Adding 'Secondary' PCLE NVME M.2 SSD on my HP ENVY PC

[EzEDP]

I am running out of space on my HP ENVY TE02-0042 Desktop PC and Intel SSD Drive (1TB). I want to add a 'secondary' M.2 NVME 'backup' SSD to transfer a lot of my files on the existing Intel PCLE NVME M.2 SSD (1TB) to the new backup NVME M.2 SSD. I'm thinking of getting the Samsung 980 Pro NVME M.2 SSD as backup drive, because for some reason, HP Parts is not able to assist me with finding a compatible backup SSD (even after I give them my serial #)

QUESTION #1) Do I simply install the 'backup' M.2 SSD (I have 1 slot available) and then create a 'Partition' for this backup drive in Windows 11 (ex: F:drive)?

QUESTION #2: Do I need to run any BIOS checks/tests on my HP Envy (via HP's hardware diagnostics tool) if it is in the ‘secondary’ slot, to make sure that the new backup up drive is working smoothly? Can I assume a BIOS only needs to be done if I am replacing the existing SSD in the existing main slot in my PC?

QUESTION #3: I heard that the Samsung 980 PCLE NVME M.2 SSD is a good backup SSD. IF I found that it is compatible with my HP Envy, they have a 1TB or 2TB option to store my backup files and thus I can reduce the space available on my main SSD drive to keep my PC running quickly & smoothly. Do you have any input on these Samsung M.2 SSD's? Or input on other brands (Crucial, Western Digital etc.)?

Thanks for your help! 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @EzEDP,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Adding 'Secondary' PCLE NVME M.2 SSD on your HP ENVY PC!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Installing & Setting Up the Backup Drive

Yes, the process is straightforward:

Install the new NVMe M.2 SSD in the available slot.

Boot into Windows – It won’t appear in File Explorer yet.

Initialize & Format the SSD in Windows Disk Management:

Press Win + X → Disk Management

Find your new SSD (should be labeled Unallocated).

Right-click and choose New Simple Volume.

Assign a drive letter (e.g., F:).

Format it as NTFS.

Once done, your new SSD will appear in This PC and can be used for storage.

BIOS Checks, Are They Necessary?

Not required for a secondary storage SSD.

You typically don't need to change BIOS settings unless the drive isn’t detected.

If the SSD isn’t showing up, check BIOS (F10 on boot) → Storage Configuration to see if it's recognized.

Run an HP Hardware Diagnostics Test (Optional):

Press F2 on boot → Storage Test → Select the new SSD to ensure it’s healthy.

Is the Samsung 980 Pro a Good Choice?

The Samsung 980 Pro is an excellent NVMe SSD with great speed and reliability. But is it overkill for a backup drive? Maybe.

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