Solved: Installing SSD with HDD in 15-bs158sa (cont) - HP Support Community

Iain_B · ‎05-04-2018

Hi,
I read through the other very similar posts, and my problem is the same initial one - I have installed the SSD into the M2 slot, and there is a very brief flash (sometimes) when I try and switch on. No boot. I noted that it should be a SATA M2 - that is what I think that I have.

It is described as: Samsung 860 EVO SATA M.2 (250 Gb) on the box.
The chip itself seems to confirm that, specifically saying SATA M.2.

I tried installing it twice, both with the same above results.

What am I doing wrong?
Thanks.

Iain_B · ‎09-08-2018

An interesting continuation ...

I decided I would get a larger internal SSD (500 Gb) and put the 1Tb into an external USB case. I thought that I would give the M.2 one final go before buying the SSD drive. I did - and it worked. I did not do anything different, it just worked!!

Because I had 1Tb and was not very careful, I was already over the 256Gb for cloning over to the SSD. I created a new partition on the HDD, and copied some folders onto it, deleting them from the main drive / partition. That reduced the capacity for cloning. However, I then had to 'shrink' the existing drive to under 256Gb. But the swap file had put itself at the end of the drive. I had to download a tool (Minitool Partition Wizard Free) in order to reduce the size of the working partition.

That done, I used the same program to migrate the OS to the SSD. I then had to make the SSD boot first, through the BIOS. That was not so straight forward becaues the SSD was not visible. Having researched it, I discovered that I had to remove the HDD in order to make the SSD bootable. That worked, making the SSD as C: drive. Putting the HDD back still allowed the SSD to remain bootable. I erased and removed the partition that I had cloned, and with the Minitool expanded the partition that I had copied the extra files to, back to the 1Tb.

I had to juggle the newly created Recovery partition on the SSD to the end of the SSD, in order to get the maximum capacity for the SSD boot partition. Having done all of this, I have now achieved in having the SSD workable, obtaining the maximum capacities from both the (nominal) 256Gb SSD and 1Tb HDD.

An interesting day with a bit of experimentation about the 'shrinking' of the original drive to make it clonable, and finding out how to make the SSD bootable when it was not even visible in the BIOS. But the boot time is now seconds, with virtually no loading time for programs generally; and battery life should be improved because most of the work will be from the SSD. Although I run it most of the time without the battery in, in order to preserve its life.

View solution in original post

Huffer · ‎05-04-2018

The specs seem to say that the laptop wants a TLC SATA-3 M.2 and the 860 Evo is an MLC. That sounds like a minor thing but we are seeing all kinds of issues with M.2 compatibility.

The compatible modules specifically listed in the Service Manual are:

Solid-state drive, M.2 Value SSD: ● 256 GB 865902-017 ● 128 GB 827560-048 TLC SSD: ● 512 GB 763008-017 ● 256 GB 760615-043 ● 128 GB 759848-024

Looking up the specs of these it appears they are all TLC disks. So see if you can return the Evo 860 and get a specific TLC SATA-3 M.2 such as the WD Blue M.2

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

Iain_B · ‎05-04-2018

Thanks for your speedy response. Are all of the WD Blue M.2 range TLC? For instance, is:

'WD Blue 3D NAND SATA 250 GB Internal SSD - M.2 2280 - WDS250G2B0B'

... TLC and therefore compatible?
It mentions nothing about TLC or MLC in the blurb.
Thanks.

Huffer · ‎05-04-2018

See this:

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3230382/storage/wd-blue-3d-ssd-review.html

Iain_B · ‎05-05-2018

I have just had delivered a:

'250GB WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA M.2 2280' (as on the PCB itself)

I can see no mention of TLC or MLC.

I am getting exactly the same result - an occasional quick flash of the two lights - nothing else. I even put all of the screws back in before trying it a second time, in case there was an earthing or screening issue. But still no luck. (I'm getting a bit worried about opening and closing the casing so much now.)

What am I to do?
Also my question again is 'Are all of the WD Blue M.2 range TLC?' I'm not particularly technically minded, but the article seems to say that they are.

Huffer · ‎05-05-2018

They are TLC...less expensive M.2 disks tend to be TLC. If you have not already, take the hard drive out and have just the M.2 disk in the laptop. Turn off secure boot in the BIOS and enable legacy boot. Do you now see the SSD in the boot order? If not I am afraid you have a hardware issue with the M.2 port.

Iain_B · ‎05-05-2018

Thanks for your reply.
I'm just going out now, but will try that this evening and pass back my results.

Iain_B · ‎05-05-2018

@Hufferwrote:
They are TLC...less expensive M.2 disks tend to be TLC. If you have not already, take the hard drive out and have just the M.2 disk in the laptop. Turn off secure boot in the BIOS and enable legacy boot. Do you now see the SSD in the boot order? If not I am afraid you have a hardware issue with the M.2 port.

Here are the results:

I had to make the BIOS changes without making any hardware changes because it was not booting with the SSD in place;
I made the BIOS changes, saved them and then 'pulled the plug' without letting it reboot;
I took out the HDD and put in the SSD into the M2 socket;
I tried rebooting, but to no avail (still the occasional single flash). So I was not able to even get into the BIOS to see if the SSD is in the boot order.

So if you're happy that the SSD that I have should work, then it does appear to be a motherboard / port issue.

At one stage, the bootup offered a memory check. Is there any advantage to be gained by letting it do the memory check?

Otherwise it looks as though I shall have to get back to the supplier for a resolution.

Iain_B · ‎05-05-2018

Here are the results:

I had to make the BIOS changes without making any hardware changes because it was not booting with the SSD in place;
I made the BIOS changes, saved them and then 'pulled the plug' without letting it reboot;
I took out the HDD and put in the SSD into the M2 socket;
I tried rebooting, but to no avail (still the occasional single flash). So I was not able to even get into the BIOS to see if the SSD is in the boot order.

So if you're happy that the SSD that I have should work, then it does appear to be a motherboard / port issue.

At one stage, the bootup offered a memory check. Is there any advantage to be gained by letting it do the memory check?

Otherwise it looks as though I shall have to get back to the supplier for a resolution.

mmvv80 · ‎06-28-2018

@Iain_B wrote:
Here are the results:
I had to make the BIOS changes without making any hardware changes because it was not booting with the SSD in place;
I made the BIOS changes, saved them and then 'pulled the plug' without letting it reboot;
I took out the HDD and put in the SSD into the M2 socket;
I tried rebooting, but to no avail (still the occasional single flash). So I was not able to even get into the BIOS to see if the SSD is in the boot order.
So if you're happy that the SSD that I have should work, then it does appear to be a motherboard / port issue.

At one stage, the bootup offered a memory check. Is there any advantage to be gained by letting it do the memory check?

Otherwise it looks as though I shall have to get back to the supplier for a resolution.

Hi

pls update us if u have news

also, some may contradict, but is usualy best to do a bios/uefi/firmware update specialy in siuations like yours. here is your latest bios https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp88501-89000/sp88564.exe it's a esy install

Installing SSD with HDD in 15-bs158sa (cont)

Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question