How to Upgrade your Laptop to an SSD!

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

🛒 Grab your iFixit Toolkit: geni.us/iFixitTools

[@user-rj8tr6sp7e]

This is the best video i found explaining how to remove an HDD and place an SSD, high quality content, well done sir 👏🏻

[@PuertoRican88]

Great tutorial man this really helped, thank you. I was able to restore my 9 year old Gateway laptop with a PNY SSD or Samsung SSD and i noticed such a hugh improvement in speed and performance boost. Boots up & shuts down fast when turning it on or off, Programs & files load up fast too. Literally the best thing without any moving parts and less stress for laptops. Even using an SSD to boost up my PS4 console which also helped too, fan noise is greatly reduced and not stressing alot, plus games and apps load up faster.

[@ecosystems]

The vast majority of people don't have a hard drive clone box. You just blew by the most crucial part of changing an old hard drive to a newer SSD drive.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Huh? Did you not pay attention to the video? I'm pretty sure I said something along the lines of, you don't have to buy one of these but they're pretty great if you want to, and if you don't want to you can install your operating system afresh and then copy the data over from your old hard drive using something like a usb flash drive (before removing the hard drive, obviously) or with a more simple usb/sata adaptor cable

[@ecosystems]

@Switched On Network sorry. I have an external case with an old Samsung SSD drive in it that the computer recognizes. When I put in the new 870 EVO the computer doesn't see it. Put the old SSD back in and it sees it. So there is something about this new SSD drive that is different from the old SSD drive. Partitioning? Driver? Power supply?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Are you putting it in as your primary SSD or a secondary drive? Where in Windows is it failing to detect the drive, is this in the setup process having booted from a bootable USB installation drive or is this inside Disk Management with it in use as a secondary drive?

[@Voe198]

All the videos do. Fuck em

[@FraizerFC]

I am so grateful that I found this video that has the same specs at the back of my own laptop. Thank you!!!

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Glad to hear that!

[@elrenato82]

This is great content! I really needed to change my HD and since I'm not a technician but still want to do it myself, this video comes in handy. Thanks!

[@robertbruce7686]

Clear, concise instructions. Perfect.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Very kind of you to say, thanks. Glad you found it useful!

[@jonatastentadnv]

Thank you sooo much, you're the best, very clear and objetive, now I can fix my laptop

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Glad it helped!

[@LebromJams6969]

Hi, how do i know what type of SSD i need, like SATA 1, 2 or 3?

[@milkyway-uq1wg]

This was such a high quality video you deserve so much more views

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thank you, very kind! Glad it was helpful 🙂

[@rrparanjpe]

Now, that's just a crisp and spot-on video on the topic. Thanks a million, Paul. ❤️👏👏👏

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

My pleasure, and hope it was helpful!

[@KennaParker-y3k]

What are the risks and complications if I were to do this? I'm a noob

[@johnmaldonado1795]

Thank you so much this video helped a lot to do it on my own the only video that actually helped me out

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

My pleasure, glad it helped you!

[@electrician240]

Thank you!

[@catatoali]

thanks for the great video, but can you make a video on how to remedy the partitions? im upgrading from 320 gb to 500 gb

[@kingtyphoon]

Awesome video!

[@markdonovan500]

Thanks really helped 👍

[@HarryPotter-jy9mh]

My laptop is same Thanks for tutorial

[@ashleeeshi6635]

What do you need to do befor putting it in

[@jdzreacts836]

Wow so informative and helpful video. Thanks!

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jassidhaliwal3228]

You're brilliant mate love from Australia 🇦🇺

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thanks!

[@jkwo2007]

Very helpful and useful video. Thank you.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thanks, glad it was helpful!

[@neilpearn3909]

Outstanding video. Thank you

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@1oneofakind03]

My laptop HP notebook G8 uses Awm 20706 ribbon cable does it support SSD?

[@l8toriginal719]

That is so succinct!

[@dustdevil3007]

with the docking station, does it work with cloning an SSD to SSD? In this video you do a HDD to SSD, but i want to know if it works for SSD to SSD. Cheers mate!

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, that'll work fine. As far as it's concerned it's just data to data, the underlying architecture doesn't matter.

[@dustdevil3007]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork thanks mate!

