Hi all i need to ask i have a z170ar motherboard . ok here it is i have 6 sata port 5 are used
sata 1 is the c drive sata 2 empty 3 4 5 6 are other drives
they say the m.2 uses sata so if i install the m.2 i well lose sata 1 and 2 ports because its shared.
so my question is how can i clone to a m.2 if i lose sata 1 and 2 when i plug in the m.2 ?
sorry if this looks like a mess i just dont know how to word this to well.
You just have to move C to another sata port. Use 3, 4 etc
I would just create an image of C, if you haven`t already, then just put that image on the M.2
would that be the same as cloning?
and is their a guide to do that here?
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You can clone or image, I`ve never cloned but I`m sure it`s very simple.
The Z170 AR manual is available for download. It may be worth some additional study.
The board has 4 regular SATA ports, plus a SATA Express port that can be used as two SATA ports. You have the SATA express port configured as SATA, so that you could use a total of 6 SATA devices. (You're actually using 5.)
If you set the BIOS to use the M.2 socket as SATA, the SATA Express port can only be used with PCI-E devices. (I have never seen a SATA Express PCI-E device.) If the M.2 socket is set for a PCI-E device, then the SATA Express port can be used as two regular SATA ports.
Can you get a PCI-E M.2 card? (Preferably PCI-E X4 3.0, which I believe to be the fastest available.) That would avoid the issue.
However, it would be best to use the M.2 device for the operating system and applications. You'd still clone the current C: drive to it. Once that's done, if you wish to use the current C: drive as a data drive (or other purpose), you'd format it.
If it`s shared then you don`t lose ports 1 and 2.
And you can`t go by "They say" you have to read your motherboard manual, as suggested.
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