Replacing HDD with SSD on HP Probook 4720s

[hpesch]

I decided to replace my harddrive with an SSD of the same size. Now I would like to know I can do it myself and what size the current HDD is, 2.5 or 3.5? Do I need additional parts? The SSD will be Samsung 843T.

Thanks for your input.

Heinrich Pesch

Finland

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Your 4720s uses a standard 2.5" notebook hard drive.

You will need to transfer the caddy and screws from the old hard drive to the SSD.

No other parts should be needed.

Below is the link to the service manual.  Please see chapter 4 for the hard drive R & R procedures.

http://h20628.www2.hp.com/km-ext/kmcsdirect/emr_na-c02439213-2.pdf

[hpesch]

Thanks you very much, Paul!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Heinrich.

[hpesch]

I did everything I could, cloned the system to the ssd (the ssd is bigger than the hdd) and swapped the ssd in place of the hdd. But on Startup Windows 7 will not start due to change of hardware. I could find nothing on this subject. Now I swapped back the hdd, and it runs ok. But I want to have the ssd as boot drive. Any suggestions?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Do you have a plain W7 installation disk you can install the operating system with, and use the Windows 7 license key on the bottom of your notebook to activate the installation?

If you don't, what version of W7 is the license on the bottom of your PC good for (Home Premium, Pro)?

What language of the operating system do you use?

[hpesch]

Win7 pro English. Do I need to edit the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci to "0"? will that be enough? Where in the Bios do I need to make changes? 

I have no installation disc and would rather not install Windows anew, but just clone the system to ssd.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you go into the BIOS and set the defaults, save and exit, your notebook's drive controller will be set to AHCI as that is the default BIOS setting.

There is no need to make any registry entries unless your BIOS currently has the SATA Native Mode set to Disabled.

If it is, make the registry entry, reboot and change the Sata Native Mode BIOS setting from Disabled to Enabled.

The setting may also be clearly listed as AHCI or IDE as well.

I don't know what the BIOS menu is for your notebook.

You can make your own plain W7 Pro English installation media and use the product key on the bottom of your PC to install windows.

Here is how to do that.

Link to the W7 ISO file downloads is below. Download the applicable version of Windows 7 that is on your product key (Home Premium, Pro, or Ultimate).  The SP1 Media Refresh files are the latest ISO files.

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/14709-Windows-7-Digital-River-direct-links-Multiple-Languag...

Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD installation tool to compile the ISO file you download from Digital River. Link  below. You need a DVD or a 4 GB flash drive to use the USB method of compilation.

Use the 25 character windows 7 product key to activate your installation.

http://download.cnet.com/Windows-7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool/3000-18513_4-10972600.html

Then go to the PC's support and driver page to install the drivers you need.

[hpesch]

It worked! First I got the same screen as at my first attempt. But when I booted from DVD and chose the option "repair computer" the new SSD was recognised and now I have a very fast machine. Thank you Paul!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad you got W7 installed on your new SSD.

Enjoy!