HP Spectre XT Pro Ultrabook SSD upgrade

[hankjlee74]

Hello!

I currently own the Spectre XT Pro Ultrabook w/4gb RAM and 128GB SSD.  I was wondeirng:

1) If I could upgrade to a higher capacity SSD and if so, what steps I would take to safely install the larger SSD.

2) I am also wondering if I can bump up the RAM to 8gb.

Any help would be much obliged.  Thank you!

Product number: B8W13AAR

*When I use the online HP product discovery app, it lists it as a HP Spectre hybrid, which it is not.

[Huffer]

Here is the Service Manual:

Link to download your Manual

You have to flip the computer bottom up and remove the whole back panel. You can replace the 128 gig SSD with a 256 and if you can find a larger mSSD card in the same form factor you could install it. See page 33 of the Manual. 

As with the MacBook Air and similar very thin laptops, in your case the memory is part of the motherboard so there are no memory modules to remove and replace with larger capacity modules. 

This is a major upgrade project and will jeopardize the warranty but HP will honor the warranty as long as no damage is done in the process. Here is an image of the 256 gig mSSD:

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[hankjlee74]

Thank you for the recommendation and help!  I knew this was going to be a bit of a challenge since it is a thin ultrabook with little leeway.  Which mSSD, as in manufacturer, would you recommend as a replacement?

As for the RAM, I'm guessing I'm out of luck with this and I'm stuck with 4GB, correct?

Thank you!

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Yes as I said:

As with the MacBook Air and similar very thin laptops, in your case the memory is part of the motherboard so there are no memory modules to remove and replace with larger capacity modules. 

That means you are stuck with 4 gigs of RAM.

The mSSD drive appears to be a standard two-prong MO-300 form factor but as with most of these the description is very thin and to avoid surprises I would suggest you get the actual HP Part number. 

256-GB solid-state (SSD) drive 689955-001

http://www.ebay.com/itm/689955-001-New-MSSD-256GB-/191148647556?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c815...

I think this one would also work and is a bit cheaper but once we go outside the HP part number specified in the Manual there is some risk:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Lite-On-256GB-mSATA-HP-PN-738975-001/361179387378?_trksid=p2047675.c...

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[hankjlee74]

One other question...if I were to upgrade, how would I go about cloning my old mSSD into the new mSSD?  Do I need some type of enclosure (mSATA to USB3) to transfer everything over?  Thank you!

[Huffer]

Yes and then also a usb DVD drive or cloning software on a bootable thumb drive. 

This is the exact adapter I have in my kit:

http://www.amazon.com/MyDigitalSSD-Bullet-Proof-Enclosure-Adapter/dp/B00AYIDDMA/ref=pd_sim_147_5?ie=...

[hankjlee74]

Thanks for all your help, Provost, you rock!