[@kakashi2801]

Hi If I just added the SSD without removing the original harddrive would the performance still improve? Or would you recommend that i remove the original harddrive?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

It's not a case of "if one is present, the system performance will increase". System performance will increase if the Operating System is being run from an SSD, and if the software programmes you're running are from an SSD, and if the data you're accessing or the software is using is also being read/written to/from an SSD. So putting one in and doing nothing else, will do nothing. Adding one in and using it to store data would mean you can read/write that data faster, but you'd be missing out on 99% of the benefits. Short answer: Yes, replace the hard drive ;)

[@dj8201]

this is real good for me because im thinking about getting a laptop to take with me but i wanna get a budget that has normal and not going super good laptop but dont want something weak like 128gb of storage and mabye have atleawst like 512gb ssd

[@sallom531]

Omg this is awesome, you are awesome

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thanks!

[@debbiep99]

You didn't provide information on how to fix the new partition if there is unallocated space that we need to add to the drive.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

That would be a separate tutorial in itself, but if you open up Disk Management you can find and resize the partition there.

[@killuazoldyck9]

is it necessary to have a bootable device to change into SSD?

[@ToJednoBurrito]

Can you replace it like this on every laptop or is it model specific ?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Most laptops that use SATA drives will be very similar to this 👍

[@mikevanvolkenburgh5348]

Thank you

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

You're welcome! :)

[@AdamNorse]

Thank you for the vid :) was just wondering, if my OS is installed on my SSD, is it safe to remove it and then put it back in? It wont reset or anything? Im sending my pc in for repair and my boss says i need to remove the drives first. PS the repairmen wont need it to repair the pc ive been told.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, fine to take it out and put it back in again 👍

[@AdamNorse]

tyty : )@@SwitchedOnNetwork

[@jordimantilla5218]

Hey! Instead of doing that can I just put the ssd on the portable case and connect it externally and maybe move my windows to that disk or the games that I want to run smooth? I’m kinda lost could you explain us please

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

No, because you'd be restrained by the slower USB speeds then. Keep the SSD inside your laptop :)

[@Isaac-ci5wy]

What laptop are you using in the video?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

It was an HP 15-bs049na

[@jamerv777smerf]

Is it ok to put the SSD in without the mounting bracket? Two of the four screws on my HDD will not loosen it's actually ridiculous my hand hurt lol. But the SSD does snap into place. I was just wondering if it's fine without the bracket

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

As long as it's secure then that's the main thing 👍

[@farooqzhman2487]

link of the site you indicated for ( online fixes) please

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Do you mean www.ifixit.com ?

[@litic]

I’m getting “no bootable device”. I have a usb and did the changes on my bios

[@goldenboy8249]

When cloning an HDD to SSD, what would happen if you formatted the SSD in Disk Manager prior to cloning? Would there still be a need to delete the unnecessary partition afterwards?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Probably, yes. Best to start with it blank with no partitions I'd imagine.

[@CANPANProGamer]

my laptop booting is 1 min 6 sec i thought i was using hdd but found out it was ssd all along.. so i dont know what to do

[@sebs29]

Post specs to help

[@YoussefRashedElox]

Nice tutorial but if my SSD started to get full with a little space left can I upgrade my SSD without lossing any data or forced to redownload every single app/game from steam?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, you can clone it to a new bigger one. You might just need to enlarge the partition afterwards to take advantage of all the new free space.

[@YoussefRashedElox]

But how and how long will take it to clone 411 GB?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Depends on the read speed of the old drive, the write speed of the new drive, the SATA cable used and the device used to do it, along with the nature of the data (lots of small files, few big files, mixture of the two etc.)

[@jayasheel3600]

Hey man I got a question do we have to install windows freshly or it's aldredy installed in that newly ssd that we buy

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

No, the SSD will be blank so you'll need to install Windows on it (instructions and demonstration towards the end of the video) OR clone your existing hard drive to the SSD by buying the device linked in the video description 👍

[@jayasheel3600]

So bro after installing ssd does it boot or does it says no bootable dive found

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

If the SSD is blank, it'll say no bootable drive found. Boot up from a Windows installation USB drive or DVD to install

[@jayasheel3600]

Ooh thank you so much bro your information really helped me the ssd is arriving tomorrow and I asked my dad to bring a bootable device. Thank you again

[@karlclintsman2950]

Should've said the thing about the bookable drive before I took everything apart.....thanks

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

ooops - hope you managed to get it all sorted :)

[@dries-pederjanse6249]

I want to replace my windows C ssd (512gb) with a 4tb one. It’s both M.2 PCie Nvme. Can they be different generations? Are there clone devices for them? Or does it require additional software on a pc to transfer from on to another?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

There probably are - someone will have made one. If you have two M.2 slots though you can probably just copy it all over without having to use another device. They can be different generations yes but be aware if your mobo doesn't support the higher gen you'll just get lower gen speeds I think. It should still work though - I think. Don;t quote me on that though, look it up elsewhere too ;)

[@dries-pederjanse6249]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork okey thank you

[@davidokoro5184]

Is it required to use the flash drive if your going to start fresh

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, that's the best way

[@Eng.hazemhosny]

Quality content 🙏🤝❤️❤️

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thank you, hope it was useful!

