envy dv6 msata

[Denvy81]

Hi,

I am looking to add an msata drive to my HP Envy DV6 - 7250ca and was wondering...

1) Is this possible?

2) Does it support any size msata drive or are there only certain drives that may work with it?

I know in the manual it mentions a 32 gb msata drive used for cache but i would like to use either a 128gb or 256 gb msata drive as the OS not the cache. I was also looking to load Windows 7 instead of Windows 8 on it. Has anyone run into any issues with that?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Yes lots of issues. First it is very hard to get to the mSATA slot. Here is the Service Manual:

Manual

See Page 75-76 and everything you have to do before that to get to the slot. 

Secondly, the mSATA drive can only be used as OS if you ditch the main drive. If a main SATA drive is present the system will not boot from the mSATA drive. You can do a workaround involving a software bootloader on the main drive but it is too complex to be practical. 

In your case the best thing to do is to install a regular SATA SSD drive. They are cheaper than mSATA drives. I saw yesterday that a 512 gig top of the line SSD was going for $269 on newegg. We can certainly help you put Windows 7 on it no problem. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[Denvy81]

Thanks for the reply, I have been going back and forth on whether to try the msata or just upgrade to an SSD since i am currently using the 750GB hd that came with the laptop. I definitely think i will be going with an SSD over the msata now, not worth the trouble for the msata. Not sure if i need an 500 GB SSD, may end up going with a 250 GB SSD and then getting a 1TB USB 3 drive for any media I may want to watch or listen to on the laptop. In terms of installing Windows 7, is there a list of drivers I can download to ensure the laptop runs without any issues?

[juandemarko]

+++Lo malo de dejar el mSata como primario? es que el booteo del sistema operativo no queda activo, y en la BIOS no he encontrado la configuración. Así que cada vez que enciendo ese notebook, tengo que tenerle un disco de Windows 8 para que me haga el booteo del sistema y logre entrar a Windows, sin el disco, me da error de disco, que no lo encuentra+++

Finalmente, le puse un Caddy en donde va la unidad óptica y puse el disco duro original de 750GB. Por otro lado, puse como disco principal un SSD, pero el día de hoy tuvo muerte súbita, ya que puse el equipo en suspensión y ya no despertó más.

Por lo mismo, quería saber si al final lograste que partiera con el mSata para poder usar ese puerto ???..
Si es que lograste hacerlo partir, por dónde abriste el equipo (por el teclado, por abajo, o ambas partes?).
Agradeceré tu pronta respuesta porque me quedé sin equipo por el momento.
Saludos y gracias !