EliteBook 1040 G11 dead after SSD upgrade

[ASrock]

Newly purchased HP EliteBook 1040 G11, 32MB, with the standard 1TB PCle Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2-SSD went dead after the SSD upgrade. The intention was to replace the standard 1TB SSD with a 2TB SSD.

Windows 11 installation and Windows update ran smoothly on the original 1TB SSD with the known reboots in between. No errors no issues. Created and enabled an Administrator account to manage users and profiles and installed cloning SW for replicating to the larger SSD. The cloning ran smoothly. No issues regarding boot structure, recovery partitions etc.

I disconnected the notebook from the USB-C power supply , unscrewed the bottom cover and replaced SSD with a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD. Re-applied a cooling pad, closed cover and tried to reboot but the notebook was dead. No reaction to power-on,  no USB-C power indicator lamp, no HP, WOLF logo, no BIOS status  info. Black screen. I am not getting any error messages regarding boot böpck, GPT, OS integrity etc. Just a black screen. Externally, both SSD’s (original and upgrade) are fully functional and accessible.However, neither old nor new SSD work on the notebook. I even was under the impression to smell some burned down circuits odour if getting close to the motherboards SSD location.

The vendor agreed to replace the totally new Notebook due to a possible assembly issues that may have killed the motherboard. However I would like to understand if this is an issue with the Notebook model as such or alternatively a handling issue on my side. If it is  not the notebook I will be getting a new one and do not want to run into the same problem again. Especially as

In my view the problems could be related to differ issues:

1. Motherboard? It might have been defective from factory causing a short circuit after replacing/touching the badly soldered SSD connector strip. Something that may have occurred anytime later while using the notebook. Did anyone have any similar issues with the Elitebook G11 1040 Motherboard?

2. The SSD? The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD may not be fully compatible with the built in 1TB Crucial SSD causing a power demand that the motherboard would fail to cover causing a brown-out. Though I upgraded many devices from HDD to SSD without any issues. Did anyone have similar issues with the 990pro?

3.My fault? While disconnecting the USB-C external power supply I should have also disconnect the battery from the motherboard. By not doing that this may have shorted some of the connections on the motherboard while pulling the SSD out of its connector.

I am not sure if it was a defective motherboard, a defect from the assembly of the notebook or a failure in taking the right precautions to protect the components against a short circuit while doing the SSD swap.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter in order to avoid another failure.

[TzortzisG · Accepted solution]

Hello ASrock.

With Christmas just around the corner (sort of), if I were you I would definitely consider buying an expensive present for the guy who agreed to replace your system. The MANUAL for this Elitebook on page 49 lists all the steps one must take before performing this upgrade. Disconnecting the battery is one of them. Your motherboard was not getting current from the adapter, however the battery was making sure that it was still powered. Modern laptops (motherboards) use electricity even when completely turned off, so this means that you might as well have taken out the SSD with Windows running on the screen.....

Even if you had done everything correctly (definitely not true here), post-G8 Business laptops are very "sensitive" and many of us have had problems when messing with the hardware: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Can-t-boot-laptop-after-Ram-up....

[ASrock]

Before the purchase I should have considered that these new HP business models create problems more often than on older systems. You mentioned that in that post last year already...

In a business environment one cannot cope with notebooks that tend to be "sensitive" to upgrading.

The replacement arrived and I will meticulously follow the instructions of the manual. Hope my new sensitive device will not be offended that I am fiddling around... fingers crossed.

[TzortzisG]

I drive a really (really) old AUDI with a manual transmission, and sometimes when bored I just switch gears without the clutch. Never had any problems with the gearbox.

This is exactly what is happening with laptops. They're getting thinner, more complicated and therefore extremely "sensitive" to tampering. Everything must be unplugged, ESD is sth one must watch out for. This concerns all laptops, from every manufacturer, and not limited to the Business segment or HP.

Anyways, the Official HP Removing and Replacing parts and the Laptopmedia disassembly videos should be helpful in any upgrades you attempt.

[ASrock]

I know what you mean...I drive an old Land Rover Defender. The car does not really care if it is diesel or salad oil in the fuel tank...It will run. My friend has to be very carefull with his BMW as the car is very sensitive too...It beeps and does not start if the driver is not following the right startup procedures 🤡 

Thank you for the links to the tutorials/videos. Looks that from now on I have to follow the rules more like my friend with his BMW. Take care.

Times they are changing...