Dell XPS 15 (9950) Samsung 950 Pro ssd -Windows 7 installation

[babashi]

XPS 15- 9950 : i7/ 256 ssd/8gb/FHD ( will received it on 11th Dec)

I'm planning to install a clean Windows 7 (Pro/ Ultimate ) with Samsung 950 Pro 512gb & Kingstone 8gb x2

Steps:
(Pre-preparation: a bootable install USB stick with Windows 7 + (wifi driver & Samsung 950Pro driver)<- in a "New Folder" within the usb)

1. Open the bottom with T5 phillips and a normal screw
2. Take the 256ssd & 8gb ram out and replace with the 950 pro & 16gb ram
3. Insert the bootable usb and turn on the xps 9950 and perform a clean install (windows 7), then install the wifi driver and install the rest(drivers) through windows update

NOTE: I'm planning to use 1 ssd only.

Questions:
1)Do I need to change any settings (BIOS)?
2) has anyone done this before? am I doing the steps right?



UPDATE:
I've received my xps 9950 today and failed to install the driver. Instead of installing windows 7 on the 950 pro, i'm planning to use a PCIe adapter (with 950 pro inside) and connect it through USB 3.0 and try to install the NVMe driver, then use Samsung Data Migration Software to clone the entire windows 10 and replace it with 950 pro. Hopefully this method will work. I will be getting the PCIe adapter on Monday, will let you guys know how it goes.

 

[popatim]

I would suggest you separate the install tasks into their own steps
2: Install 16gb ram
3: Test Ram several hours.
4: Install ssd ...

This way if there is an issue you know which is the cause.

 

[kent1968]

So how did it go? By the way, I have a XPS 13 9350 and am looking for an enclosure or adapter to use when cloning with my soon to arrive 950 Pro 512GB. What did you buy - I see many adapters for desktops but have not found something for laptops. thanks



quotemsg=17089468,0,2011389]XPS 15- 9950 : i7/ 256 ssd/8gb/FHD ( will received it on 11th Dec)

I'm planning to install a clean Windows 7 (Pro/ Ultimate ) with Samsung 950 Pro 512gb & Kingstone 8gb x2

Steps:
(Pre-preparation: a bootable install USB stick with Windows 7 + (wifi driver & Samsung 950Pro driver)<- in a "New Folder" within the usb)

1. Open the bottom with T5 phillips and a normal screw
2. Take the 256ssd & 8gb ram out and replace with the 950 pro & 16gb ram
3. Insert the bootable usb and turn on the xps 9950 and perform a clean install (windows 7), then install the wifi driver and install the rest(drivers) through windows update

NOTE: I'm planning to use 1 ssd only.

Questions:
1)Do I need to change any settings (BIOS)?
2) has anyone done this before? am I doing the steps right?



UPDATE:
I've received my xps 9950 today and failed to install the driver. Instead of installing windows 7 on the 950 pro, i'm planning to use a PCIe adapter (with 950 pro inside) and connect it through USB 3.0 and try to install the NVMe driver, then use Samsung Data Migration Software to clone the entire windows 10 and replace it with 950 pro. Hopefully this method will work. I will be getting the PCIe adapter on Monday, will let you guys know how it goes.
[/quotemsg]

 

[OneStepAhead]

Ive done this, you can read my post about it here:

http/forum.notebookreview.com/threads/dell-xps-15-skylake-9550-owners-lounge.783377/page-4

7th post down, my user name is OneStepAhead.

A side note, you have to change the sata mode to AHCI (default is raid) before you can install the Samsung nvme drivers. I had to boot into safe mode to do the driver install.

 

[babashi]

So how did it go? By the way, I have a XPS 13 9350 and am looking for an enclosure or adapter to use when cloning with my soon to arrive 950 Pro 512GB. What did you buy - I see many adapters for desktops but have not found something for laptops. thanks



quotemsg=17089468,0,2011389]XPS 15- 9950 : i7/ 256 ssd/8gb/FHD ( will received it on 11th Dec)

I'm planning to install a clean Windows 7 (Pro/ Ultimate ) with Samsung 950 Pro 512gb & Kingstone 8gb x2

Steps:
(Pre-preparation: a bootable install USB stick with Windows 7 + (wifi driver & Samsung 950Pro driver)<- in a "New Folder" within the usb)

1. Open the bottom with T5 phillips and a normal screw
2. Take the 256ssd & 8gb ram out and replace with the 950 pro & 16gb ram
3. Insert the bootable usb and turn on the xps 9950 and perform a clean install (windows 7), then install the wifi driver and install the rest(drivers) through windows update

NOTE: I'm planning to use 1 ssd only.

Questions:
1)Do I need to change any settings (BIOS)?
2) has anyone done this before? am I doing the steps right?



UPDATE:
I've received my xps 9950 today and failed to install the driver. Instead of installing windows 7 on the 950 pro, i'm planning to use a PCIe adapter (with 950 pro inside) and connect it through USB 3.0 and try to install the NVMe driver, then use Samsung Data Migration Software to clone the entire windows 10 and replace it with 950 pro. Hopefully this method will work. I will be getting the PCIe adapter on Monday, will let you guys know how it goes.

[/quotemsg]

Sorry for the late reply, the adapter didn't work as the 950 pro NVMe was not supported, however, I was able to install windows 10 on 950 pro after switching to AHCI. Yet, I'm still unable to figure out how to install windows 7 on 950 pro NVMe

 

[popatim]

With win7 you install it to another drive first, install the nvme hotfixes and drivers, then clone the install to the 950 and set it as the boot drive. As long as your dell supports nvme boot that is.