Adding parallel SSD?, how do I configure it?

[HamRag]

I have a HP ZBook 15u G3 Mobile Workstation which apparently has a 2.5" HDD slot and an M2 slot.

At present I have a 1TB HDD, can I add a 1TB SSD in parallel in the M2 slot?

How do I make use of the SSD's additional speed in that situation? Do I for instance move the current C: drive to the SSD and make the HDD accessible as plain storage? How do I accomplish this change in disk utilisation?

[Huffer]

All good questions and you have astutely figured out the issues. Yes you can install an M.2 mSSD and make that the boot disk. The best way to do this is to "clone" the existing Windows install over to the new M.2 disk then rearrange the boot order so the system boots from the M.2 then format the original drive. To do this, you need an M.2 large enough that it can hold the data on the old drive. You have asked about a 1 TB M.2 and cloning a 1 TB HDD to a 1 TB M.2 disk should be easy. I use a program called Acronis True Image but several experts here swear by a cloning program called Macrium Reflect. Apparently they allow full use of the trial version to clone a drive:

https://www.macrium.com/download/home

You would make a bootdisk from the cloning software, boot the system from the bootdisk and activate the clone function to copy the HDD to the M.2. 

Post back as I am sure there will be questions. We need to figure out what kind of M.2 disk you can get (SATA or NVME/PCIe) and get you some installation instructions and see if you feel comfortable with the hardware part of it. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[HamRag]

Thanks for your response, that's very helpful.

Looking at the machine spec. at;

http://www8.hp.com/uk/en/products/laptops/product-detail.html?oid=8693764#!tab=specs

it suggests the M2 slot will support 128GB M.2 SATA SSD or 256GB M.2 SATA SED SSD.

I looked at the options here;

http://www.drivesolutions.com/cgi/shop/ug2store.cgi?command=listitems&kind=hpl&pos=0&type=itemid&ite...

and also here;

http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/compatible-upgrade-for//hp-zbook-15u-g3-mobile-workstation

The first suggests I can run with a 1 TB M.2 NGFF (SSD) Solid State Drive Module, the second a Crucial MX200 500GB M.2 Type 2280 (Single Sided) Internal SSD which seems at odds with the spec.

While searching I also came across a forum entry where this was discussed and there seemed to be some issues doing this for the 15 model;

http://www.tomsguide.com/answers/id-2552766/zbook-storage-options-questions-msata-ssd-hdd.html

So now... I'm thinking I should perhaps just swop the 1TB HDD with an equivalent 1TB SSD. For example, the 1TB 7mm SATA III MLC (SSD) Solid State Drive or the Crucial MX300 1TB SATA 2.5" 7mm (with 9.5mm adapter) Internal SSD.

[Huffer]

Not a bad idea. The 2.5 inch SATA SSD will be just as fast as a SATA M.2 disk or very close and certain not to run into compatibility issues since it will just replace what you have physically. The Manual by the way does not limit the disks you can install , just lists the ones HP offered from the factory.

You are able to install a NVME/PCIe M.2 which is the fastest storage on the planet right now, 2 or 3 times as fast as a SATA SSD. I have the Zbook 15 G3 (yours is the slightly different 15u model) and I have a 512 gig NVME M.2 and I can testify it is very, very fast. 

This is the HP Part:

512 GB, PCIe 3x4 823959-001

https://parts.hp.com/hpparts/Search_Results.aspx?mscssid=4692E60E5BF44BEB8B02D7278B62E035&SearchIn=P...

Service manual:

Service manual

See p. 41 for a good picture of the hard drive in the lower left and then the M.2 slot is just above that. 

I would stay away from the Crucial MX series of SSDs. Some reports of issues here. If you decide to just get a 2.5 inch SATA SSD, get the Samsung 850 Evo:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147373&cm_re=Samsung_850_Evo_500_gig-_-20-...

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[HamRag]

Actually I've done a circle here and come back to utilising that second slot.

Simple question, when the HDD is cloned to the SSD, does the SSD become drive C:? If not I think I would need to rename it as such since my software scripts etc. probably have C: hardwired into them.

[Huffer]

Yes clone means clone...exact copy. You have to take the original drive out when you complete the clone before you reboot or format it since you cannot have 2 C:\ drives in the computer. 

[HamRag]

Sorry to labor the issue, but if I clone the HDD to the parallel M2 SSD. Do I then format or rename the original HDD drive/partitions so I can leave it in the machine as general purpose storage? I'm not sure what the procedure is for that.

[Huffer]

You format it blank so you can use it for storage. Everything that was on it is now on the other drive. If you want to do this I think it is going to be best if you let us walk you through step by step so let us know when you get the M.2 disk and are ready to proceed. 

[HamRag]

That's very kind of you.

I asked the IT guy at work (he's from the company next door so he can't do it for me); he recommended, installing the drive, cloning all partitions using Macrium Reflect, swopping the boot order in the bios and then working with the SSD for a while to make sure everything is fine. If anything bad happens, apparently I can revert the boot order and go back to the HDD. If everything is good, I can format the HDD at a later date and then utilise that for general storage. He seemed to imply the drive that was first boot would automatically become C: (I'm using Win7).

Is that correct or would you recommend something different?

I ordered an EVO today, should get it next week.

[Huffer]

Has the "IT guy" ever actually installed an M.2 disk in a laptop? Most of them have not. Read my suggestions above. Feel free to accept them or not. Good luck.