17-ca0011ds HDD replace with SSD options??

[mth01]

Looking for a way to replace the horribly slow 5400rpm HD in this system as I am hearing the bearings start to grind on the spindle motor and it's just a bit of time before it goes completely awry.  Looking for possible SSD replacement (prefer an NVMe type solution, but will do even a Crucial 1TB SSD Sata 3 if necessary).  Assuming after looking at the Spare Parts guide I'd have to swap out cables  drive support boards and the mounting brackets to do NVMe.  But still even Crucial says they don't have SATA SSD parts that are compatible for some reason.  Would like to convert this to a PC Media / TV box as it can still drive 4K @ 30Hz (however it's much better as a 1080p box) and use a Bluetooth Keyboard/Trackpad for external support.  That way I don't have to open up the hideous hinges and can still get some bang for the buck out of the old system.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The good news is your notebook should have the M.2 slot necessary to install a M.2 2280 NVMe SSD, since it has a Ryzen processor.

See chapter 1 of the service manual for the supported drive configurations.

Maintenance and Service Guide HP 17 Laptop PC

The 256 GB NVMe SSD option is just what HP offered in the model series, not the maximum capacity supported.

Refer to chapter 6 of the manual for the M.2 SSD removal and replacement procedure.

Chapter 6, page 41 shows the location of the M.2 SSD to the right of the battery.

[mth01]

Hi Paul...I am not sure that it has the M.2 2280 socket unless it is below the Hard Drive bracket...but the guide you sent seems to imply that there is a completely different M,2 drive bracket and M.2 drive interface board and data cable that would occupy the same space as the existing HDD and HDD Bracket, HDD Interface and HDD cable.  I could be wrong but would like to know before doing surgery on that particular laptop case (designed like an apple with hard to get to guts).  And guessing I will have to pick up some guitar picks to use as Sponders to unclip the bottom casing from the main unit.  And yes, I was Mac Certified in the 1980's and remember the really long Torx driver, the case spreader and that voltage discharge tool for the anode for Mac and Mac SE units. : ).  Also am NOT going to do Crucial. I had a bad experience with a HP Desktop and a legacy Crucial Sata3 SSD (long story short...you have to have the old spinner drive outside of the box connected via USB to use the Acronis software and even then, doesn't do a complete transfer).  Unfortunately, the SLC cache died mid transfer and I had to return the SSD.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, the only reference I could find is the service manual.

I cannot find any videos that show removing and replacing a M.2 SSD in the PC, so I cannot provide any additional information.

You have a choice of opening up the notebook and seeing if the M.2 slot is where the manual indicates it is, or go for the sure thing and install a 2.5" SSD to replace the 2.5" mechanical hard drive.