Question regarding GX-875-EB11 how to “clone” my existing 128 to the new drive without a 2nd slot?

Stack · February 15

My prebuilt Acer Aspire came with a 128GB SSD drive and I’ve come to the end of it’s capacity. I bought a 1TB WD NVMe ssd to upgrade with. I mistakenly thought it went into the PCIe slot and there are 2. As it turns out, it’s in the single NVMe slot available.
Any thoughts on how to “clone” my existing 128 to the new drive without a 2nd slot? Or other alternatives? thanks

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

StevenGen · February 16

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/721029/question-regarding-gx-875-eb11-ssd-upgrade-for-acer-aspire

There is no such desktop model as the Aspire GX-875, there is the GX785 which I think is the model that you have😁 anyway, the only M.2 SSD slot that the GX-785 has is a PCIe3 x1 lane type slot for this desktop, as its shown by its block diagram, due to all PCIe slots being backward compatible whatever WD 1TB M.2 SSD drive that you have will work with the GX-785. use the Acronis True Image for Western Digital Windows to clone the 1TB WD with the old 256GB boot M.2 SSD drive first and install this specialist cloning software for WD SSD drives..

Then buy an external M.2 SSD case with a USB 3.0 cable and plug (like caption below) so that you can clone the M.2 drives to each other, be aware that this could take a long time as the USB 3.0 that the GX-785 desktop has is not as fast as having a 2nd M.2 SSD slot in your desktop as both the M.2 slot PCIe 3x1 is a slow port as is the USB 3.0 port, so be patient as it could take 2 hours or more, Good luck and hope this helps you out.

Acer Aspire GX-785 M.2 PCIe 3x1 block diagram

M.2 SSD PCIe 3 x1 2280 slot position on the mobo

M.2 NVME TO USB 3.1 Enclosure Type-C Storage Case Adapter SSD SATA External New

StevenGen · February 17

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1326696#Comment_1326696

You need to update to the last bios dated 2018/11/13 and its version R02-B2 (follow the appendix windows guide to install this new bios version). Good luck.

To get into the bios you need to press F2 or you can get into the bios through the Win-10 > Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and then go to the UEFI Firmware as that will get you into the bios
To remove the RTC/BIOS battery get a plastic prying tool and flick the battery out of its case and replace the battery the correct way into its slot, its very easy.

The battery is a CR2032 type battery that you can buy anywhere, make sure you geta good brand battery like below that will last you.

StevenGen · March 16

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1331189#Comment_1331189

The 1x M.2 SSD slot in your GX-785 desktop is a PCIe3x2 - Co-lay, which means it can work at a max PCIe3x2 NVMe drive type M,2 SSD or a SATA III M.2 which is about 400% slower at 500 MB/s. The WD SN770 NVMe is PCIe 4x 4 has a read speed of 5,150 MB/s and write speed of 4,900 MB/s and should work in that slot of your GX-785, as its backward compatible.

But in your case, it doesn't so this drive must not be compatible with your GX-785 M.2 slot, I suggest that you try a lower grade M.2 SSD from WD like the SN530 (that has a 2400 MB/s read and 1750 MB/s write) as that might work.

Below is the GX785 M.2 SSD slot block diagram specs which has a max speed of a PCIe 3x 2 type drive read/write speed which is max 2000MB/s, so no matter what drive you put in there that is the max speeds that you will get.

StevenGen · February 16

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/721029/question-regarding-gx-875-eb11-ssd-upgrade-for-acer-aspire

There is no such desktop model as the Aspire GX-875, there is the GX785 which I think is the model that you have😁 anyway, the only M.2 SSD slot that the GX-785 has is a PCIe3 x1 lane type slot for this desktop, as its shown by its block diagram, due to all PCIe slots being backward compatible whatever WD 1TB M.2 SSD drive that you have will work with the GX-785. use the Acronis True Image for Western Digital Windows to clone the 1TB WD with the old 256GB boot M.2 SSD drive first and install this specialist cloning software for WD SSD drives..

Then buy an external M.2 SSD case with a USB 3.0 cable and plug (like caption below) so that you can clone the M.2 drives to each other, be aware that this could take a long time as the USB 3.0 that the GX-785 desktop has is not as fast as having a 2nd M.2 SSD slot in your desktop as both the M.2 slot PCIe 3x1 is a slow port as is the USB 3.0 port, so be patient as it could take 2 hours or more, Good luck and hope this helps you out.

Acer Aspire GX-785 M.2 PCIe 3x1 block diagram

M.2 SSD PCIe 3 x1 2280 slot position on the mobo

M.2 NVME TO USB 3.1 Enclosure Type-C Storage Case Adapter SSD SATA External New

Stack · February 16

Thanks for your quick response; it makes sense and confirms my suspicion.

It was late at the end of a disappointing day and my dyslexia rose to the surface. Took me a while to sort out NVMe from NMVe as well

I’ve ordered an NVMe to PCIe adapter card and once I’ve used it to clone the drives, I’ll use the original drive in this adapter as an additional data drive.

1) How do I access the BIOS to recognize and set up the new drive? It’s been a decade since I’ve done that.

