My 250GB M.2 SSD maxed out - Is the internal Toshiba 2TB SATA Drive usable for C Drive?

[Bass4LP]

OK, my main C drive is working off of a 250GB SSD and it is maxed out! I've offloaded as much as I can but I'm still only 40GB from its limit. This PC shows a Toshiba DT01ACA200 SATA drive that has been there since I bought the system. I thought that was the main C drive but found out it's actually the SSD (which I didn't know was there). Rookie, can you tell?

Is there a way I assign the 2TB Toshiba as my primary C Drive for all my program files and take the weight off of the SSD?

Thanks in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You would only be able to use the drive for storage of personal files (photos, documents, music, videos, etc.).

I recommend that you replace the 256 GB NVMe SSD with one having a greater storage capacity such as a 500 GB or 1 TB drive.

If you elect to do that, I recommend a Samsung 980 PCIe 3.0 x 4 NVMe SSD in a 500 GB or 1 TB storage capacity.

You can reinstall Windows on the new SSD with media you create with the HP cloud recovery tool.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.  You will need a 32 GB USB flash drive to create the recovery media with.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Microsoft Store Apps

With a Samsung 980 SSD, you can also download and install the free Data Migration Software and user guide and clone the existing drive's contents to the new SSD.

Samsung Magician & SSD Tools & Software Update | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Since there aren't two NVMe slots in your PC, in order to clone the OS from the 256 GB drive to the 500 GB drive, you will need a USB3/USB-C to NVMe enclosure to install the new drive in so you can perform the clone.

Something like this...

Amazon.com: SSK Aluminum M.2 to USB NVMe SATA SSD Enclosure Reader, Tool-Free USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps N...

[Bass4LP]

Paul, thank you Sir! Well explained. I'll get started reviewing the links and consider an upgrade on the SSD per your suggestions. Cheers!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Cheers,

Paul