How to upgrade RAM in HP Pavilion dv7-7001er (p/n B1W81EA) notebook?

[Alexander57]

Hi Paul,

By the way would you advise how to swap out system HDD on SSD in the right way? Is it enough to put SSD in secondary drive place, connect it to secondary SATA connector, remove Windows using apropriate software and change the Boot priotity in BIOS? Or it is necessary to remove Windows on SSD using apropriate software, replace HDD on secondary drive place with the longer cable and put SSD in primary drive place with shorter cable? Kind regards, Alex

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Alex:

Do you already have a drive cable for the second drive?

If so, you can clone the existing drive's configuration to the SSD using free software such as Macrium Reflect.

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

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

You can also purchase a SATA to USB cable if you don't have a cable/caddy to install a hard drive in the secondary drive bay, and clone the original drive's configuration to the SSD that way.

Amazon.com: StarTech.com SATA to USB Cable - USB 3.0 to 2.5” SATA III Hard Drive Adapter - External ...

Or you can just clean install W10 on the new SSD and then reinstall your programs and files.

Make a bootable W10 installer with the media creation tool from the link below.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

If you clean install W10, after you boot from the installation media, and after you click on the Install Now button, you will be asked to select the edition of W10 you want to install (you select what you currently have installed now), and then you will be asked to enter a product key.

Select the 'I don't have a product key' option, and W10 will install and automatically activate once you are connected to the internet.

[Alexander57]

Hi Paul,

By the way could you advise the right way to swap out the existing 2.5" drive with the SSD? I also woul like to keep existing HDD as programs and files storage. Do you know either would it be Ok 1).to put SSD in secondary drive place with longer cable, 2).transfer Windows 10 on it using appropriate software and 3).change Boot priority in BIOS or make steps 1). 2). and finally put the HDD on secondary drive place and SDD with Windows 10 on primary drive place? Any other ways?

Regards, Alex 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Alex:

As I replied earlier, if you can have the SSD work in the secondary bay, you can just clone the existing drive configuration to the SSD using Macrium Reflect.

Then you can install the SSD where the hard drive is currently installed, and move the hard drive to the secondary bay.

I don't think you can leave Windows on the drive in the secondary bay though.

[Alexander57]

Hi Paul,

Sorry for duplicating enquire! Thank you for the explanation and links! Now as I see from your message I'm going to put SSD in secondary drive place (longer cable already have), clone W10 from HDD to SSD and swap discs. Thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Alex.

[Alexander57]

Hi Paul,

I'v returned Patriot RAM modules to the saler and going to order another memory modules like this: 

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/pavilion-dv7-7001er 

Meanwhile I'v made upgrade as you recomend with swap hdd on ssd. It was installed successfully software and hardware. I'm using AOMEI Partition Assictant to move W10 on ssd The system and programs downloaded faster in times now😀

At the same time I'v made changing thermo paste on processors and replaced the bottom case of the notebook.

So thank you for the great assistance once again Paul!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, and that is great news your notebook is working much better.

Hopefully, the Crucial memory will work better.

Those would be the right memory bars to use.

Please post back and let us know if the Crucial memory fixed the other glitches you were having.