2) Also, how do I remove the CMOS battery to replace the 8yr old battery? Is there a trick to removing it? I’ve tried prying it out, but I’m afraid to put too much force and break the mounting

Thanks again

Peter

StevenGen · February 17

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1326696#Comment_1326696

You need to update to the last bios dated 2018/11/13 and its version R02-B2 (follow the appendix windows guide to install this new bios version). Good luck.

To get into the bios you need to press F2 or you can get into the bios through the Win-10 > Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and then go to the UEFI Firmware as that will get you into the bios
To remove the RTC/BIOS battery get a plastic prying tool and flick the battery out of its case and replace the battery the correct way into its slot, its very easy.

The battery is a CR2032 type battery that you can buy anywhere, make sure you geta good brand battery like below that will last you.

Stack · February 17

Excellent

Battery replaced, received the adapter but the wrong one… waiting for the right one on Tuesday

Thanks

StevenGen · February 17

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1326762#Comment_1326762

Great and glad to help you out, also make sure to update the bios to version R02-B2 and follow the "Win Flash Utility SOP v1_4a" PDF that I've included below from the Appendix of the GX-785 bios. Good luck.

Win Flash Utility SOP v1_4a.pdf

Stack · February 19

Hi Stephen

Thanks again for your help

I updated the bios per your instructions. The Bios Setup Utility/Advanced shows the new WD drive as an M.2 PCIe SSD with the correct information and size.
however when I run Windows, that drive does not appear.

Onboard SATA Controller is [Enabled]
Onboard SATA Mode is [AHCI]

SATA Port 0 is the original SSD drive (C:)
SATA Port 3 is the original hard drive (D:)
SATA Port 5 is the original optical drive

Port 2 & 4 are “Not Installed”

Then M.2 Pcie SSD is shown.

When I exit BIOS setup, Windows starts but the new SSD drive does not show

Any ideas?
TIA

Peter

Stack · February 19

additional info

If I run CMD C: & D: show, but if I change to E:, it says “thD:\>e: “The device is not ready”

StevenGen · February 19

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1327186#Comment_1327186

I don't understand what you are doing, are you doing a clone or a new clean install? As a clone is a simple process to clone your existing boot drive with the WD 1TB SSD and the new external M.2 case. To get into the bios during POST, press Delete, also post a bios screen of the below so I can see the boot drive and if its the WD 1Tb SSD:

As you can only do the below two options to use the new WD 1TB SSD drive:

To Clone do this: your old boot drive onto the new 1TB WD SSD do this - Install the WD cloning software the Acronis True Image for Western Digital Windows then put the M.2 SSD into the external case, plug the USB 3.0 plug into the desktop USB port and then use the Acronis to clone the old boot windows drive onto the new WD 1TB SSD with Acronis, afterwards take the old boot drive out and insert the new M.2 WD 1TB SSD drive and use that as the GX785 desktops boot drive as it will use the SSD as a boot drive.
For Clean Install do this: you need to construct a new Rufus 4,5 bootable USB and follow their guide and you also need to download Win-10 .ISO. Then insert this USB into the desktops USB port and just post boot and when the Acer Logo A[pers" press F2 button so that the laptop boots from the bootable Rufus USB so that the Win-10 installation can start, then when you get to the Win-10 installation section @ Where do you want to install Windows? > the WD 1TB SSD should be in the list and install Win-10 onto that and proceed with the installation and all its windows updates until it boots into Win-10, its a simple process.

Stack · February 19

my intent:
My existing boot SSD drive is only 128Gb and over the 8 yrs I’ve had it, I no longer have enough room to install a CAD program which will only install to C: drive. It has a data hard drive D: which is 1Tb.
The NVMe to PCIe adapter card is only 1x since that is the only slot that is available. My intent is to clone the existing boot drive to the new 1Tb ssd drive, then swap it to the existing motherboard NVMe slot as the new boot drive. Once that is successful, I’ll put the old 128Gb drive in the adapter card and reformat as an additional data drive.

my progress:
The drive does appear in bios with the correct information for the drive. I might not have been clear but I was attempting to indicate that in my reply/query above.
The new drive is now visible in the POST BIOS Advanced Peripherals screen with the updated BIOS version, but not in Windows file explorer. When I run CMD both drive C: & D: show, but if I try CD E:, it responds “C:\>e: “The device is not ready”

If I find, install and run Acronis, will it see the new drive?

Thanks again for all your support

Peter

StevenGen · February 19

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1327257#Comment_1327257

The Acronis for WD drives is a cloning software that will 100% and definitely see the new WD 1TB SSD drive if its shown in bios, then you need to clone the 128GB old boot drive onto the new 1TB SSD drive, afterwards you will have a 1TB SSD boot drive when you finished the clone with that external M.2 case I've give you above.

After the clone is finished, turn the desktop off, take the old 128GB boot dive out and put the new 1TB SSD boot drive into the desktops M.2 slot and reboot the desktop and your desktop will operate with a new 1TB SSD C:\ drive with Win-10 and you should make sure that it also has the last OS build, its a very simple process, I can't explain it to you much cleaner😁. Good luck.

