Did you know pretty much any laptop can fit a second HDD.....

Meaker

Meaker

Meaker

Soldato
Joined
19 May 2004
Posts
4,009
If you sacrifice the optical drive.

There are caddies out there 12.7mm high for most laptops 9.5mm for the rest that go in where your optical drive are.

They fit ide to ide, sata to ide (great way to get a modern drive into an old system) and sata to sata.

I don't use the DVD-RW much so i've ordered an external enclosure from OCUK for £9 and a caddy to put my second HDD.

Now I'll have a primary SSD and a secondary mech HDD to give me the optimal speed + space setup.
 
If its a standard slot loading drive its just as removable as a tray drive.

Let me put it like this. If you can order a replacement optical drive for your laptop from a place like OCUK then you are good to go using the above method.
 
neoboy said:
Take it slot loading drives are no go here?
Click to expand...

Depends on the laptop, as above most slot loading drives are just the same to remove although some laptops like dells require a complete strip down of the machine to access the optical drive, what is the make/model?
 
This is interesting. I am thinking of doing it to my XPS M1330 but I know that will mean a lot of dismantling..

Time to check out the tube to see if there are any vids available :)
 
M1330 will require an almost complete strip down, its not too hard to do, all screws out of the bottom including the ones under the battery, flip it over and open the lid, then clip off the keyboard bezel and unscrew the screws holding the keyboard in and disconnect that, then disconnect the keyboard bezel, slide the hinge covers to the side and unscrew and disconnect the screen, disconnect all the cables you can see and remove all the screws, the palmrest will now be free to remove this will reveal the motherboard with the optical drive to the right which connects via a small ribbon a few more screws removes this.

This is all from memory so could be wrong but should give you a rough idea.
 
The newer model of caddy has universal mounting holes so you can place your current bezel on the caddy. Then you can get a standard one for the drive you remove.
 
Though i'd drag up this thread :)

I'm wanting to get an ssd in a laptop for the cheapest price possible. I currently have a Sony Vaio VGN-NR21Z which is an ok spec for what i use it for, just want an ssd to make it load fast. Can this laptop take an ssd via the above method? I have used the dvd drive once in the 2-3 years that i've owned it so will gladly remove it for an ssd!

Edit: Or can anyone else suggest a cheap way of getting a laptop with win7 + an ssd? Even if it means buying a new cheapish laptop that can have an ssd installed very easily once bought. I already have my copy of win 7 and an ssd drive here, just trying to figure out the best way to get them running in a laptop!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom