How do I add 2nd nmve M.2 SSD to OMEN 30L Desktop PC GT13-1000i (1S3S0AV)?

[DaDadio]

I want to add a second M.2 SSD. The stock SSD that shipped with the computer has Windows on it and there is no extra room. But in my specific case there does not appear to be a second M.2 expansion slot. The specs say that there is a second available slot, but I cannot find it. The upgrade manual on HP site on the support page for my PC shows the second M.2 slot on the other side of the GPU card but not on mine. No M.2 slot. Some kind of slot but not M.2. And just to be clear I did see one video on YouTube where there was a plate to remove. No plate on this motherboard. (1030) Installing a 2nd M.2 SSD on my PC, Omen 30L, Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus, Secondary Storage Drive -...  - Also pictures on HP site here   c06592761.pdf (hp.com)   does not match my motherboard. No M.2. Help please. See photo below where the M.2 should be. What am I missing? How do I add another M.2 SSD. [How will I ever play Starfield without an SSD?] Help please.

[Raj_05]

Hi @DaDadio,

Welcome to HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

Adding a second NVMe M.2 SSD to your OMEN 30L Desktop PC GT13-1000i is a great way to expand your storage capacity or improve your system's performance. Here are the general steps to add a second NVMe M.2 SSD to your desktop PC:

Before you begin:

1. Make sure to shut down your computer and unplug it from the power source.
2. Ground yourself by touching a grounded metal surface or wearing an anti-static wrist strap to prevent static electricity damage to your components.

Here's how to add the second NVMe M.2 SSD:

Open the Case:

• Depending on your PC's specific design, you may need to remove a side panel to access the interior components. Look for screws or latches securing the side panel and remove them to open the case.

Locate an Available M.2 Slot:

• Check inside your PC for an available M.2 slot. Typically, there should be one M.2 slot already in use by your existing SSD, and you may have one or more additional slots for expansion. The OMEN 30L Desktop PC often has multiple M.2 slots.

Prepare the New SSD:

• Remove the new NVMe M.2 SSD from its packaging.
• Carefully insert the NVMe SSD into the available M.2 slot at a slight angle (around 30 degrees) with the connector pins facing the socket.
• Gently press down on the SSD to seat it firmly into the slot.

Secure the SSD:

• Depending on your PC's design, there may be a small screw or latch mechanism to secure the SSD in place. Use the appropriate method to secure the SSD.

Connect the SSD:

• Some M.2 SSDs may come with a thermal pad or heatsink. If your PC has provisions for attaching these, follow the manufacturer's instructions to attach them.
• Reconnect any cables that were disconnected during the process, such as power and data cables for other drives.

Close the Case:

• Carefully close the case and secure it by reattaching any screws or latches that hold the side panel in place.

Power Up and Configure:

• Plug your PC back into the power source and turn it on.
• Once your PC boots up, you may need to format and partition the new SSD using the Windows Disk Management tool. You can search for "Disk Management" in the Windows search bar to access this tool.

Transfer Data (Optional):

• If you're using the new SSD for storage, you can transfer files and data to it as needed.

Adding an NVMe M.2 SSD to your OMEN 30L Desktop PC should be a relatively straightforward process. However, always refer to your PC's specific manual or documentation for any model-specific instructions or nuances, as different models may have slight variations in the installation process.

I hope this helps. 
 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4
HP Support 

[Lazz21]

I have the GT13-1049na model and the image you posted looks the same. Mine has a 3080ti graphics card pre-installed,

the second M.2 SSD slot was not visible either and like yours there is what looks like a PCIe slot where I expected to find the M,2 slot.

Like you, I was reluctant to start removing components, however with not finding any info about the motherboard I decided to remove the graphics card.

The second M.2 slot is there.

It is NOT in the position shown in the video you linked to, but completely hidden under the graphics card further towards the "front" of the case (sorry forgot to take a picture). I have managed to install the second M.2 SSD including a heat sink and then replace the graphics card without any obvious issues, but have not yet powered on to check everything is working okay. 

Removing the graphics card can be fiddly depending on the type of support bracket used, I had to remove the HDD caddy in front of it to see how the fully remove the bracket after undoing the securing screws. Your case may be different.

Hope this helps.

Larry

PS The image below shows the position of the second M.2 slot, slightly different in my case, but a good guide of where to look.

Update:

After an initial problem (I also upgraded the memory and one of the memory sticks wasn't correctly seated so the PC wouldn't start properly), everything worked fine. Remember to use the disk management tool to initialise and format the drive or it won't show up in Windows.