Elitebook 8770 Msata installation

[jonathanf]

Hi,

   I have just purchased a 500GB Samsung Msata SSD drive card for my Elitebook 8770w. When I insert the Samsung Msata card in the first port inplace of the bundled intel Msata Recovery drive, I am given options showing the Samsung card as installed, but if I try to continue to my OS without altering any of the given settings, I am told that no OS is present. However, if I replace this again with my Intel Msata (Recovery Drive) and insert the Samsung into the second Msata port, the OS boots OK, but when I look for the Samsung Msata drive in the Windows 10 disk manager, it is not present.

  Is it possible that I am doing something wrong, or is it just not possible to use the two cards together in this way?

[Huffer]

From the Quickspecs for this model:

Flash cache module

Optional 24GB mSATA Flash cache module support for Intel Smart Response Technology. (Available only with standard non-SED hard drive. )

What this means is that the mSATA slot is designed only as an accelerator cache. If a hard drive is present the mSSD will not be able to be a boot drive. The only function you can assign to the mSATA is as an accelration cache to speed up the main mechanical hard drive. That is why when you remove the existing cache drive in your system now it does not boot. The boot files are housed on the mSSD drive. For that model your fastest and best option is a 2.5 inch SATA SSD. The mSATA disk is not any faster than a 2.5 inch SATA SSD would be. Can you return the 500 gig mSATA disk?

You can also run the system just on the mSATA as long as no hard drive is present. It would take some modification to the BIOS setup.

if this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[jonathanf]

I don't want to use the msata as a systems disc, I just want to use it for storage and I can't return it now. Is it possible for me to use the 500gb msata as the cache drive for my main system HD?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

I believe you can. The Intel Rapid Storage will actually let you create an acceleration partition and then I believe you can format the rest of the drive the way you want and use it for storage. I have never done that as I just use the 24 or 32 gig accleration cache drive and use the whole thing. 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/248828/how_to_setup_intel_smart_response_ssd_caching_technology.html

[jonathanf]

There is an option to accelerate in the intel rapid storage technology option boot menu, maybe I can enable it there.

Thank You.

[Huffer]

Yes look for the advanced options. You can set the size of the acceleration cache partition there I believe.