How to Install an SSD in a Dell Desktop PC - Kingston Technology

Installing an SSD in a DELL desktop computer has many benefits over the older hard disk drives, like faster boot times, plus, it's really easy to do. Here is how to install an SSD.
1. Backup or clone your old hard drive. Cloning software is included with some SSDs.
2. Make sure your system BIOS is up-to-date. Check Dell's website before you begin.
3. Clean your work surface.
4. Ground yourself first by touching an unpainted metal surface to prevent damage to any components.
5. Shut down your computer
6. Remove all cables from the back.
7. If you plan on adding the SSD drive, instead of replacing your old hard drive, you need an available drive bay, which should be easily accessible inside the computer, by removing one of the side panels. In most cases, you won’t need any tools whatsoever to remove the side panel, because most Dell desktops have latches. Otherwise, consult Dell's website before you begin.
8. Once you get it open you'll have a clear view of the drive bays, find the old hard drive and you'll most likely find another bay nearby.
9. If you don't have a 2.5"" drive bay available, you'll have to attach a drive bracket to the SSD to fit the larger 3.5"" drive bay.
10. Slide the drive in to place with the SATA and power connector facing outwards where you can access them, and line up the holes to screw it securely into place.
11. Now, locate an unused power cable inside the computer. Any one will do, just follow the group of cable coming from the power supply until you find one or use the existing power cable from your old hard drive and connect it to the SSD.
12. Connect the SATA cable from the motherboard to the SSD. You can follow the SATA cable from your old hard drive to the motherboard to find and available SATA connection or use the existing cable that was connect to your old hard drive if your replacing your old hard drive.
13. Connect the other end to the SSD.
14. Slide the drive with the attached bracket back into the case.
15. Place the side panel back on, plug the cables back in, and with that done, now turn on your computer.
16. If you cloned the hard drive to the new SSD, just start the computer. If you are going to do a fresh install then insert the operating system installation CD and boot from the CD-ROM drive. You can now install the operating system to the new SSD, just be sure that if you left your old hard drive in, that you don't re-install over your old hard drive, or you could lose all your data. And you might also have to change the boot order from the old hard drive to the new SSD before copying over your files or after you restore from a backup.

[mudkipsinspace]

Don't forget to check that the SATA Mode is set to AHCI in the BIOS, and if leaving your old HDD in place (which is what I did), you WILL have to set the Boot Order to SSD as 1, or at least ahead of your old HDD.

I never even had to do anything to my OEM installation of Windows on my old HDD. I can access all my old files (through My Computer, which shows the HDD as OS (F:), or even boot into the old Windows installation by hitting F12 at startup and selecting my WD 500GB HDD from the Boot Order.

[Ja]

I replaced the 1TB HDD with a Kingston 1TB SSD. To clone the HDD to SSD, I used WAVLINK totally offline; took 2 hours. Fantastic, no problem and the DELL 3250 is now is fast as

[lauwe]

thanks for taking time to explain this

[FrancoCalio]

I have the DELL XPS 8940 I'ii ask because when I plug the plug in the power the PC turns on for about 4 seconds and then turns off. While after I can turn it on regularly. So it is normal that it turns on by itself before being started: Thank you

[kingvdarkness]

my samsung ssd has a different connection to my dell optiplex, so i think i have to clone it instead

[okaythen]

I used a mounting bracket 2.5" to 3.5" to install SSD, one of the side
screws is long and it touches the metal part of the SSD after I screwd it in, is it ok in
the desktop? will electricity somehow get there via the screw and mess
up the SSD?

[issahvg]

I have a important question. Since this a prebuilt computer, ( I have a dell xps 8700) how am I suppose to reinstall a cd?

[Owen-ktmg]

Will this work for a Dell OptiPlex 980?

[Parmetheus]

Could I just stick the ssd in the case with some tape or something?

[varunp]

I have XPS 8700 and Hard drive got failed. I have created a bootable USB for Win10 OS install. Will the same procedure work to replace the failed hard drive with SSD?

[tattoo_patrick_oleson]

thanks mate. exactly what i was looking for.

[tomasllopis]

Hard drive ssd inspiron tutorial en espanol

[Janc]

I have already ssd drive in my computer but, can I add another one?

[dalekcats]

My grandpa bought a used Dell Precision T3600 with no hard drive and wants to use a SATA SSD hard drive(Patriot Blast 480GB) that was loaded with Windows 10 on a custom computer. We cannot update the BIOS right now(A06 BIOS) and the hard drive is picked up as a SAS drive. When we try to boot it, Windows Ten says that it needs to restart, error: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE. Any tips?

[matthijsvd]

How to attach the SSD to the mounting bracket?

[MrFalliorsLife]

Do you guys have a video or know of one on how to replace your old hard
drive with a new one, but a fresh install? Like get the os from the old
hard drive, but none of the files?
I'm looking to sell my old computer and of course don't want them to
access my information, or have any chance of even recovering them if i
wiped it. I feel much safer just getting a new drive entirely.
Also, do all hard drives work for all computers (at least newer ones)? My XPS 8700 is the one I want to replace the hard drive with a 1TB hybrid drive and get a new computer for an SSD. Just want to make sure the hybrid drive isn't somehow incompatible.

[jl]

Nothing happen if a want just install ssd. And my windows left in hdd.

[legodragon]

Are you able to do the same on the eps 8900

[Gavin-qord]

What is that red cable called at 1:54? I don't have enough of them in my computer to plug in both my ssd and my hdd which I want to do. Is there any place that sells this type of cable and what are they called?

[davidburrage]

Sound quality very poor and why do video makers insist on further drowning themselves out with heavy background music