finding m.2 port in laptop

[lxgoldsmith]

Hi all

I'm on a HP Pavilion 15-au023cl right now. I saw that there is a m.2 port in the manual.

manual - http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

I opened up my laptop to fix a loose sata connector, and I couldn't find the m.2 port. I even looked under the hdd and battery.

Any suggestions?

 

[boosted1g]

By open up do you mean you removed a cover or two, or you removed the entire bottom of the laptop and exposed the motherboard?

Also the port could be on the top of the board.

 

[alexoiu]

Hi,
The manual is generic.
You can find the laptop specs here: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05096846
No m.2, as far as I can see.

 

[Samer1970]

Hi,
The manual is generic.
You can find the laptop specs here: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05096846
No m.2, as far as I can see.

This is configuration , not full specs ... but I agree that M2 could not be on that model .. still need full specs

 

[rgd1101]

since you open it already, take a pic and post the link here

 

[lxgoldsmith]

After taking another look at the hdd install section, I found a spot that looks a lot like a m.2 location next to the hdd, but there's no port soldered to the joints.

https://s4.postimg.org/4ldl48hb1/20160816_144206_1.jpg

lazy manufacturers

open laptop - https://s4.postimg.org/b9v7iwezx/20160816_144901_1.jpg

I removed the hdd at the bottom left and the battery at the top right

 

[Samer1970]

After taking another look at the hdd install section, I found a spot that looks a lot like a m.2 location next to the hdd, but there's no port soldered to the joints.

https://s4.postimg.org/4ldl48hb1/20160816_144206_1.jpg

lazy manufacturers

open laptop - https://s4.postimg.org/b9v7iwezx/20160816_144901_1.jpg

I removed the hdd at the bottom left and the battery at the top right

you are right , the M2 port is missing ... that location in your manual has the m2 socket

 

[boosted1g]

Ive tried looking for motherboard images online, searched the HP 15 manual, and did general google searching for that laptop and M2 and can not find any shred of evidence that it has an M2 port.

M2 port is not something that just comes on all laptops, only higher end ones have it. Mostly in gaming laptops, ultrabooks, and higher end business models.

 

[Samer1970]

Ive tried looking for motherboard images online, searched the HP 15 manual, and did general google searching for that laptop and M2 and can not find any shred of evidence that it has an M2 port.

M2 port is not something that just comes on all laptops, only higher end ones have it. Mostly in gaming laptops, ultrabooks, and higher end business models.

look in page 34

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

 

[rgd1101]

Ive tried looking for motherboard images online, searched the HP 15 manual, and did general google searching for that laptop and M2 and can not find any shred of evidence that it has an M2 port.

M2 port is not something that just comes on all laptops, only higher end ones have it. Mostly in gaming laptops, ultrabooks, and higher end business models.

look in page 34

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

Page 50 #10 is to the m.2 cable. where does it lead to?

 

[rgd1101]

After taking another look at the hdd install section, I found a spot that looks a lot like a m.2 location next to the hdd, but there's no port soldered to the joints.

https://s4.postimg.org/4ldl48hb1/20160816_144206_1.jpg

lazy manufacturers

open laptop - https://s4.postimg.org/b9v7iwezx/20160816_144901_1.jpg

I removed the hdd at the bottom left and the battery at the top right

is that with the HDD removed? page 34 said to removed HDD.

 

[rgd1101]

After taking another look at the hdd install section, I found a spot that looks a lot like a m.2 location next to the hdd, but there's no port soldered to the joints.

https://s4.postimg.org/4ldl48hb1/20160816_144206_1.jpg

lazy manufacturers

open laptop - https://s4.postimg.org/b9v7iwezx/20160816_144901_1.jpg

I removed the hdd at the bottom left and the battery at the top right

is that with the HDD removed? page 34 said to removed HDD.

 

[Samer1970]

Ive tried looking for motherboard images online, searched the HP 15 manual, and did general google searching for that laptop and M2 and can not find any shred of evidence that it has an M2 port.

