SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

[skyh]

go to the dell website, support, enter your service tag and go to drivers and downloads

it should list each driver independently. Try installing just the ones you want. Does it still do what you want? If not, it may be in NSS. They used to have a thing called Quickset which set up all the function key links etc etc. Not bloatware in the purest sense. Not essential but useful. Not sure if NSS is their newer version of this. What does it do?

Thanks for the quick reply. I figured that between checking the driver page specific to my service tag, and checking the Device Manager before switching to the SSD, I should be able to get a good idea of the drivers needed.

I'm not sure exactly what NSS contains, but from Dell's driver install order page, it looks like Quickset is a separate install from NSS. Someone on the Dell forum posted that the NSS consists of patches and updates. He said it was not vital, but I might run into some minor problems with hardware like the Webcam, etc. I've asked him if it also contains any utilities or patches.

[skyh]

Windows should install without any drivers these days enough to see what you then need. It just won't be quite right using the built in windows drivers. e.g. wrong screen resolution, problems with USB ports etc. Use device manager to see which components have the yellow triangle and find the relevant driver from Dell support to fix each one.

I usually go:
windows install
screen/display driver (Dell)
mobo+chipset drivers
eg sound driver
USB3
network/ethernet
wifi
graphics card driver (direct from Nvidia or AMD website)
NV optimus driver or AMD equivalent
trackpad driver
function keys
optical drive
then any custom drivers for mouse/joystick/external screen/wifi dongle etc
Don't waste time doing any software install until all drivers installed and everything is functioning how you want it to. NB to do a few sleep-suspend-hibernate-restart cycles to check that is running ok,
Check the power management settings are to your liking and is detecting when the AC power is removed + what happens at that point (screen brightness change, CPU down clocking etc) - this may be another thing customised in the Dell NSS.

Again, thanks for all the helpful info. I have one question: after installing Windows, should I do a Windows update before installing the drivers (obviously I'll do another update after the drivers). Or should I install all the drivers before doing any Windows update?

[Agent]

Again, thanks for all the helpful info. I have one question: after installing Windows, should I do a Windows update before installing the drivers (obviously I'll do another update after the drivers). Or should I install all the drivers before doing any Windows update?

I normally do the Windows updates first, but it makes no difference really. If anything, you're likely to have WU install drivers that might be older than the latest ones you get manually.

[ik9000]

I normally do the Windows updates first, but it makes no difference really. If anything, you're likely to have WU install drivers that might be older than the latest ones you get manually.

Agree though I usually do drivers first as it gets the system working - old habit from when you had to do that just to get the network card to work. Plus win update will then be updating the right set of stuff. Most of it will just be windows patches, but occasionally you get driver updates via MS updates. And yes, I have had a driver rollback for GPU courtesy of win update.

[WetLight]

Hi Merovingio! I have the same laptop and i want to upgrade as well.
How is your 840 Evo so far? I have read some complains that it slows down after some time (months later). Is you laptop much faster after installing the SDD? And did you need any of these sata power cable, sata data cable, or mounting hardware to add your SDD?

Thanks!

[WetLight]

Hi Skyh! How was your upgrade? I have a XPS 17-702x and i am about to do an upgrade as well. And i planning on getting the EVO and doing a clean install!
What did you do about the NSS?
Thanks!

I've just purchased a Samsung EVO SSD (in part due to this very helpful thread), and as you suggest, I definitely want to do a clean OS install without all that Dell bloatware!

How do I determine the minimal necessary utilities/drivers required? For instance, Dell's driver installation order specifies that Dell's Notebook System Software (NSS) is essential, and should be installed first.
Is it really essential, or does this constitute part of the bloatware?
Is there an option to install only part of the NSS?

Thanks ...

[WetLight]

Guys, will i need a sata power cable, sata data cable or mounting hardware to install the 840 pro in my Dell XPS 17 - 702x? Thanks

[Bonebreaker777]

You shouldn't if you are replacing the main HDD.

Also, you could just sacrifice you ODD and put your SSD where the old HDD came from.

[MrNinja]

Got to agree with the above, I have 1 evo's in both my work rigs, also I would recommend the Intel 520 Cherryvilles, picked those up cheap and theyre just as good but don't have the ability to use any spare ram for a speed increase

[skyh]

Hi Skyh! How was your upgrade? I have a XPS 17-702x and i am about to do an upgrade as well. And i planning on getting the EVO and doing a clean install!
What did you do about the NSS?
Thanks!

Sorry for the delay replying - I haven't been checking the forum.

The upgrade went OK. It's been a while, so I'm not 100% sure, but I think I used the NSS from the driver disk that came with my Dell laptop. It didn't install any Dell bloatware, fortunately. You can get the latest (supposedly universal) version here: xxx

Ug - the forum won't let me post URLs: if you search for "Installing Dell System Software" under "OS and Applications" at Dell's community site, hopefully you will find it.

Good luck, if you haven't already done the install!

[skyh]

Guys, will i need a sata power cable, sata data cable or mounting hardware to install the 840 pro in my Dell XPS 17 - 702x? Thanks

I didn't with my XPS17 - it went right in, just like the original HDD.

Replacing the mounting screws is tricky - they're tiny, so it's easy to drop once and have it disappear into inaccessible places in you laptop. Be very careful ...

[Bonebreaker777]

I didn't with my XPS17 - it went right in, just like the original HDD.

Installing the screws is tricky - they're tiny, so it's easy to drop once and have it disappear into inaccessible places in you laptop. Be very careful ...

Use screwdrivers with a magnetic head