Hard drive upgrade option(s) possible?

[RFTMFJ]

Good morning community!

I have an HP Notebook 15-dy1078nr (product number: 7PD87UA#ABA) and was wondering if a hard drive upgrade is even possible, and if so what are my options?

(I believe I have a solid state drive.)

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Good morning:

According to the product specs your PC comes with a 256 GB M.2 NVMe SSD.

That is the fastest type of drive currently available, so if your goal is to install a larger capacity drive, that is doable.

If you want to install a much faster NVMe SSD, that is probably not doable, because your notebook's M.2 slot is PCIe Gen 3.0 and a newer, faster PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD will not run much faster than your existing drive does now from a Gen 3.0 SSD slot.

So, if you want to upgrade say from a 256 GB to a 1 TB drive, I recommend this model which may even be a bit faster than the OEM drive HP installed.

Amazon.com: SAMSUNG 980 SSD 1TB PCle 3.0x4, NVMe M.2 2280, Internal Solid State Drive, Storage for P...

How would you plan on reinstalling Windows on the drive?

A clean install of Windows, clone the existing drive's contents to the new one, or using the HP cloud recovery tool, to reinstall the factory operating system, software and drivers that originally came with your notebook on the new one?

Below is the link to the service manual:

Maintenance and Service Guide HP 15 Laptop PC

There is also this service teardown video:

Removing & replacing parts for HP 15-dy0000 Laptop PC | HP Computer Service (youtube.com)

[RFTMFJ]

Thanks so much Paul for your fast and comprehensive reply.

I sincerely appreciate your help.

I presume the hard drive you recommend is the exact same dimension of the existing drive?

What would you recommend being the best way to reinstall Windows on the new drive?

Would a novice computer DIY'er like me be in too  deep over my head?

Is it even conceivably worthwhile?

Your thoughts and concerns please?

Thanks again,

Alan W.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Alan.

If you don't mind reinstalling any programs and personal files again use the HP cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall Windows, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook on the new SSD.

You can make the recovery drive now.  You will need a 32 GB USB flash drive for this.

Below is an info link for how to use the utility:

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | undefined

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store:

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store

Yes, the drive I linked you too is has the same dimensions as the 256 GB drive HP installed in your notebook:  M.2 2280.

If after you read the applicable sections of the service manual and watch the service video to remove and replace the drive, you feel you can do the job yourself, have at it.

Make sure you have a set of small screwdrivers.

Chapter 4 of the manual indicates what tools you need to work in the notebook.

[RFTMFJ]

Thanks again Paul.

(The first link on how to use the utility doesn't appear to open properly but I was able to find it.)

So please excuse my "rookie" question but there's not a process to put my existing drive operating system and contents, i.e.: programs, personal files, etc. onto the new drive almost like a "copy and paste" sort of process?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Yes, that would be the second option I mentioned earlier today...cloning the drive.

You need to purchase an additional piece of equipment for that since your notebook only has one M.2 SSD slot.

You need to buy a USB3/USB-C to NVMe enclosure to plug the new SSD into your PC's USB 3/USB-C port so you can clone the drive.

Amazon.com: SSK Aluminum M.2 NVME SATA SSD Enclosure Adapter, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) to NVME PCI-E ...

If you buy the Samsung drive, you can use the free Samsung Magician software to clone the old drive's contents to the new one.

Samsung Magician Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

After the cloning process reports successful you can remove the 256 GB NVMe SSD and install the new one.

Cloning Your OS Drive Using Samsung Magician (youtube.com)

[RFTMFJ]

I think if I decide to go ahead with this "project" I would lean towards the cloning process.

So if the cloning process is successful I would just swap out the drives and the computer would start up and function as if "nothing ever happened" or is that just wishful thinking on my part? Lol. Is the "magician" software pretty straightforward or am I expected to partition the drive, set parameters, etc.?

It almost seems relatively easy and seamless should I dare say?

I apologize if I'm asking too many rookie questions.

Thanks again Paul,

Alan

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Alan.

I've never used the Samsung Magician software to clone a drive, so I have no first-hand knowledge of how it works.

I have the Samsung 980 1 TB in my HP 800 G3 desktop mini-PC but I only use the Samsung Magician software to monitor the drive.

I found a better video which shows the whole process.  Looks pretty straightforward to me.

You just launch the Samsung magician software; select the drive you want to clone to and go.

From Small to Big: Cloning My NVMe SSD to a Larger Samsung Drive using Samsung Magician (youtube.com...

[RFTMFJ]

Thanks yet again Paul for all your expert help.

Excellent video posted just seven days ago!

Have a great day and enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Alan

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Alan.

You enjoy the rest of the weekend too!

Cheers,

Paul