How to Upgrade Your Desktop HDD to a 2.5" SATA SSD

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Boost Desktop Performance by Switching to a SATA SSD

Want to upgrade your boot drive for your desktop PC, but don’t know how? Follow these simple steps to upgrade your desktop’s 3.5” hard disk boot drive to an ultra-fast, 2.5” SATA solid state drive to give your PC a boost in speed and capacity.

Materials Needed

  • Sandisk 2.5" SATA SSD
  • Crosshead screwdriver
  • SATA cable (if not included with the SSD)
  • Mounting bracket (if needed, to fit the SSD into a 3.5” drive slot)
  • External USB to SATA III adapter

Recommended Software

Easy

Difficulty

30-75 Minutes

Time

Why Use a 2.5” SATA SSD for Your Desktop Boot Drive

High-Speed Performance

SSDs can boot your system in 10–20 seconds, while HDDs can take 1–2 minutes. Applications launch almost instantly, and you can run multiple programs (e.g., a browser, music player, applications, etc.) and transfer large files without the system slowing down. It will feel like an entirely new machine.

Reliability and Durability

Because they have no moving parts, 2.5” SATA SSDs are less likely to fail due to shock, drops, or general wear and tear. Especially for consumer use, SSDs typically last longer than HDDs under normal conditions.

Quieter, Cooler, and More Efficient

SSDs make no sound, unlike the spinning platters and moving read/write heads of HDDs. They also consume less power and generate less heat, which helps with cooling, especially when running demanding programs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrade Your Desktop to a 2.5” SATA SSD

Follow along below or watch the video.

Before You Begin

Check SSD Compatibility with Your System

If you're not sure, go to Sandisk Support to understand what SSD options are available to you.

Back Up Your Data

It's important to back up your data before upgrading your desktop. You can use a Sandisk external SSD to create a backup of your data.

Download the Recommended Software

The recommended software will help streamline the SSD upgrade process.

Determine the Number 
of Drive Bays

Have a single drive bay?
Continue to Path A.

Have multiple drive bays?
Continue to Path B

Path A: Steps for Upgrading to an SSD When You Have a Single Drive Bay

STEP 1

Clone your existing drive

  • Insert your new SATA SSD into the USB to SATA III adapter.
  • Connect the adapter to your PC via USB.
  • Use Acronis True Image for Sandisk to create an exact copy of your current hard disk boot drive onto the new SSD plugged into the computer.

Note: If your new SSD is a smaller capacity than your hard disk boot drive, you may need to adjust the partition sizes on the destination drive during the cloning process.

STEP 2

Power down and disconnect

  • Shut down your desktop computer.
  • Unplug the power adapter and any other connected cables.

STEP 3

Open the desktop case/panel

  • Slide off the desktop case/panel or use a crosshead screwdriver to remove the screws holding the desktop case/panel.
  • Carefully remove the case/panel to access the internal components.

Before touching anything connected to the motherboard, touch something that is bare metal to remove static electricity from your body.

STEP 4

Remove the HDD

  • Locate the 3.5” bay where your hard drive is installed.
  • Disconnect the HDD from the SATA and power connectors.
  • Carefully remove the HDD from the bay.

STEP 5

Insert the SSD

  • Attach your 2.5” SATA SSD to the mounting bracket, if necessary.
  • Connect the SSD to the computer’s SATA and power connectors, align adapter to bay.
  • Slide adapter with SSD attached into the 3.5” bay.
  • Secure it with screws and ensure it is firmly connected.

STEP 6

Reassemble the desktop

  • Reattach the case/panel of the desktop.
  • Secure it with screws.
  • Reconnect all peripheral cables, including the power cable.

STEP 7

Power up and verify

  • Power on the desktop.
  • Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings and ensure the SSD is 
recognized as the boot drive.
  • Boot into your operating system and verify that the 
SSD is functioning properly.
  • Use the Sandisk Dashboard app to ensure your laptop is running the latest SSD firmware, and update firmware if needed.

You have now upgraded your desktop with a Sandisk 2.5” SATA SSD.

For more helpful tips, visit: Sandisk.com/Support.

Path B: Steps for Upgrading to an SSD When You Have Multiple Drive Bays

STEP 1

Power down and disconnect

  • Shut down your desktop computer.
  • Unplug the power cable and all other connected cables.

STEP 2

Open the desktop case/panel

  • Slide off the desktop case/panel or use a crosshead screwdriver to remove the screws holding the desktop case/panel.
  • Carefully remove the case/panel to access the internal components.

Before touching anything connected to the motherboard, touch something that is bare metal to remove static electricity from your body.

STEP 3

Locate the secondary bay

  • Identify the secondary bay in your desktop.

STEP 4

Insert the 2.5” SATA SSD

  • Attach your 2.5” SATA SSD to the mounting bracket, if necessary.
  • Connect the SSD to the computer’s SATA and power connectors, align adapter to bay.
  • Slide adapter with SSD attached into the secondary bay.
  • Secure it with screws and ensure it is firmly connected.

STEP 5

Reassemble the desktop

  • Reattach the case/panel of the desktop.
  • Connect the SSD to the computer’s SATA and power connectors, align adapter to bay.
  • Reconnect all cables, including the power cable.
  • Power up your desktop.

STEP 6

Clone your boot drive

Note: If your new SSD is a smaller capacity than your hard disk boot drive, you may need to adjust the partition sizes on the destination drive during the cloning process.

STEP 7

Restart and verify

  • Restart the desktop.
  • Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings and ensure the SSD is recognized as the boot drive and the NVMe mode is disabled.
  • Boot into your operating system and verify that the SSD is functioning properly.
  • Use the Sandisk Dashboard app to ensure your laptop is running the latest SSD firmware; update firmware if needed.

Optional: Steps for Removing Your Old HDD

Or you can keep your HDD as secondary storage.

STEP 8

Power down and disconnect

  • If you choose to remove your old HDD, shut down the desktop and follow the next few steps.

STEP 9

Open the desktop case/panel

  • Slide off the desktop case/panel or use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the desktop case/panel.
  • Carefully remove the case/panel to access the internal components.

Before touching anything connected to the motherboard, touch something that is bare metal to remove static electricity from your body.

STEP 10

Remove the HDD

  • Locate the 3.5” slot where your hard drive is installed. 
  • Disconnect the HDD from the SATA and power connectors.
  • Carefully remove the HDD from the bay.

 

STEP 11

Reassemble the desktop

  • Reattach the case/panel of the desktop.
  • Secure it with screws.
  • Reconnect all cables, including the power cable.

You have now upgraded your desktop with a Sandisk 2.5” SATA SSD.

For more helpful tips, visit: Sandisk.com/Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use Acronis True Image for Sandisk software. For how to download and use this software, learn more here.

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Disclosures

Sandisk and the Sandisk logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. Western Digital is a registered trademark or trademark of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. Acronis and True Image are registered trademarks of Acronis International GmbH in the United States and other countries. The NVMe word mark is a trademark of NVM Express, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Product specifications subject to change without notice. Pictures shown may vary from actual products.

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