Is there an M.2 SSD port on my laptop?

[paulxmr7]

Hello, I'm Paulo. 

I wanted to know if there is a possibility of installing a SATA or even NVMe M.2 SSD even though it came from the factory with a 2TB HDD at 5400 rpm.

These are the specifications of my laptop, an HP Laptop Model 15-db0107ns, since it doesn't mention anything: 

Operating system

Device comes with Windows 10 and a free Windows 11 upgrade or may be preloaded with Windows 11. Upgrade timing may vary by device. Features and app availability may vary by region. Certain features require specific hardware (see Windows 11 Specifications).

Operating system

Windows 10 Home [38]

Processor family

AMD Dual-Core A-Series processor

Processor

AMD A9-9425 (3.1 GHz base clock, up to 3.7 GHz max boost clock, 1 MB L2 cache, 2 cores)

Chipset

AMD Integrated SoC

Memory

12 GB DDR4-1866 MHz RAM (1 x 4 GB, 1 x 8 GB) Transfer rates up to 1866 MT/s. 1 x 4 GB, 1 x 8 GB

Hard drive

2 TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD

Optical drive

Optical drive not included

Cloud service

25 GB Dropbox storage for 12 months [1]

Graphics (integrated)

AMD Radeon™ R5 Graphics

Ports

2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only); 1 USB 2.0; 1 HDMI 1.4b; 1 RJ-45; 1 headphone/microphone combo

Expansion slots

1 multi-format SD media card reader

Camera

HP True Vision 720p HD camera with integrated digital microphone

Audio

Dual speakers

Keyboard

Full-size, ash silver keyboard with numeric keypad

Pointing device

Touchpad with multi-touch gesture support

Wireless

Realtek RTL8723DE 802.11b/g/n (1x1) Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 4.2 combo MU-MIMO supported; Miracast compatible

Network interface

Integrated 10/100/1000 GbE LAN

Power supply type

45 W Smart AC power adapter

Battery type

3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion

Energy efficiency

EPEAT® registered

Color

Natural silver

Product design

Vertical brushing pattern

Security management

Kensington MicroSaver® security lock support

Software included

McAfee LiveSafe™ [2] 1 month trial for new Microsoft 365 customers

Product color

Natural silver cover and base, ash silver keyboard frame

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi,  Paulo:

Your notebook does not have a M.2 SSD slot.

However, you can replace the 2 TB 2.5" mechanical hard drive with a 2.5" SATA SSD.

Here is an eBay listing of your notebook's motherboard and as you can see, there is only a M.2 slot for the Realtek Wi-Fi card:

HP 15-DB Notebook AMD A9-9425 3.10 GHz DDR4 Motherboard L20477-601 | eBay

The SSD slot would have been located in the upper left corner of the photograph if the notebook had come with a M.2 SATA SSD.

Only the 15-db0xxx notebooks that came with AMD Ryzen processors have M.2 slots that support NVMe SSDs.

If you would like to upgrade the single band Realtek Wi-Fi card to a dual band one, you can install this model/part #:

Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11ac 1 × 1 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported)  HP part # L17365-005

Below is the link to the service manual:

Maintenance and Service Guide HP 15 Laptop PC

[paulxmr7]

Hi Paul! 

I have the 15 db-0107ns with Windows 11 Home installed even though it is not technically supported which results in horrible performance. 

For this reason, I wanted to do a clean installation of Windows 10 and at the same time change the slow HDD I have for a 2.5" SATA III SSD like the Crucial BX500, which delivers good speeds. 

Considering all this, I would appreciate it if you could help me gather everything I need to make the replacement without losing the files on my laptop. 

Greetings and thank you very much! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Paolo.

There's a couple of things to know:

In order to reinstall W10, you would have to back up any personal files you want to save onto a portable hard drive.

You can't save what is on the drive now.

I recommend that you do this:

Clone the existing W11 setup with all of your programs and files to the new SSD.

Buy the 2 TB BX500 model.

Crucial BX500 SATA SSD 2TB, SSD Interna 2.5", Hasta 540MB/s, Compatible con Ordenador Portátil y de ...

Buy a SATA to USB cable.

StarTech.com Cable SATA a USB - Adaptador de Disco Rígido USB 3.0 a SATA III de 2,5" - Conversor Ext...

Buy an 8 GB DDR4-2400 CL17 memory chip and remove the 4 GB chip, replace it with the 8 GB chip and have 16 GB of memory running in dual channel mode.  With 4+8 GB of memory, it is running in the lower performing single channel mode.

