SSD upgrade issue

[SHINRA-CORP]

I'm having issued with upgrading my SSD.


The first issue is one of the SSD slots on my laptop is now inaccessible due to the screws being so tight I've threaded the screws making it impossible to access.


But the real issue is I was able to access the SSD slot that already has an SSD in it (the one that came with the laptop) it comes in some sort of metal enclosure. Once I got the metal enclosure unscrewed I found the SSD appears to be stuck to the metal enclosure. I gave a light tug but it didnt come off so I'm assuming its a permanent fixture. Is this normal? I didnt want to pull too hard incase of doing permanent damage.


I fear I have wasted money on a 2tb SSD that can I cant seem to use. I hope Amazon will refund me

[DarkCrystalMethod]

Have you tried using a different sized screwdriver? Or pliers to grab the edges of the screw and turn it?
My motherboard SSD screw and standoff were basically fused together but I was able to remove it and then separate them with vice-grips and needle-nose pliers. If you can't remove it from the board then perhaps your ONLY option is to take it to a professional service(like GeekSquad) and ONLY have them break the screw loose(without breaking anything).

[crunchyfrog]

First off, get some WD40 or somthing to help with loosesning those screws and follow the instructions on how to use it.

Next the enclosure. It's not uncommon for it to be spot welded or glued down. You should perhaps google something like iFixit to see if they have anything on this model.

If it is glue you can carefully heat it to loosen the glue but don't attack it blindly as you can end up ruining components around it.

Also, assuming you haven't done anything to that new hard drive, you should always be able to return it assuming you are within the refund rules.

You might want to consider an external drive if you have USB 3.0 or above.

[nullable]

I might google your specific laptop model, someone else has upgraded their SSDs so there may be a video walk-through about the model/brand specific challenges.

[SHINRA-CORP]

I had another look it seems theres some kind of pad between the SSD and the metal cover. I assume thats what is sticking it in place. HP are dumb af to secure an SSD in place with some kind of adhesive

[SHINRA-CORP]

Only thing I can think of is see if HP will give me another enclosure or just retirn my new SSD

[nullable]

Originally posted by SHINRA-CORP:

I had another look it seems theres some kind of pad between the SSD and the metal cover. I assume thats what is sticking it in place. HP are dumb af to secure an SSD in place with some kind of adhesive

Sounds like a thermal pad for a heatsink. No reason why HP should avoid heatsinks specifically. It's been a nvme SSD option for ages.

Is the heatsink really required to put a new SSD in, or are having tunnel vision because the original drive has a heatsink?

[SHINRA-CORP]

Originally posted by nullable:

Originally posted by SHINRA-CORP:

I had another look it seems theres some kind of pad between the SSD and the metal cover. I assume thats what is sticking it in place. HP are dumb af to secure an SSD in place with some kind of adhesive

Sounds like a thermal pad for a heatsink. No reason why HP should avoid heatsinks specifically. It's been a nvme SSD option for ages.

Is the heatsink really required to put a new SSD in, or are having tunnel vision because the original drive has a heatsink?

I dont disagree with them using a heatsink in the first place but I do think its counter productive to make it sticky preventing someone from upgrading it.

I assume a heatsink of some kind is needed to dissipate the heat somehow so putting in a high performance SSD without a heatsink might cause issues down the road. I bought a Crucial 2tb T500 I think all high performing gen 4 SSD's generate heat.

[RPG Gamer Man]

Well laptops can get hot on certain components. If i were you, i suggest you put thermal paste on it when you install the new one.

[nullable]

Originally posted by SHINRA-CORP:

Originally posted by nullable:

Sounds like a thermal pad for a heatsink. No reason why HP should avoid heatsinks specifically. It's been a nvme SSD option for ages.

Is the heatsink really required to put a new SSD in, or are having tunnel vision because the original drive has a heatsink?

I dont disagree with them using a heatsink in the first place but I do think its counter productive to make it sticky preventing someone from upgrading it.

I assume a heatsink of some kind is needed to dissipate the heat somehow so putting in a high performance SSD without a heatsink might cause issues down the road. I bought a Crucial 2tb T500 I think all high performing gen 4 SSD's generate heat.

Thermal pads and thermal paste can be sticky. After all you often want there to be a strong contact between mediums to ensure good contact. I would expect you could work the SSD free. Something being a smidge of a challenge isn't necessarily a serious problem.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by SHINRA-CORP:

I had another look it seems theres some kind of pad between the SSD and the metal cover. I assume thats what is sticking it in place. HP are dumb af to secure an SSD in place with some kind of adhesive

No, that's assumption.

When you have things like that it can be a number of reasons. It could indeed be some sort of mild adhesive, but I'd think more it's a heatsink pad.

Remember, SSDs are COMPONENTS, not physically mechanical. As such they get hot just like CPUs and such get hot. They need to transfer that heat and nothing is better than a large mass like the case being right there.

So it might be that or indeed both.

Though they would be better served Googling this and trying to find out what it is because you need to be really careful.

As I said if it is an adhesive of some sort, you want to be careful with the heat as you can damage components either around the PC or in the SSD. You can also break ♥♥♥♥ if you don't use enough heat and put too much force through it.

If it is purely a heatsink, then it might be something that can be softened with high percentage isoprop alcohol. But you don't want to go using either of these blindly.

They need to work out what it is before they address it.