HP Pavilion SSD Upgrade: Step-by-Step Guide

Can You Upgrade SSD on HP Pavilion?

Yes, you absolutely can perform HP Pavilion SSD upgrade. Most HP Pavilion laptops are designed with upgradeability in mind. Whether you want to replace an old HDD or upgrade an existing SSD with a larger or faster one, it's entirely possible. But there are a few caveats:

• Whether your HP Pavilion laptop supports SATA or NVMe SSD depends on the specific model. For example, for HP Pavilion 15 SSD compatibility, it supports SATA + NVMe; while HP Pavilion Gaming only supports NVMe.
• Many models include an extra slot for a second drive.
• Cloning your current drive ensures you don't lose data or reinstall Windows.

What to Do Before HP Pavilion SSD Replacement?

Before diving into the process of HP Pavilion hard drive upgrade, some essential preparation is necessary. These will help you ensure a smooth upgrade and minimize any risk of data loss or hardware compatibility issues.

🔰Check Your HP Pavilion SSD Compatibility - You can't put just any SSD into your laptop and expect it to work. Confirm whether your Pavilion uses SATA or NVMe referring to HP's official specs or your user manual.
🔰Backup Your Data - Always backup essential files in case something goes wrong. It is advised to backup data to an external drive or cloud storage.
🔰Get a SATA to USB or NVMe to USB adapter - This lets you connect your new SSD externally before installation.
🔰Reliable Cloning Software - It is of vital importance to move all data, including OS, from the old drive to new SSD with disk cloning software, such as AOMEI Cloner. This software ensures you can seamlessly boot from the cloned SSD after cloning.

How to Perform HP Pavilion SSD Upgrade without Losing Data

Upgrading your SSD on HP Pavilion without reinstalling Windows or reconfiguring apps is possible through disk cloning. This involves transferring everything, including OS, programs, and files, from your existing drive to the new SSD. Now, let’s get started with how to let HP Pavilion upgrade SSD without data loss.

Stage 1. Transfer OS and Everything to New SSD

Cloning software can help you transfer all your files, applications, and operating system from one drive to another. AOMEI Cloner is one of the most user-friendly, reliable solutions that offers various cloning features to facilitate data transfer to a new SSD.

✔ System Clone to copy only Windows OS to another drive with one click.
✔ Disk Clone for copying the whole old drive to new drive, ensuring you can boot and use the new SSD seamlessly.
✔ Intelligent Clone to copy only used space for cloning from larger to smaller drive.
✔ Automatic SSD alignment to boost performance and longevity.

Here's how to clone your old drive to do an HP Pavilion laptop SSD upgrade using AOMEI Cloner:

Step 1. Use a SATA-to-USB adapter or M.2 enclosure to connect your new SSD externally.

Step 2. Open the AOMEI Cloner software and click on Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 3. Choose your current disk as the source drive.

Step 4. Choose the new SSD as the target drive.

Step 5. Tick the SSD Alignment box to improve performance, and click Start Clone for SSD upgrade on HP Pavilion. The cloning process may take a while, depending on the size of your data.

▶ Sector by sector clone is used to clone all sectors from old drive to new SSD, whether it is used or not. This requires the target drive to be equal to or larger than the source drive.

▶ Edit partitions offers 4 options to make full use of the space on the new SSD: (Edit Partitions cannot work with Sector by sector clone)

• Convert the destination disk: Convert the partition style of the target disk to make it the same as the source, either from GPT to MBR or from MBR to GPT.
• Copy without resizing partitions: It will not resize the partition size.
• Add unused space to all partitions: Reallocate the unallocated space to partitions of the target disk.
• Manually adjust partition size: Extend unallocated space to any partition on the destination disk as you want.

Stage 2. Replace Old Drive with New SSD

After the cloning process is completed, it's time to physically swap out the old drive for HP Pavilion hard drive replacement.

Step 1. Shut down your HP Pavilion and disconnect all power sources.

Step 2. Flip the laptop and locate the access panel. Some models may require removing the entire bottom cover.

Step 3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the cover and locate the old HDD or SSD. Please remember how it is connected and oriented.

Step 4. Unscrew the drive bracket and carefully unplug the drive. Secure the new SSD in the bracket and connect it in the same slot.

Step 5. Secure it with screws and reattach the back panel.

Stage 3. Boot Computer from the New SSD

With your new SSD installed, all that's left is to boot the system and verify everything is working correctly.

Step 1. Immediately after turning the laptop on, press Esc or F10 repeatedly to enter the boot menu.

Step 2. Navigate to the Boot tab and make sure your new SSD is first in priority.

Step 3. Save your settings and reboot. Your system should now boot from the new SSD.

FAQs about HP Pavilion SSD Upgrade

How do I check which SSD is compatible with my HP laptop?

To determine SSD compatibility:

• Use HP's official support site and input your model number.
• Open your laptop (if comfortable) and check for M.2 or 2.5-inch drive slots.

How many SSD slots does HP Pavilion gaming have?

Most HP Pavilion gaming laptops have at least one M.2 NVMe slot and a 2.5" SATA slot, allowing for dual storage (SSD + HDD). However, this may vary by model.

Can I change SSD in laptop without reinstalling Windows?

Yes! By using specialized cloning software like AOMEI Cloner, you can perform an HP Pavilion hard drive replacement without reinstalling anything.

Can I add SSD to my HP laptop without removing HDD?

If your model has two drive bays, then yes. Many HP Pavilion laptops allow you to keep the original HDD and add an SSD for faster performance.

Conclusion

HP Pavilion SSD upgrade is a simple but powerful way to improve HP Pavilion laptop performance for faster boot times and smoother multitasking. With the AOMEI Cloner cloning software, you can migrate all data from old drive to new SSD without reinstalling Windows or losing data and ensure the bootability of the new SSD.

Besides, you can use this tool to clone Dell hard drive or other laptop's/desktop's disk for upgrade with ease. Just download and try it!