I have an issue with adding a new SSD drive to my MSI GT683. I have recently received a SanDisk Ultra Plus SDSSDHP 256 GB (2.5" SATA 6 GB/s, which I assume is SATA III) and I want to replace my old HDD by installing the OS on the new SSD. The internal specs for the MSI looks like this (page 3-41) where number 3 is the hard drive and number 5 says "optical drive device". At the same location as number 5 there is another slot for a HDD/SSD drive which is where I put the new SSD. This is where the problems start.
I can find the newly inserted SSD in the BIOS but Windows does not recognise that there is a new hard drive device in the laptop. When I started up the laptop it recognised that there was a drive in the laptop, installed drivers and required a restart. After the restart Windows no longer recognises that there is an SSD drive in the laptop. I have downloaded the SSD Toolkit which says the Firmware is up to date.
I have tried switching the positions for the HDD and SSD, but nothing changes (only the boot time for the BIOS to recognise the HDD is in another position), it still boots to Windows. I have restored the HDD to manufacturer settings but it still doesn't recognise the SSD.
I have read that it is recommended to clone Windows from my HDD to the SSD with a USB-to-SSD cable, but is this really the only way? Is there a way to get Windows to recognise there is a new SSD in the laptop without cloning from a HDD? As in, could I possibly boot to the SSD, format it and install Windows from a separate drive onto the SSD?
Best Answer
Your laptop has esata, you can get an external device with esata temporarily plug the SSD or hdd in there and clone at full speed. Also go into your BIOS and check if the SATA controller is in AHCI mode.
You can boot from a Windows DVD and install windows. You can also use a 4gb USB stick and after using the microsoft provided ISO to USB tool boot from the memory stick and install windows.
The USB method has the added benefit that you can copy the newest drivers on to the USB memory stick so windows can find them.