Crucial RAM DDR4 8GB 2400MHz SODIMM CL17, Memoria para Ordenador Portátil/Laptop, Mini PC, Memoria d...

Download and install the free cloning software that you can use for Crucial drives.

Acronis True Image for Crucial

You plug the new SSD in one end of the cable and the other end into your PC's USB port.

After you clone the drive, install the SSD and 8 GB memory chip, see how W11 runs with those upgrades.

If it still does not work well, then you will have to clean install W10.

[paulxmr7]

Good afternoon again Paul!

I was planning to do exactly the same thing you mentioned but directly doing a clean install of W10 since technically it doesn't support my laptop, as it doesn't meet the requirements like TPM 2.0, This way I avoid conflicts between files. 

In my opinion, that would be the best option. Could you recommend any kits for the upgrade? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Good afternoon, Paolo:

Your notebook should have a TPM 2.0 security device.

It would be listed in the device manager under the Security devices category.

I have a 255 G7 with an even weaker A4-9125 processor, 8 GB of memory and a 256 GB M.2 SATA SSD and it is running W11.

It is basically the same model as yours but is the HP business class equivalent and it originally came with W10 Pro.

Maybe mine has the TPM 2.0 chip because it is a business notebook?

My notebook was never a good performing notebook even with W10 and the M.2 SATA SSD it came with.

The notebook only has one memory slot and yours has two.

They say you can install a 16 GB memory chip in one slot but chose not to do that and don't use the notebook anymore anyway.

The 7th gen AMD processors are what don't meet the W11 hardware requirements, and you can't upgrade the processor without replacing the motherboard.

If you don't want to keep W11 on your notebook, then you will have to back up your files onto a portable hard drive and use the Microsoft media creation tool from the link below to make a W10 USB installation flash drive.

Download Windows 10

After W10 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from the support page.

HP Notebook - 15-db0107ns Descargas de software y controladores | Soporte HP®

The one drawback of installing W10 is that Microsoft will no longer support it with cumulative and security updates after October of this year.

You may want to consider buying a new notebook that has full support for W11, and a NVMe SSD.

I'm pretty sure that almost any notebook you buy nowadays will have a NVMe SSD.

[paulxmr7]

Good afternoon too, Paul! 

The purpose of this solution is to seek a temporary extension of the life of my laptop due to financial problems and the inability to buy a new one. 

I think going back to W10, changing the 4GB-1866mhz chip for one that works in dual channel like the one you sent me of 8GB-2400mhz, changing the HDD-5400rpm that it has for a 2.5" SATA III SSD and a little maintenance will extend its life for pure offimatic a few more years. 

I would have to look for a USB-A 3.1 to SATA cable, which I think I found, and a kit focused on electronic repairs like these (containing Phillips #0 and #1 for example). 

That's the thing, for like 100 bucks I can extend my old laptop's life hehehe.

I appreciate all your help and it would help me even more if you could guide me through this process!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Paolo:

You won't need the USB cable (which I posted the link to above with the other things I posted) since you can't clone the drive if you want to install W10.

StarTech.com SATA to USB Cable - USB 3.0 to SATA III 2.5" Hard Drive Adapter - External Converter fo...

Do you need a 2 TB drive?  If not, you can buy a 1 TB drive instead which will cost less.

Crucial BX500 SATA SSD 1TB, Internal SSD 2.5", Up to 540MB/s, Laptop and Desktop (PC) Compatible, 3D...

[paulxmr7]

Hi Paul! 

My intention is to cop the 1TB Crucial BX500 2.5" SATA SSD and copy my personal files from the actual to the new one manually through the USB 3.1 to SATA cable, without any windows' related file. 

After I've backed up all my files to the new drive and performed the rest of the upgrades and maintenance , I'd start a W10 clean install on it. I imagine there won't be any problems.

This is how I pretend to keep all my staff and 'downgrade' to W10 extending life as much as possible. 

I would need you to recommend a kit for electronic repairs of this type, such as laptops, wireless controllers, consoles, etc. Most include Phillips #0 and #1 magnetic screwdrivers, I don't know if that will be of any use to you.

I really appreciate everything you're doing for me! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Chapter 4 of the service manual lists the tools required for disassembly.

I also recommend a notebook pry tool kit so you can separate the case without damaging the plastic.

EuAcesry Kit de reparación de smartphones profesionales, juego de destornilladores y reparación de h...

You may find this service video of help to you:

As I had written earlier, the 255 G7 is the HP 255 G7 is the equivalent business model to yours.

Removing & replacing parts for HP 255 G7 Notebook PC | HP Computer Service