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How to upgrade the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 SSD

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The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook currently ships with 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of solid state memory. If you want a higher capacity SSD, you’re going to have to go out and buy one for yourself. Fortunately, that’s pretty easy to do.

Jkkmobile picked up a 32GB SSD module from My Digital Discount and posted a short video showing just how easy it is to remove Dell’s SSD and replace it with the higher capacity module. All you need to do is take out the battery, remove two screws, and pop off the access panel on the back of the laptop to get at the SSD. Remove two more screws and you’re ready to swap SSDs.

Keep in mind, your operating system is installed on that Dell SSD. So you’re going to want to make sure you have a Dell system restore CD and a USB CD-ROM drive to reload the OS. Jkkmobile says the whole process took about an  hour.

My Digital Discount is currently selling 32GB SSDs for the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 for about $99. Their performance is virtually identical to the Dell SSD. If you’ve got a bit more cash burning a hole in your pocket, the store plans to make a 64GB module available soon. Or you could purchase a higher performance SSD which may speed up your system performance.

You can check out jkkmobile’s video demonstrating the upgrade process after the break.

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Dell Inspiron Mini 9

  • 9n

powered bygdgt

  • key specs
  • reviews • 28
  • prices
  • TypeNetbook
  • Screen size8.9 inches
  • Processor speed1.6 GHz
  • System RAM1 GB
  • Maximum battery lifeUp to 5 hours
  • Dimensions6.8 x 9.1 x 1.25 in
  • Weight2.3 lb
  • Discontinued05/29/2009
see all specs →
8.1 average user rating
  • Speed and features5.3
  • Design and form factor7.0
  • Battery life6.3
  • Display6.3
  • Durability8.5
  • Expandability5.5
  • Noise9.5
  • Portability (size / weight)9.5

Get better reviews from people who actually have this product!

write a reviewsee all reviews →
Posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008, 5:03 pm by Brad Linder




  • joe roehrig

    Can the ssd be added to the empty pcie slot labeled WAN, so we can add a second drive?

  • joe roehrig

    Can the ssd be added to the empty pcie slot labeled WAN, so we can add a second drive?

  • joe roehrig

    Can the ssd be added to the empty pcie slot labeled WAN, so we can add a second drive?

  • Larry

    I would like to buy Dell's inspiron mini 9, which Dell advertizes as “Mini OS powered by Ubuntu 8.04″ http://www.dell.com/content/products…=hmpgwn1…

    However, I do not want to do this unless I have reasonable assurance that Ubuntu will allow me to access my company's system over the internet,,,,,which I must access through a portal provided by “Neoteris”. “Neoteris” brings me to a web page with the company's logo and large lettering—”Instant Virtual Extranet”—where I log in with my user name and password. When I log in I see references to “Juniper Networks”, “Java”, and “secure appletes”. I don't know what any of this means, but it works well with Windows XP. I want to make a switch to Ubuntu because seems to offer a lot of flexibility and does not take up as much of the limited fix memory (16gig) hard drive, but again only if I can get the same access through the “Neoteris” portal I do with XP. I'm not interested in spending time trying work arounds to get access. If it won't work just tell me. Dell also sells the mini9 with XP loaded, and I'll just buy it if I have too. On the other hand, I really hope it does because I interested in exploring the world through Ubuntu. If you do not know. Maybe you could connect me with some one who does. Thank you for your time.

  • Larry

    I would like to buy Dell's inspiron mini 9, which Dell advertizes as “Mini OS powered by Ubuntu 8.04″ http://www.dell.com/content/products…=hmpgwn1…

    However, I do not want to do this unless I have reasonable assurance that Ubuntu will allow me to access my company's system over the internet,,,,,which I must access through a portal provided by “Neoteris”. “Neoteris” brings me to a web page with the company's logo and large lettering—”Instant Virtual Extranet”—where I log in with my user name and password. When I log in I see references to “Juniper Networks”, “Java”, and “secure appletes”. I don't know what any of this means, but it works well with Windows XP. I want to make a switch to Ubuntu because seems to offer a lot of flexibility and does not take up as much of the limited fix memory (16gig) hard drive, but again only if I can get the same access through the “Neoteris” portal I do with XP. I'm not interested in spending time trying work arounds to get access. If it won't work just tell me. Dell also sells the mini9 with XP loaded, and I'll just buy it if I have too. On the other hand, I really hope it does because I interested in exploring the world through Ubuntu. If you do not know. Maybe you could connect me with some one who does. Thank you for your time.

  • Larry

    I would like to buy Dell's inspiron mini 9, which Dell advertizes as “Mini OS powered by Ubuntu 8.04″ http://www.dell.com/content/products…=hmpgwn1…

    However, I do not want to do this unless I have reasonable assurance that Ubuntu will allow me to access my company's system over the internet,,,,,which I must access through a portal provided by “Neoteris”. “Neoteris” brings me to a web page with the company's logo and large lettering—”Instant Virtual Extranet”—where I log in with my user name and password. When I log in I see references to “Juniper Networks”, “Java”, and “secure appletes”. I don't know what any of this means, but it works well with Windows XP. I want to make a switch to Ubuntu because seems to offer a lot of flexibility and does not take up as much of the limited fix memory (16gig) hard drive, but again only if I can get the same access through the “Neoteris” portal I do with XP. I'm not interested in spending time trying work arounds to get access. If it won't work just tell me. Dell also sells the mini9 with XP loaded, and I'll just buy it if I have too. On the other hand, I really hope it does because I interested in exploring the world through Ubuntu. If you do not know. Maybe you could connect me with some one who does. Thank you for your time.

  • http://liliputing.com/ Brad Linder

    It sounds to me like your best bet is probably to contact your company's IT
    department and ask if you'll be able to access their system from a Linux
    machine. While you can certainly run Java on Ubuntu I don't know exactly
    what else is required to access your system, but the IT folks should know.
    The second easiest way to figure this out is to download an Ubuntu LiveCD
    and try things out on your existing laptop or desktop computer.

    http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

    The neat thing about LiveCDs is you can boot from the CD and run a full
    Linux operating system without installing a thing to your hard drive. To
    boot back into Windows all you have to do is shut down the system, pop out
    the CD and reboot.

    You can find out more about running an Ubuntu LiveCD here:

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

  • http://liliputing.com/ Brad Linder

    It sounds to me like your best bet is probably to contact your company's IT
    department and ask if you'll be able to access their system from a Linux
    machine. While you can certainly run Java on Ubuntu I don't know exactly
    what else is required to access your system, but the IT folks should know.
    The second easiest way to figure this out is to download an Ubuntu LiveCD
    and try things out on your existing laptop or desktop computer.

    http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

    The neat thing about LiveCDs is you can boot from the CD and run a full
    Linux operating system without installing a thing to your hard drive. To
    boot back into Windows all you have to do is shut down the system, pop out
    the CD and reboot.

    You can find out more about running an Ubuntu LiveCD here:

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

  • http://liliputing.com/ Brad Linder

    It sounds to me like your best bet is probably to contact your company's IT
    department and ask if you'll be able to access their system from a Linux
    machine. While you can certainly run Java on Ubuntu I don't know exactly
    what else is required to access your system, but the IT folks should know.
    The second easiest way to figure this out is to download an Ubuntu LiveCD
    and try things out on your existing laptop or desktop computer.

    http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

    The neat thing about LiveCDs is you can boot from the CD and run a full
    Linux operating system without installing a thing to your hard drive. To
    boot back into Windows all you have to do is shut down the system, pop out
    the CD and reboot.

    You can find out more about running an Ubuntu LiveCD here:

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

  • dg

    you asked “Can the ssd be added to the empty pcie slot labeled WAN, so we can add a second drive?”

    DID YOU EVER GET ANSWER TO THIS?

  • dg

    you asked “Can the ssd be added to the empty pcie slot labeled WAN, so we can add a second drive?”

    DID YOU EVER GET ANSWER TO THIS?

  • rc

    how to clear old hard drive if mini 9 does not start .

  • rc

    how to clear old hard drive if mini 9 does not start .

  • rc

    how to clear old hard drive if mini 9 does not start .

  • rc

    how to clear old hard drive if mini 9 does not start .

  • M

    SOL

  • M

    SOL

  • Exslyder

    There are several brands of minipci express SSD drives, will any of them work with the Mini 9?

  • dava4444

    :( thats £104 to the uk

  • Harbinger

    try looking on newegg.com i found the 32's alot cheeper there

  • brovius

    No, you can't add a secondary SSD at the moment.
    This is because the pinouts are different (the same amount of pins in the same shape, but with different connections/functions).
    It was made for an optional 3G mobile internet card, that you obviously don't have, because yours is empty.
    You CAN solder an extra USB-port on there, though.

  • brovius

    No, you can't add a secondary SSD at the moment.
    This is because the pinouts are different (the same amount of pins in the same shape, but with different connections/functions).
    It was made for an optional 3G mobile internet card, that you obviously don't have, because yours is empty.
    You CAN solder an extra USB-port on there, though.

  • Devrim

    hi i have dell mini 9 i bought 32gb ssd drim from ebay the ssd name called suntec abd i installed on my dell mini but bios doesent see it and i cant install any system on it i dont know what is wrong maybe i need to upgrade bios??? please dvise
    thanks

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