have the Windows key (no sticker on rig) or any discs, despite it being genuine. Plus we'd have to hunt down all the drivers and whatnot too...

Any ideas?

 

[bruceb]

Try the information at this link:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/change-boot-order-in-windows

 

[firebirdude]

Try the information at this link:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/change-boot-order-in-windows

Appreciate the reply, but that doesn't do anything other than boot into BIOS from Windows. I can get into BIOS just fine.

Side note: Rather than go through all the menus in that walkthrough, a user can just hold Shift while they select Restart from the taskbar power button. Does the same thing. ;-)

 

[bruceb]

I would suggest you take out the SSD and then Disable Secure Boot as described below. You can then reclone the HDD to the SSD and put it back into the computer. I would also suggest you put the SSD on the same Cable Connector as where the HDD was connected

Disable Secure Boot

1. Before disabling Secure Boot, consider whether it is necessary. From time to time, your manufacturer may update the list of trusted hardware, drivers, and operating systems for your PC. To check for updates, go to Windows Update, or check your manufacturer's website.
   
   
2. Open the PC BIOS menu. You can often access this menu by pressing a key during the bootup sequence, such as F1, F2, F12, or Esc.
   
   Or, from Windows, hold the Shift key while selecting Restart. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options: UEFI Firmware Settings.
   
   
3. Find the Secure Boot setting, and if possible, set it to Disabled. This option is usually in either the Security tab, the Boot tab, or the Authentication tab.
   
   
4. Save changes and exit. The PC reboots.

Also see this link for more help on cloning from HDD to SSD with out problems
https://www.easeus.com/todo-backup-resource/clone-gpt-hdd-to-ssd.html

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I have worked on the ivy and haswell versions of the X51, and disabling secure boot is the answer. The last one I worked on was the ivy, I installed a WD blue 500GB SSD w/win 10 and it booted to windows in approx 7-8 seconds. I think it was f11 for the boot menu on that one.

BTW, the OEM keys are in the firmware, and if you want to upgrade it to windows 10 for free, it should use the embedded key just fine. It finds most the drivers during install, and the others were as simple as using the auto update in device mangler. I consider all the alienware software bloatware, and the system will game it up without any of it.

Dang it, just noticed the date on this. Let this serve as information for the google searchers out there, looking for help.