[@alexgeo7358]

One question. Do we need the key of the windows or its getting installed automatically?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

No you won't need that, it's all automatic

[@alexgeo7358]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork Thank you!

[@peely6360]

@@alexgeo7358 i’m pretty sure if you want a clean install (using usb) you need your key

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

If you boot from a USB and do it that way, yes. But that's not what this video shows; this is a simple way for less techy folk.

[@somedude3740]

I don't have the password for my microsoft account anymore. So if i do this then will i be able to access microsoft office, word, PowerPoint etc. ?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

If you clone your HDD to the SSD then yes that should all still be there. But you should probably go through account recovery for your Microsoft account so you can get full access again.

[@gilbertcomora5766]

What if the screen dont turn on after you booted it up

[@chadcollins6797]

What happens if your laptop already has windows on it, then you make the replacement? did mine and I can't get it to boot.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Have you put a fresh, blank SSD in? If so you'll need to install Windows - follow the bit of the video where I show making a USB installation drive.

[@tiagopires9219]

how do i choose to boot from the USB i press enter on it and nothing happens :/

[@commando414]

Does it work for MSI laptops?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, it's not brand-specific (unless you have an Apple laptop, they do stupid anti-consumer and anti-environment things like soldering SSDs and RAM straight to the motherboard). If you have a more modern laptop than the old one I was using in the video, it might be an M.2 NVMe SSD rather than the SATA one shown, so check before you order the bits.

[@rokith5139]

Ayo btw are crucial ssds durable cuz i need long term use for atleast 5 years and do they come with warranty?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yeah crucial are a great brand 👌

[@rokith5139]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork but some of the reviews on amazon say they are not durable like the BX500 ssd from crucial seemed to slow down and computer freezes often after 4 months of use..

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

They make different ranges at different price points so some will be more durable than others and rated for more reads and writes. It all depends on your requirements and budget, and yes they'll all have warranties. Be sure to have your data backed up as well though! 🙂

[@rokith5139]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork thank man.

[@PuertoRican88]

@@rokith5139 try out brands like Samsung or PNY for SSDs, i heard they are like the best ones in the market to come by for restoring laptops or desktops. Even for certain gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox that is upgradable.

[@lordgamer1666]

I need use some graphic software can it helps me

[@yeet6000]

How long does it take to download and setup the boot drive because mine is still a 0%

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Depends on your internet connection speed and how fast your computer is and the USB drive. But if it's stuck, I'd just start again

[@yeet6000]

​@@SwitchedOnNetwork thx i was stuck on 0% for like 20 mins so i will just restart it tomorrow, by the way can i run windows 10 on my old laptop that uses windows 7 back then?

[@jharealisticfantastic5112]

My HP Laptop doesn't have fan installed. Is it possible to install a new one?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

If you can find somewhere for it to go and a way to get power to it, and it has an inlet and outlet for air - then sure why not

[@attila9337]

I have the same toshiba hdd shown at 0:30 and it just stopped working and i was thinking of instead of just replacing im gonna upgrade it for an ssd

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, absolutely - get an SSD and you'll get much better performance as well as better battery life

[@ThunderstormG]

Can i also use Laptop HDDs for an internal HDD in my desktop?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, there's no such thing really as a "laptop hard drive", just different sizes and you can use them in desktops no problem 👍

[@angheloiumarius]

Nice Thx

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Hope it's useful 👍 let me know how you get on if you do this upgrade yourself!

[@sarveshthenotfound258]

The ssd cloned right? The os in the ssd has licenced or not

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes it should all just carry over, activation and all. It shouldn't consider a new SSD to be a major hardware change.

