HDD broken - Replacing with SSD

FionnK86

I bought a HP Notebook - 15-db0521sa in Dec 18 for €360, but 1TB HDD is giving error message on boot, and says it'll fail soon.

My work PC has a SSD & I love how quick it is to boot up and open folders. I mainly use laptop for internet browsing and a small bit of gaming (Civ 3) but nothing major.

My questions are:

1. How long do HDD's last after error message received?
2. What's a cheap SDD I can buy?
3. I don't need 1TB of space, could I reduce to 500gb SSD
4. I presume it's a simple plug and play replacement? Its a SATA connector.
5. Windows 10 was installed on computer at delivery, will I need to buy again?
6. If I buy external drive, could I bring W10 from old HDD to new SSD before it crashes?

nobody can know when your hdd might fail

to replace the ssd it's a 2.5 inch sata ssd you need. pick your size

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASENNO-SATAIII-Internal-Notebook-Tablet/dp/B07VCCZZL7/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=500gb+ssd&qid=1592400930&sr=8-7


but you also have an m.2 slot there so can put in an m.2 ssd 2280 (sata)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-MX500-CT500MX500SSD4-2280SS-Internal/dp/B077SQ8J1V/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=2280+ssd+sata&qid=1592401341&sr=8-1

if you use the m.2 you can leave in the old hdd inside but install windows on the new ssd and set that to the boot drive in the bios

note your windows 10 key (google how to find). you will not need to buy again but could be asked for this.

download windows 10 and make a bootable usb key (google)

allow boot from usb in bios and with new ssd in install windows from usb key

don't bother transferring just save your key files

get an external hard drive sata enclosure if you want to use old drive as a hdd external
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabrent-Custodia-Ottimizzato-Supporto-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=22QVCXM74H1P6&dchild=1&keywords=usb+sata+enclosure&qid=1592401123&sprefix=usb+sata+en%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-3

ED E

Win10 fingerprints the hardware, and its an OEM key. It should reactivate by itself after 2-3 hrs being online.

Glasso said it but just to emphasise if you have an M.2 SATA drive you can't use the more popular (newer) M.2 NVME drives. Make sure you purchase a SATA option.


IMO don't use the PC until you do the transfer. Risking losing it all. Make sure you have a 16GB USB key free too so you can install Windows from it.

FionnK86

glasso wrote: »

nobody can know when your hdd might fail

to replace the ssd it's a 2.5 inch sata ssd you need. pick your size

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASENNO-SATAIII-Internal-Notebook-Tablet/dp/B07VCCZZL7/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=500gb+ssd&qid=1592400930&sr=8-7


but you also have an m.2 slot there so can put in an m.2 ssd 2280 (sata)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-MX500-CT500MX500SSD4-2280SS-Internal/dp/B077SQ8J1V/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=2280+ssd+sata&qid=1592401341&sr=8-1

if you use the m.2 you can leave in the old hdd inside but install windows on the new ssd and set that to the boot drive in the bios

note your windows 10 key (google how to find). you will not need to buy again but could be asked for this.

download windows 10 and make a bootable usb key (google)

allow boot from usb in bios and with new ssd in install windows from usb key

don't bother transferring just save your key files

get an external hard drive sata enclosure if you want to use old drive as a hdd external
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabrent-Custodia-Ottimizzato-Supporto-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=22QVCXM74H1P6&dchild=1&keywords=usb+sata+enclosure&qid=1592401123&sprefix=usb+sata+en%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-3

Hi Glasso,

Thanks for the quick reply, I've decided to buy m.2 ssd 2280 (sata) using link provided. I'd a look inside laptop (images below) & can't see the slot.

I've looked at few YouTube videos to find it but no look. Can you see it?

GarIT

I can't see a slot for it, most non high end laptops from the last 2-3 years won't have it.

You've also taken your CPU cooler off. Make sure you take the laptop into a repair shop before turning it on again or you'll risk frying the whole thing.

You can either buy isopropyl alcohol and thermal paste to risk cleaning the CPU and reapplying the paste yourself if you know how or get someone else to do it.

Also looks like your battery is still connected which can be a big risk while it's open.

FionnK86

GarIT wrote: »

I can't see a slot for it, most non high end laptops from the last 2-3 years won't have it.

You've also taken your CPU cooler off. Make sure you take the laptop into a repair shop before turning it on again or you'll risk frying the whole thing.

You can either buy isopropyl alcohol and thermal paste to risk cleaning the CPU and reapplying the paste yourself if you know how or get someone else to do it.

Also looks like your battery is still connected which can be a big risk while it's open.

Brilliant, as soon as I opened the protective guard over it I knew I was after doing something wrong. I'll buy some paste & alcohol. Maybe drink some of that alcohol too.

I should buy 2.5" SATA instead so?

GarIT

FionnK86 wrote: »

Brilliant, as soon as I opened the protective guard over it I knew I was after doing something wrong. I'll buy some paste & alcohol. Maybe drink some of that alcohol too.

I should buy 2.5" SATA instead so?

You might be able to do it without the alcohol. Check YouTube or somewhere I think I did it with tissues from mcdonalds once but isopropyl alcohol would be the proper way to do it.

You could be the cooler back on but it's likely to be constantly overheating

There could be a slot on the other side or somewhere, maybe Glasso checked your specs and it's supposed to be there, if you don't know what you're doing I wouldn't risk it

FionnK86

GarIT wrote: »

You might be able to do it without the alcohol. Check YouTube or somewhere I think I did it with tissues from mcdonalds once but isopropyl alcohol would be the proper way to do it.

You could be the cooler back on but it's likely to be constantly overheating

There could be a slot on the other side or somewhere, maybe Glasso checked your specs and it's supposed to be there, if you don't know what you're doing I wouldn't risk it

Any good value chips I could replace it with since I'm in there?

GarIT

FionnK86 wrote: »

Any good value chips I could replace it with since I'm in there?

Can't be easily done on a laptop

crucial lists it as having an m.2 slot

https://eu.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/hp-15-db0521sa#ssd

certainly not just high-end laptops that have m.2 slots

pretty much any 15.6 laptop including budget-level entry ones like this from the last few years have a 2.5 inch space and m.2

you'd be looking for something like this

m.2 ssd 2280 listed in the maintenance and service guide also (pdf page 26/105, numbered page 16)

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-db0000-laptop-pc/20395843/model/22757790/manuals

ED E

Per the manual its under the 2.5" drive, remove that.


The manual also has NVME and SATA PNs so be careful that its actually M.2 SATA that you have.