Additional SSD Hard Drive

[MightyLeeds]

Before I go any further oi need to explain that I'm not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm hoping that you guys can help me.

I'm wanting to fit an additional 512gb or 1TB SSD hard drive to my HP 14-cm0503sa laptop

I believe that I can fit one on the 2.5 inch bay, just a few questions, If I may

1. can anyone confirm that I can fit one?

2. what is the best one to buy that includes everything that I need including connection cables, brackets etc.?

3. how easy is it to fit one?

4. do i need to do anything to get my laptop to read/use it?

Sorry If I'm asking stupid questions but I could really do with some help before I decide to buy an additional SSD

Many thanks

Richard

[Huffer]

You only have a 128 gig M.2 SSD SATA type right now. 

Here is the applicable Service Manual:

download Manual here 

You can add a 2.5 inch SATA SSD. However, to do so you will need these parts plus the SSD:

(1) Hard drive cover L23219-001
(2) Hard drive cable L23187-001

While we can very likely help you find these we can 100% tell you that you can upgrade that 128 gig M.2 SSD to a much faster and bigger NVME M.2 SSD, say 1 or 2 TB. The cost of doing so would be less and the performance would be better and you would still massively increase storage space and not negatively impact battery life or weight of the laptop by adding a second drive and mounting hardware. 

So how would you wish to proceed?

[MightyLeeds]

That sound like the best solution, do I need a device to clone my current SSD? or can I do that using my external HDD?

Any idea of cost for a 1TB  NVME M.2 SSD? and also the best UK source for it

Many thanks for your assistance, It's very much appreciated

Best regards

Richard

[Huffer]

You will need to have some kind of external device to do the clone, which can be your external hard drive. You can make a Windows system image backup

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/

Store the system image on the external hard drive. Put in the new blank M.2 NVME SSD. Install Windows from a usb thumb drive made from the Microsoft Media Creation Tool site (just google that). As you install you will get the option to restore from a system image. Point it to the system image you saved from the old installation onto the external hard drive

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-restore-a-windows-10-system-image-to-an...

Here is a 1 TB NVME at a fantastic price:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-Blue-SN550-High-Performance-Pcie/dp/B07YFFX5MD/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&...

Post back with any more questions and please accept as solution if this is the info you needed.