Hello everyone,
I own a Dell Inspiron 15 3531 w/ Intel Pentium N3530 bay trail cpu with windows 8.1 w/ Bing, Bios version a03.
Recently, I have been attempting to install windows 8.1 to a Crucial Bx100 500 GB SSD using both rescue disk on same model spare ssd from Dell Backup and Recovery factory media creation tool and a Dell Windows 8.1 factory usb key. I originally attempted to clone the disk via macrium reflect free and easeus todo backup; both clones were successful...yet oddly failed to boot. With this, I decided I would try a clean install with the media I listed above.
With Dell Backup and Recovery rescue disk: I can successfully boot the disk via usb. I can actually execute the windows restore operation and it goes all the way through, yet upon completion I find not only is windows not on the SSD in the sata port but that an unbootable windows is now on the rescue disk (even tried repairing this install with usb media) and I can no longer use it as a rescue disk.
With Dell Windows 8.1 factory usb key: I get to where windows setup asks where I would like to install windows and it can find the ssd that is in the sata port (eventhough the ssd is shown in bios). The load driver option is there but I don't know 1) if this is actually what it wants 2) which drivers I need 3) where to get them. I was however successful reinstalling windows 8.1 on the original mechanical hard drive.
Before anyone asks, I have tried in both uefi and legacy bios
I became slightly irate when I successfully installed and booted Ubuntu Linux to the same SSD on the first try. I would use this but obv Linux is missing a few desired applications.
to be clear ssd IS recognized in bios and sata is is set (as per default) to ahci.
So what exactly am I missing here? is there some sort of hardware serialization I did not get a memo on with the hard drive that affects dell OEM windows and so I will need a new windows 8.1 key entirely? Or is there some other reason why windows 8.1 setup doesn't recognize the SSD? What other steps should I take?
Thanks in advance,
Kody