Can I add a second drive (SSD) to my HP ENVY 17-S143CL?

[ChrisB509]

The computer has a 1TB drive, but I would like to add a 250 GB SSD. I was under the impression all the 17" models had 2 drive bays, but now that I purchased it, i cannot find any information on this model. Thanks for any feedback or help!

[Huffer]

Here is the Manual so we can see what it looks like inside without actually opening it:

Service Manual

See pages 31 and 32. There is a place for a single 2.5 inch wide SATA hard drive or SSD. There is no slot for a "gumstick" type M.2 disk. Your only option is to install a 2.5 inch wide SATA SSD. You could theoretically install a modest sized 2.5 inch SATA SSD (say 250 gigs) and then use a optical drive hard drive caddy to place a second hard drive in the place where the DVD drive is located now. Obviously you lose the DVD drive and the performance of such a drive is downclocked but still OK for just storage of files.

Post back if you have any other questions. 

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

[ChrisB509]

Thanks, Huffer.

What would be the process to add a second drive in the DVD slot. I would get much more use/benefit from the second drive versus the optical drive, and I already have an external optical from my old 14" laptop.

Thanks again.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

I linked you to the service Manual. 

You just need to buy a 9.5 mm optical bay hard drive adapter:

https://www.jacobsparts.com/items/HDDBAY-02/

Put the SSD in where the hard drive is, and put the hard drive in this bay and plug it in. 

See p. 25 of the Manual for "how to"; very easy. Don't put an SSD in the optical bay. It is not bootable and runs slower than the main SATA port so useful only as a place to store files. 

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

[ChrisB509]

Thank you both!