Stack · February 19

Last issue is that Acronis wants to install on c: drive; which doesn’t have room. I’m going to talk to WD support on that later

Thanks again for all the help.
Peter

Stack · March 11

so, I’ve made a little progress on this issue, but hit a roadblock.
to try to clarify, I’m trying to replace my 128Gb internal NVMe drive with a 1TB WD NVMe/PCIe SSD drive. My first attempts at cloning were Acronis on another computer with adapter cards for the original and new drives. Cloning was successful per Acronis, but would not boot when in the m.b slot
on advice from Tom’s Hardware I installed Macrium Reflect software which I had room for on my drive. I successfully cloned the 128Gb drive to the 1Tb WD on a PCIe adapter in a spare short PCIe slot. Again, it would not boot when the new drive was installed in the m/b slot.
BIOS does show it as M.2 Pcie SSD and in Macrium Reflect everything seems good but it still won’t boot.
I'm beginning to suspect that the Original drive is SATA and it won’t boot from the PCIe even though in the dos prompt I’d shows the data on the drive. Nothing on the acer site states whether the native slot supports boot from NVMe.
attached are bios pics

Stack · March 14

The issue seems to be that the existing M.2 128Gb ssd is SATA and recognized by the onboard SATA controller as Drive 0

The BIOS recognizes the new M.2 1TB Pcie drive compete with mfgr., size serial # etc as shown in the last picture above. But there is seems to be no mechanism to boot from it. I followed advice to clone with Macrium Reflect and even created a rescue disk in Macrium which wouldn't rectify the failure to boot.

So, how do I find out if the m/b supports boot from Pcie and if so; how to circumvent the SATA controller

StevenGen · March 14

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1330935#Comment_1330935

Just some advice Stack, why would you buy a 2016 desktop a Gen 4 x4 gaming M.2 SSD drive? As that is what the new 1TB WD SN770 Black gaming drive is, your desktop will never ever reach the gen 4 speeds (I'm using this exact drive in my Swift SFX14-51G as that has a Gen 4 x4 boot drive slot) but this drive might not be compatible with your desktop as its an NVMe version 1.3 "M end key" type drive and your GX785 is only listed in its SG as having SATA III M.2 SSD drives which the PCIe NVMe M.2 drive might not be compatible with this drive to operate in windows.

I know that the WD SN770 is recognized in the bios as a PCIe SSD drive, but see if its recognized in windows Disk Management and if it is, then initialize it and give it a drive letter and then clone the drive with Acronis for WD software, see if that works. If not then the Gen4 x4 drive is not compatible and you need to use a PCIe Gen 3 x4 type M.2 SSD or a 1TB SATA III M.2 SSD drive which won't be as quick. Good luck.

Stack · March 15

So, the long and short of this adventure into my GX-785 is that the m/b M.2 NVMe slot supports SATA only. If either of the Acer tech support people could have said that; it would have saved a ton of frustration and aggravation

At any rate, I now have a successfully cloned WD Blue 500Gb ssd c: drive, 4x my initial boot drive space.

Thanks to those along the way who gave suggestions, advice, etc.

StevenGen · March 16

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1331189#Comment_1331189

The 1x M.2 SSD slot in your GX-785 desktop is a PCIe3x2 - Co-lay, which means it can work at a max PCIe3x2 NVMe drive type M,2 SSD or a SATA III M.2 which is about 400% slower at 500 MB/s. The WD SN770 NVMe is PCIe 4x 4 has a read speed of 5,150 MB/s and write speed of 4,900 MB/s and should work in that slot of your GX-785, as its backward compatible.

But in your case, it doesn't so this drive must not be compatible with your GX-785 M.2 slot, I suggest that you try a lower grade M.2 SSD from WD like the SN530 (that has a 2400 MB/s read and 1750 MB/s write) as that might work.

Below is the GX785 M.2 SSD slot block diagram specs which has a max speed of a PCIe 3x 2 type drive read/write speed which is max 2000MB/s, so no matter what drive you put in there that is the max speeds that you will get.

Stack · March 16

Thanks Steven

I bought a WD SA510 500Gb SATA M.2 SSD. I wasn't going for speed on a 8yo machine, just a usable capacity drive. If i had got this information before purchasing the SA510, I would likely have gone that route. I'm just happy that i was able to clone my existing 128Gb to the new 500Gb and have it boot up without issue,

I would have expected Acer Tech support to provide this information but they just tole me to check the specification on their hardware!!

I had to purchase a 10$ M.2 NVMe SATA to PCIe slot adapter to o the cloning so I intend to use the original 128Gb in that adapter as "fast" data storage but when I try to format it, I get a message that it is in use. The computer boots from the 500gB drive when the 128Gb is not connected without issue.

Thanks for your help along the way

Peter

Question regarding GX-875-EB11 how to “clone” my existing 128 to the new drive without a 2nd slot?

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Question regarding GX-875-EB11 how to “clone” my existing 128 to the new drive without a 2nd slot?

Best Answers

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Categories

Assistance by Acer

Swift Series Intel® Evo™

Game Pass

Acer Corner

Gaming on Chromebook

Swift Series Intel^® Evo™