[@sarveshthenotfound258]

Where the window licence key is stored in rom are hars disk

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

If you've lost your licence key, it might be because you don't have one and it's just a digital license linked to your Microsoft account. But if you do have an actual key, you can find it by using something like this: www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

[@ffsoulreaper4159]

Can you used in any laptop?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, any laptop will be able to have an SSD installed. Older laptops would use a 2.5" SATA SSD which is the exact same size and shape as the spinning HDD it replaces. Newer and more modern laptops might have a different type of SSD, called an NVMe SSD which use an M.2 connector. Laptops like that will already have an SSD in that slot though, so it wouldn't be "upgrading" it as such (unless you're putting a bigger/better SSD in its place).

[@michaelwoo3428]

If my HDD size is bigger than my new SSD, can I clone it ?

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

No; and you'd be much better off installing your OS afresh on the new SSD and then copying over the data you need from the old HDD (using a docking station to connect it).

[@alvincalmona1134]

Upgraded my old 1tb hdd to 240gb ssd. But now frequent blue screen. Until wont boot anymorr and need to reinstall windows 10 again.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

That doesn't sound ideal. If that's all started since you put the new SSD in then it might be worth trying to swap it under warranty?

[@deejay117]

#RightToRepair

[@elijah2105]

My laptops hard drive broke and it says no drive found so I'll have to replace or pay someone to do it

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Oh no! Hope you had a backup of anything important on there :( Yes - it's easy to do yourself, just follow the steps in this video to put a new SSD in and then install Windows. You might not even need a product key, but if you do there might be a sticker on the base of your laptop with it on (or it might be in documentation you received when you first bought the laptop). Good luck!

[@deejayactivist770]

Good

[@Unknown-st6nx]

Nice 👍

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thanks ✌

[@jamerv777smerf]

I have that exact flash drive haha

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

good choice!

[@jamerv777smerf]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork Is it ok to put the SSD in without the mounting bracket? Two of the four screws on my HDD will not loosen it's actually ridiculous my hand hurt lol. But the SSD does snap into place. I was just wondering if it's fine without the bracket

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

If it's a really snug fit then you'll probably be OK but just be aware of the possibility of strain on the SATA and power connectors if there is any movement. You could maybe secure it in place even more with some tape, if you really can't get the mounting hardware off the old SSD.

[@jamerv777smerf]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork I just might have to try that🙌🏽🙏🏽 thx. If you will please link me to something perhaps one on Amazon, a mounting bracket, for the new SSD. I have the Samsung 512 Evo one. It really has breathed new life into my old laptop, amazing.

[@rabmccudden683]

Right to repair and upgrade should be law.

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Yes, I agree! And it makes good business sense too - when buying something, it being upgradable and easy to replace bits has a BIG swaying effect in my buying decision. It's why I bought a Dell when I bought my last laptop (Jan this year). I can just take the bottom off with a normal screwdriver, pop out the RAM and replace it with more in a couple of years if I want to. If I still have it when the battery inevitably stops being its best (my estimate is about 7 years down the line) I can just take it out and replace it with a new one - no silly soldering to the board, just pop a connector off and bob's your uncle. Just like a little Lego :)

[@rabmccudden683]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork 100%

[@hosnimed9187]

is ssd 2.5 SATTA work on any laptop ????

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Only if it has SATA connections on the motherboard. Newer laptops might be nvme m.2

[@hosnimed9187]

@@SwitchedOnNetwork what about if i want to replace the hard drive with ssd 2.5 SATA

[@mohitbhargava7510]

Islam is maa ka

[@100nortonfan7]

It would help and be of great benefit if you slowed your instructions down...considerably! Not everyone knows all the terminology or has a mental picture as to the location of the various components you mention. It is a common mistake most technical types -- like yourself, for instance, to assume everyone is familiar with the inner workings of one's laptop. I would award your presentation as around 33%, not that it would make any difference to you. Just say'n...

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

Thanks for the advice, but when making this type of video it would be entirely wrong. You probably wouldn't even have found the video if it was slow and in-depth - it would have a terrible watch-time graph as people get bored and click away, signaling to KZbin that it's a poor video and resulting in it not getting recommended to anyone. The type of video you're asking for isn't the type of video this is intended to be. I appreciate and thank you for your feedback, but - respectfully - someone who's spent years working on KZbin videos and learning/experiencing how the platform works may be better qualified to determine the video styles that work best. This is a general overview aimed at a particular audience, sorry it wasn't your cup of tea but please try to understand the very good reasons and not see them as a mistake.

[@crisbinjoseph2449]

Thank you😊

[@SwitchedOnNetwork]

You're welcome 😊