M2 port is not something that just comes on all laptops, only higher end ones have it. Mostly in gaming laptops, ultrabooks, and higher end business models.

look in page 34

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

Page 50 #10 is to the m.2 cable. where does it lead to?

I dont know hard to tell

 

[rgd1101]

Never mind look like you are right, it missing the port. look at the image on page 33, on the left size of the hdd.

 

[Samer1970]

Never mind look like you are right, it missing the port. look at the image on page 33, on the left size of the hdd.

nice catch

 

[Samer1970]

I have this idea , how about getting M2 slot from Electronic Shop and solder it (or ask some technician to do it for you) ?

Then use the bios of the Notebook with M2 slot ?

 

[rgd1101]

I have this idea , how about getting M2 slot from Electronic Shop and solder it (or ask some technician to do it for you) ?

Then use the bios of the Notebook with M2 slot ?

If they try to save a few buck, not sure what else they might have remove than just the slot.

 

[Samer1970]

I have this idea , how about getting M2 slot from Electronic Shop and solder it (or ask some technician to do it for you) ?

Then use the bios of the Notebook with M2 slot ?

If they try to save a few buck, not sure what else they might have remove than just the slot.

it is a direct pci express x4 lanes ... they connect directly to the chipset ... I think it will work , and just needs bios to be programmed to use it.

 

[lxgoldsmith]

M.2 can be either sata or pcie. As of now, I have no idea which it is in this case.

 

[Samer1970]

M.2 can be either sata or pcie. As of now, I have no idea which it is in this case.

or can accept both..

from the manual P34, it appears that it can take M2 SATA3 ...

 

[lxgoldsmith]

My point was that if it's sata3 and not pcie, then it would need to have a storage controller that's configured to handle two sata connections. Without a more in-depth knowledge of motherboard connections and storage controllers, I couldn't know that just soldering a m.2 port on would make the port usable.

 

[Samer1970]

My point was that if it's sata3 and not pcie, then it would need to have a storage controller that's configured to handle two sata connections. Without a more in-depth knowledge of motherboard connections and storage controllers, I couldn't know that just soldering a m.2 port on would make the port usable.

well if you soldier an M2 slot and it did not work , you will loose nothing , just non functional M2 .

but make sure it is the right M2 slot.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

My point was that if it's sata3 and not pcie, then it would need to have a storage controller that's configured to handle two sata connections. Without a more in-depth knowledge of motherboard connections and storage controllers, I couldn't know that just soldering a m.2 port on would make the port usable.

well if you soldier an M2 slot and it did not work , you will loose nothing , just non functional M2 .

but make sure it is the right M2 slot.

You can also end up with a bricked system when you destroy the board from too much heat or shorted connections. Soldering to a board not designed to be hand soldered, and without the right tools is a recipe for disaster. Please do not dispense such potentially damaging advice.

 

[Samer1970]

My point was that if it's sata3 and not pcie, then it would need to have a storage controller that's configured to handle two sata connections. Without a more in-depth knowledge of motherboard connections and storage controllers, I couldn't know that just soldering a m.2 port on would make the port usable.

well if you soldier an M2 slot and it did not work , you will loose nothing , just non functional M2 .

but make sure it is the right M2 slot.

You can also end up with a bricked system when you destroy the board from too much heat or shorted connections. Soldering to a board not designed to be hand soldered, and without the right tools is a recipe for disaster. Please do not dispense such potentially damaging advice.

scroll up

I said : (or ask some technician to do it for you)

Soldering a slot is different from soldering a chip . I am a technician and I know What I am talking about . soldering broken ports , slots , is not dangerous . and as I said , he should give it to a Technician if he does not have experience in it..

 

[Onus]

If it can be done on that model, no doubt someone will have done it, and posted video and/or a description somewhere. Unless you find that, do not do it. You won't do any good, and you may do harm. The solder and equipment you use will almost certainly be entirely different than the equipment that wave-soldered that board. There may be supporting components missing as well. Like I said, without proof it has been done, including any BIOS flash and setup needed, at best you will have wasted time, money, and effort; at worst you will have destroyed your laptop.