Add a 2.5-in. SSD to a HP Envy h9 Desktop computer

[lkendrick1]

I am adding a 2.5-inch 2TB SSD (SanDisk) to my HP Envy Model h9-1420t.  I want to make it the primary drive and keep my current hard drive for storage.  I am concerned about any BIOS changes that might be necessary.  I plan to install the SSD, disconnect the SATA cable from the hard drive and plug it into the SSD.  Then I plan to insert a USB drive in the computer, hold the escape key to get the BIOS menu to come up and change the boot order to get the SSD on top.  Then restart the computer with the USB drive with the latest version of Windows 10 and let it go through the setup process.  Then I will go back and plug in the hard drive and copy my data files and download applications.  Does anyone see any issues with what I'm planning?

THANKS!

lkendrick1

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You shouldn't need to change the boot order.

Everything else you plan to do sounds good.

Unplug the current HDD from the SATA data connector it is in now, and plug the SSD in that port.

Leave the current HDD out until you install W10 on the new SSD.

After you install W10, shut down, unplug the PC and connect your original hard drive back up.

If the original HDD position was in the dark blue SATA port, I think you plug the old hard drive into the light blue port.

HP used to give you the labels of the ports.

Check the white lettering on the motherboard and see if the ports are labeled.

They are normally labeled 0, 1, 2 & 3.  The boot drive goes into port 0.

Your extra hard drive will go into port 1.

If the ports are labeled 1, 2, 3 & 4, then put the boot drive in port 1, and your data drive in port 2.

[lkendrick1]

Paul,

Thanks for your comments!  So far so good.  When I'm completely done, I will come back and let you know the final results.  HP made it difficult to install the SSD in the drive bays.  I could only get one screw to hold the SSD!

Again, THANKS!!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I bought 3.5" to 2.5" adapters to fit my SSD's into my desktop PC's 3.5" drive bays.

I had to dremel off the thinner crossbar in the picture so that the power and data cables could connect up to the SSD without binding.

https://www.newegg.com/rosewill-rdrd-11004-2-x-2-5-drive-to-3-5-bay/p/N82E16817997037?Item=N82E16817...