Adding a 2.5" SSD to laptop

[AL1771]

Hi All,

I have an HP 14-fq0037nr Laptop. It comes with just a 64GB SSD which doesnt hold much.

I am trying to see if it's possible to add an additional 2.5" hard drive. 

I have not opened it up yet, is there a space for a 2.5" drive? and is there a connector there? or do I need to purchase one, if so which connector, please send a link.

Anyone with a success story?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can't add a 2.5" SSD, but you can add a M.2 SATA SSD as there is a M.2 slot and you can boot from the SATA M.2 SSD, and not even bother with the 64 GB eMMC drive or use that one for file storage.

Since it has a 64 GB eMMC SSD, your notebook does not support NVMe SSD's, despite what the service manual indicates.

See this discussion regarding a similar model in the series:

Solved: Question re HP 14-fq0045nr - HP Support Community - 8376107

[AL1771]

Thanks for the direct answer.

 I was told I otherwise by Amazon customer service so I appreciate the second opinion.

-You suggest running everything off the M.2, would you have a link video on how to transfer the operating system...I assume I need to do a close to the new drive, then reboot, F2 and find the new drive and boot from there?

-In the link below, is this the device I am looking for? [about16-18 USD]

Thanks,

AL

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=M.2+SATA+SSD&rh=n%3A172282%2Cp_36%3A1253503011&dc&ds=v1%3AADN3JxIJnCCB82S...

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Yes, you can clone the 64 GB eMMC drive's contents to the M.2 SSD using a free program such as Macrium Reflect to do that.

You want the software on the left side of the page under the 'Backup at Home' section.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

The only thing is...you need to do an extra step so that you don't end up with unallocated space on the larger drive.

Clone small ssd to larger ssd (macrium.com)

If you don't have a lot of personal files/programs on the drive, you can use the cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with the notebook on the new SSD.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility.

Clone small ssd to larger ssd (macrium.com)

Just make sure it gives you an option as to what drive you want to use the tool on.

I've only used it on PC's with one drive present.

Yes, you can use one of the M.2 2280 SATA SSDs in the Amazon link you posted.

I recommend buying one with faster read/write speeds such as this:

Amazon.com: Western Digital 250GB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/...

[AL1771]

Hi Paul,

Can you advise what I do next, I have cloned the m.2 sata drive from the emmc, it works well as a secondary drive, BUT I am not able to find it in the BIOS boot options, so that I can switch drives. All the videos I have watched seem to say I need to enable Legacy, but there is not Legacy option in the BIOS?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I believe that if you format the 64 GB eMMC drive to remove all traces of Windows, the Windows boot manager should automatically switch to the SSD.

Then you can use the 64 GB drive for a little extra storage if you want.

[AL1771]

Agreed, that MAY work, but I am trepidation to try it, what happens if it does not work, then I am in trouble! Also I would like to keep the old drive just in case the new one fails, I will have it as a backup.

Any other suggestions?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I don't have any other suggestions for you to try.

The Windows boot manager controls what device the notebook boots from, and it will always boot from the C:\ drive first.

If for some reason it doesn't work, you have the option to use the HP cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive to factory reset the notebook.

You can use the HP cloud recovery tool on your PC or with another PC running W7 64 bit or newer and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your PC.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.

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

If you have to install the recovery tool on another PC, after you launch it, you will need to enter your PC's product number in the tool's search window to proceed.

Your PC's product number is: 18K23UA#ABA

I provided the same suggestion to that another forum member in the link I posted for you in my original reply with a notebook in the same model series and it worked for them.

It appears that she clean installed Windows on the SSD vice cloning it, but she did remove Windows from the 64 GB eMMC drive.

[AL1771]

I will live with it as is, your suggestion is too risky for me to try with my limited expreience.

I suppose that if you do not have any other solution with all your exprience, then there is not much good for me to do any more searchinga round, at least I won't waste any more time on it!