Are these Ducks in a Row? Removing mSATA SSD Cache, Installing New 2.5" 1TB SSD, Keeping 2TB HDD

[Pinko]

Been doing a fierce amount of Googling on this and I'm finding situations similar but not just exactly the same so wanted to check if the steps below are on the ball as I'm bringing together two separate posts I came across.

Current system spec is below. It has a 32GB mSATA SSD Cache for the 2TB HDD and my understanding is that this 'works' via the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST).

• Dell XPS 8700 (from 2013)
• Windows 10 (64-bit OS)
• 2TB HDD
• 32GB mSATA SSD for Cache
• Intel Core i7-4770 CPU @3.40GHz
• 12GB RAM
• Dell 0KWVT8 Motherboard, version A14 (up-to-date) with SATA-III
• Dell D460 AM-02 PSU (I believe this is 460W)

The plan + my understanding: I plan to do a fresh install of Windows 10 on a new 2.5" 1TB SSD and all programmes will be installed on the SSD (e.g. Microsoft Office, couple of Steam Games, Adobe software). I planned to keep files on the HDD. My understanding is that having a ‘proper’ SSD as opposed to the mSATA SSD Cache means I no longer need the 32GB mSATA SSD, so should remove this? Or can the mSATA SSD Cache still help out the HDD or will having the 2.5” SSD just confuse the whole setup?

The current setup is listed as RAID-0 by IRST, but I don’t understand this because my reading suggests that using RAID-0 means the storage is limited to the smallest drive which is 32GB but my HDD registers ~1.8TBs. This might not matter anyhow if removing the mSATA SSD Cache is the way to go.

Removing the mSATA 32GB SSD
1. Disable Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) via the IRST software: Performance --> Disable Acceleration
2. (optional) Wipe the 32GB mSATA Drive using DISKPART
3. Set the PC to boot in Safe Mode, Minimal
4. When rebooting go into BIOS and change from RAID to AHCI
5. Continue to boot
6. Set the PC to boot in Normal mode and restart to check all is working
7. Turn off PC and remove the mSATA 32GB SSD

Installing New SSD + Windows
1. Have: data backed up, Windows license key, and copies of drivers
2. Create Windows installation drive on an ≥8GB flash USB
3. PC turned off: remove SATA cable from HDD
4. PC turned off: physically install SSD + connect SSD to SATA
5. Boot machine with Windows installation USB plugged in
6. Enter BIOS during boot and boot from USB
7. Follow installation instructions for Windows
8. If needed install drivers not automatically installed during Windows installation
9. Reboot, enter BIOS, change boot drive to new SSD and boot to see all is working
10. PC turned off: re-attach HDD
11. Reboot and then format HDD (to remove previous Windows)
12. Transfer back all files from backups
13. Victory: Have a cup of tea

The one thing I'm not 100% sure about is whether my Windows license key will be accepted. I know I can link my Windows installation to my Microsoft account but that doing this removes your local Windows account. I don't have a Microsoft account and hate having more accounts but I know I can revert back to a local account - maybe I should just do this to be sure?

 

[Pinko]

So the above went perfect. Didn't need to do any of the booting in safe mode.

For anyone else who finds this in similar situation - after the new SSD is installed, with the PC off put the mSATA SSD back in and you can use it as a scratch disk.