I'm trying to upgrade my Alienware Aurora Ryzen by replacing the main HDD with a Crucial MX500 2.5 SSD. I've installed the SSD and set it up as GPT, but when I tried to clone my old HDD using Macrium Reflect, it failed due to issues with the HDD. So, I decided to do a clean install of Windows 11 on the new SSD instead. I downloaded the Windows 11 Installation Media onto a clean USB, disconnected the old HDD, and booted from the USB drive. However, during installation, the setup doesn't recognize the new SSD; it only shows the USB and the old HDD, which I already removed. I'm at a standstill and could use some help!
4 Answers
The drivers go on the USB drive that you’re using for the Windows installation. Once you select the driver from the USB after clicking 'Load Driver', it should help the installer recognize the SSD. Good luck!
If the SSD is showing up in BIOS, you'll want to look at your BIOS settings and see if RAID mode is activated. If it is, switch it to AHCI mode and try the installation again. This often helps solve detection issues with SSDs during installs.
First, check if the SSD is detected in your BIOS. If it’s not showing up there, it could be a connection issue or a problem with the SSD itself. Since you mentioned it’s not listed, make sure all the cables are connected properly and that it’s seated in the slot correctly.
I checked, and I can't see it in BIOS.
You might also need to load Intel Rapid Storage drivers if that’s applicable. When you get to the part of the installation where the disk isn't recognized, there should be an option to load drivers. Just have them on your USB, and it should help the installer find the SSD.
Where specifically do I load the drivers—on the SSD or the USB? I thought the SSD has to be unpartitioned for the install.
It's currently in RAID; I'll switch it to AHCI and see how that goes.