Installing an SSD in a laptop

Many computer experts believe that SSD drives will soon turn from an alternative to the good old HDDs into a full-fledged replacement for them. Many users can now independently and without much difficulty change the computer’s hard drive or slightly expand the laptop’s memory using an SSD. How to install an SSD in a laptop will be discussed in this article.

What you need to install an SSD

To begin with, it is worth noting that the fascination with drives of this type is quite understandable, since using an SSD allows the user to obtain the following advantages:

1. Reduce OS loading time by up to 5 times.
2. Increase the operating time of the device without recharging.
3. Get rid of the crunching and grinding noise that is present in the operation of many HDDs.
4. Significantly increase the overall speed of the device if we are talking about replacing an old, “braking” HDD.

In addition, such a drive is more resistant to mechanical damage.

Many users, in connection with a number of such significant advantages of solid-state drives of a more modern type, have a reasonable question about why SSDs are not installed by manufacturers everywhere in all new computers and laptops. The answer to this question is quite simple: it's the price tag.Still significantly more expensive than their HDD counterparts, SSD drives add several thousand rubles to the total cost of the equipment, which, given current prices, will scare off many potential buyers.

To install a new solid state drive in a laptop, you will need:

1. The disk itself and the laptop.
2. Screwdriver (Phillips or straight, depending on the type of cover mounting bolts).
3. Bank or other plastic card (it’s convenient to pry off the cover).
4. Flash card for saving and transferring information to a new disk.

Important! It is recommended to carry out operations on installing and dismantling hard drives with at least minimal skills and experience in handling equipment. An inexperienced user can damage the “stuffing” of the laptop.

Options for installing an SSD hard drive in a laptop

Experts note that there are several ways to install an SSD in a laptop. Firstly, you can simply replace the HDD with an SSD (for example, if the old one fails). Secondly, you can insert an SSD instead of a disk drive using a special adapter that can be purchased at a computer parts store. Thirdly, using a similar adapter, you can install an HDD in place of the drive, and install a new SSD in its place. Another option is to connect a replaced but working HDD using a special box, but this option is not very good for those devices that are often moved from place to place.

In general, saving the old disk as a backup data storage allows you to somewhat expand the technical potential of the laptop. When replacing a drive, the user essentially only expands the amount of memory available to the device.In addition, installing an additional drive in a CD-rom does not in any way affect the appearance of the laptop. However, with all this, the most common option for installing an SSD in a laptop is the first method, when one disk is simply replaced by another.

Installing an SSD drive instead of an old HDD

Before you begin the replacement, you need to disconnect the laptop from the power supply and free it from all connections - flash drives, mouse, webcam, headphones, etc. After this, you can begin to “disassemble” the following points:

1. First of all, you should turn the laptop over and inspect its bottom wall. On it you need to find where the panel is located that protects the hard drive, as well as the battery. Next, you need to remove the battery by pressing on the special latches (most often they are located on the sides of it).
2. When the battery is removed, you should unscrew the fastenings of the hard drive cover using a suitable screwdriver. Don’t be too zealous with the screwdriver: if the screw doesn’t come out, it’s better to try another tool than to use force and tear off the edges on it.
3. The hard drive itself is usually also secured in the connector with screws, and by unscrewing them, it can be pulled out quite easily.
4. You can place a new one in place of the removed disk, without forgetting about the fasteners.
5. After securing the cover to the screws and installing the battery in its original place, you can proceed to the stage of checking the detection of the disk by the system.

To perform this check, the user must enter the BIOS. The model of the current disk is shown on the main screen of most laptops in the BIOS. If the installed disk is not displayed, the reason may be:

• poor contact in the SATA connector;
• malfunction of the drive itself;
• old BIOS system.

In the first case, you can try to reconnect the drive by performing all the described disassembly operations again. In order to make sure that the problem is not a malfunction of the SSD, you need to check its performance on another laptop or personal computer.

Important! In the case of an old BIOS version, problems with the SSD can be resolved by updating it to a newer version. This can be done by having certain skills in handling computer equipment, or by contacting service specialists.

If the system successfully and constantly “sees” the installed drive, then it is necessary to check its operating mode. To do this, still in the same BIOS, go to the “Advanced” tab, and pay attention to the line “SATA Operation”. If there is an inscription “AHCI” opposite it, then everything is in order, but if not, the operating mode needs to be changed to AHCI.

When all the above operations have been successfully completed, you can proceed directly to installing the OS and optimizing its operation for the new drive. When you install a new OS, it automatically optimizes services for the most comfortable experience with the new drive.