How to install an SSD or HDD
The performance and storage capacity of your PC can be greatly improved by installing an SSD or HDD. With the correct assistance, installing an SSD is simple, regardless of your preference for speed or cost-effectiveness over HDDs. We'll walk you through the installation process for both kinds of drives in this tutorial, from protecting them inside your system to initializing and partitioning them for best use. Upgrade the storage on your PC and enjoy more seamless functioning by following these instructions.
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Installing an SSD: NVMe SSDs
Step 1: All contemporary motherboards feature at least one M.2 slot. Locate it on your motherboard. If it has a heat-distributing cover, you'll need to take it off first. To accomplish this, loosen any screws keeping the cover in place with a tiny screwdriver before removing it.
Step 2: Place your NVMe SSD in the M.2 slot by sliding it sideways until it clicks into position. If you're unsure of the drive's orientation, consider the copper contacts. Do you see how they're divided into a longer and a shorter section? It is impossible to install it, say, back to front, as you can verify which M.2 slot each section will fit into. Even though it seems like my WD Blue SN550 enjoys being inverted.
Step 3: The SSD will now be in the slot, but it will be protruding at an odd angle. It's time to define it and fix it. When you push the SSD flat, the small semicircular notch on the other end of the drive should line up with a standoff on the motherboard.
Right now, there are two widely used methods for safeguarding the SSD. One is a plastic clip that rotates on top of the standoff. You may press the SSD down until it makes complete contact with the standoff by rotating the clip over the SSD and holding it in place.
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The other screw is a baby screw, which is, quite honestly, the tiniest freaking screw you've ever seen. It either arrives in a tiny bag inside the motherboard package or is already in the standoff. If the latter, take it out first with your smallest screwdriver. To firmly hold the SSD in place, press it down until the notch is flush with the standoff. Then, replace the screw and tighten it.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd3.png)
Installing 2.5-inch SATA SSDs
Step 1: Locate the case's 2.5-inch drive mounting location. These are typically found on top of the PSU shroud or beneath the right-side panel, which is effectively the motherboard tray's underside. You should acquire removable mounts like this unless your PC case is cheap, in which case you probably just need to bolt the SSD onto the internal chassis. To remove one, use a medium screwdriver.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd4.png)
Step 2: To mount the SSD, use the screws that are included in your case.
Step 3: Using the same screws and/or clips that you removed to remove it, replace the mount—which now houses the SSD—on the casing. In conclusion, attach the SSD to a SATA data wire that runs to the motherboard and a SATA power cable that comes from the PSU.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd5.png)
The latter cable should already be connected in at the motherboard end provided you followed the instructions on how to set up a motherboard section exactly. provided not, search for the L-shaped connections on the right edges or bottom-right edge of the board.
How to set up a hard drive
Step 1: Installing a 2.5-inch SSD differs slightly from installing a 3.5-inch hard drive, however, because of the former's larger size, the latter is frequently placed in a dedicated drive cage. Under the PSU shroud, this is often located at the front of the PC.
The exact position of the hard drive within this cage varies throughout the PC chassis. Sometimes you can get rid of the requirement for tools by just pulling out a removable tray, sliding the HDD into it, and sliding it back in. While some may employ detachable trays, the HDD must be screwed into those trays for those to work. Alternatively, as these pictures demonstrate, the HDD needs to be fastened straight to the cage.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd6.png)
Look for any screws holding the cage in place on the underside of the PC case if you do need to remove the entire cage. After removing and setting these screws away for the time being, remove the cage.
Step 2: Insert your HDD into one of the cage's bays, then secure the drive-in place with an additional set of screws that come with the case. Even though it is impossible to install it the incorrect way around due to the uneven arrangement of these side screws, keep in mind that the SATA power and data ports should face outward toward the right side of the case once it is back inside.
Alternatively, if the trays in your case are detachable, simply use the tool-less clips or the screws that come with the case to fasten the HDD into the tray. Simply place the tray back in the cage and move on to the next stage.
Step 3: Reposition the cage, which is now holding the HDD, inside the PC and tighten it down with the same screws you took out in step 1.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd7.png)
Step 4: SATA power and data cables should connect the HDD to the PSU. A SATA port on the motherboard should be attached at the opposite end of the latter cable.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd8.png)
How an SSD or HDD is initialized and partitioned
For the drive where you ultimately install Windows, you won't need to do anything because Windows installs itself on that drive. However, you'll need to manually configure any secondary disks you now have or wish to install in the future before you can install anything on them. As this is already a very old guide, let's just go over it here. Feel free to carry on with your build for the time being and return to this later.
Once Windows 10 or 11 is installed, you will need to use its Disk Management tool to initialize and format any additional storage disks that you may have. To access Disk Management, press the Windows key and enter "disk management" until the screen titled "Create and format hard disk partitions" displays.
To activate the tool, click here or hit Enter. The moment a new disk is connected, Disk Management will recognize it and prompt you to initialize it. Click OK to initialize after checking "GPT (GUID Partition Table)".
The list of linked storage drives will appear at the bottom; the SSD or HDD that you just initialized will have a black outline and be marked as having "unallocated" space. The next step involves partitioning the drive to enable Windows to read and write data to and from it.
Step 1: Click "New Simple Volume" from the menu that appears after performing a right-click on the drive's space, then "Next" when the wizard opens.
Step2: Simply leave the volume size as is; this will fully utilize the capacity of your SSD or HDD, which is set to the maximum amount of space available in megabytes by default. Hit "Next."
Step 3: Press "Next" after selecting a drive letter from the drop-down menu or by selecting the first one that appears on the list by default.
Step 4: This should be set to "Format this volume with the following settings" by default. This is what you're after. Make sure that the allocation size is set to default and that the file system is NTFS. As an optional extra, you can name your drive by entering its make and model in the Volume label area. However, you are free to choose whatever name you choose for your drive. Or simply leave it empty! With its drive letter, the SSD/HDD will still be recognized. Finally, click "Next" after making sure "Perform a quick format" is checked.
Step 5: When prompted, click "Finish" and then "Format disk". There it is a single storage drive that is prepared for use.
![How to install an SSD or HDD](https://static.tutorialandexample.com/computer-fundamentals/how-to-install-an-ssd-or-hdd9.png)
Conclusion
By the installation of SSD or HDD has finished, the PC's performance and storage capacity have received a significant boost. Whether it opted for the speed of an SSD or the affordability of an HDD, both are now securely installed and ready to optimize your system. After initialization and partitioning, your new drives are fully prepared for efficient use, providing ample storage and smooth operation. The benefits of increased storage space and improved efficiency, make the computing experience more productive. of your Windows system in addition to solving the immediate problem.