X201 Very slow POST/boot after installing SSD

[Bougnot]

Hello there!

I recently got an X201 in which I decided to swap HDD with SSD (Adata SU750 256GB). I've cloned the disk "live" (target drive connected via external USB adapter). Then something strange happened:
When I replaced HDD with SSD in the drive bay, the Windows 10 boots horribly slow.

The computer is stuck at the "ThinkPad" splash screen for a couple of minutes, then continues booting: half a minute of a black screen with a blinking cursor and then Windows logo.
Booting Windows also is sluggish: the progress indicator is frozen for a moment.
What's interesting, once Windows boots, it runs pretty well, I'd say as fast as I'd expect from SSD drive. I even ran a disk benchmark and the results are adequate (>250MB/s).

* When I replace the old HDD in the drive bay, the computer boots as usual.
* When I keep the SSD connected via USB adapter it boots immediately, the ThinkPad logo shows briefly (!)
* My computer has no battery (if that matters). BIOS version is 1.40 from 2012

I used AOMEI Backupper to make a clone. That was a second attempt (hoping software was to blame) but to no avail.

Any hints are appreciated.

[dr_st]

Welcome to the forum.

Just to see if the cloning process is to blame, I would try to make a fresh Windows install on that SSD. Shouldn't take long.

If even that is slow, I'll have to assume some incompatibility between the SSD and the SATA controller in your laptop.

Some SSDs have had issues that were solved by firmware updates. I myself had such an experience, described here. It's a different SSD, different laptop and the symptom is not the same, but just in case, I would check if there are firmware updates for your model.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[shawross]

Fresh installs are normally recommended going from a HD to an SSD.

Intel Management Engine has been known to have issues with the X201 Arandale. YMMV

[Bougnot]

Thank you, I'll try the clean install.

Meanwhile, I found something interesting: Hard Drive diagnostics in BIOS setup.

I ran it, and got the following errors:

Code: Select all

Error code 0200: Controller diag failed
Error code 0000: Read verification failed

"Test in progress" is at 0% and the "spinner" is still.

I left setup, by the way, I think the computer was freezing intermittently (not responding to cursors).

I placed the original HDD drive back in the bay and ran the same HDD diagnostics in BIOS, and see:

Code: Select all

Pass: Controller Diag

And the test appears to be running (progressing very slowly).

[Bougnot]

I took a chance and ordered a new SSD drive, this time Crucial BX500. Works perfect.

It looks like some very specific incompatibility of SSD drive with X201's controller.