[SOLVED] How Do I Know What SSD My PC Will Support?

[Schunkster]

Hello!

I am just curious the best way to tell what SSD my PC will support. I have an MSI MPG x570 Gaming Plus motherboard and I'm looking to upgrade my C: Drive from 232GB SSD to a 1TB SSD. My D: Drive is already a 1TB SSD with my E: Drive being a 1TB HDD. I am unsure about how these are already connected to my PC and what product I would have to purchase as far as compatibility goes. Thanks in advance!

 

[Schunkster]

Which M.2 port is your current drive in, the WD Blue?
M2_1 or M2_2?
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-X570-GAMING-PLUS/Specification

Only teh M2_1 can utilize this new drive.

It is in the port directly underneath my processor, says "Lightning Gen M2" on it so I assume that's M2_1.

 

[USAFRet]

It is in the port directly underneath my processor, says "Lightning Gen M2" on it so I assume that's M2_1.

Right.
(pg 30 - https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/E7C37v2.1.pdf )

You need to move that down to the other M.2 port.

 

[USAFRet]

Then, we need to test.

Have the current WD Blue in the M2_2 port, and disconnect all other drives.
Power up.
Does it boot correctly?

 

[Schunkster]

Then, we need to test.

Have the current WD Blue in the M2_2 port, and disconnect all other drives.
Power up.
Does it boot correctly?

Alright, original drive moved to the lower M2_2 port, ALL other drives disconnected, boots properly.

 

[USAFRet]

OK then!

Should be relatively easy.

Basically this:

-----------------------------

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:

-----------------------------

Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD

Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)

Power off

Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD

Power up

Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)

Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

Click the 'Clone' button

Wait until it is done

When it finishes, power off

Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD

This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive (only applies to SATA drives)

Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order

If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.

Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.

This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.

-----------------------------

 

[Schunkster]

OK then!

Should be relatively easy.

Basically this:

-----------------------------

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:

-----------------------------

Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD

Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)

Power off

Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD

Power up

Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)

Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

Click the 'Clone' button

Wait until it is done

When it finishes, power off

Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD

This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive (only applies to SATA drives)

Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order

If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.

Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.

This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.

-----------------------------

One question to start, am I keeping the 'old' drive in the lower M.2_2 slot and placing the new one in the upper M.2_1 slot? Or do I need to reverse that because I thought you said the new one would only work in the M.2_2 slot.

 

[USAFRet]

At the end of the clone process, you power off, remove the WD Blue, and let the system boot up from the new drive only.

The new drive, PCIe 4.0, must live in the M2_1.
The WD Blue goes back in the M2_2.

 

[Schunkster]

At the end of the clone process, you power off, remove the WD Blue, and let the system boot up from the new drive only.

The new drive, PCIe 4.0, must live in the M2_1.
The WD Blue goes back in the M2_2.

Booted it up a few times seems to work well! Some final questions though, it still seems to think it's a 250gb drive (obviously a 2tb) is there a way I can fix this? Also, what are those tools mentioned above for cleaning the old drive?

 

[USAFRet]

Booted it up a few times seems to work well! Some final questions though, it still seems to think it's a 250gb drive (obviously a 2tb) is there a way I can fix this? Also, what are those tools mentioned above for cleaning the old drive?

Show us a screencap of your Disk Management window. We'll see if we can Extend into the unused space.


To wipe the old drive?
commandline function diskpart, and the clean command.

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.

www.seagate.com

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-clean-and-format-storage-drive-using-diskpart-windows-10

 

[Schunkster]

Show us a screencap of your Disk Management window. We'll see if we can Extend into the unused space.


To wipe the old drive?
commandline function diskpart, and the clean command.

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.

www.seagate.com

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-clean-and-format-storage-drive-using-diskpart-windows-10

I think this will work 😛 https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=7627...F5BA9!1764&parId=7627D17E352F5BA9!182&o=OneUp

 

[USAFRet]

No pic...🙁

 

[Schunkster]

No pic...🙁

Try this.

https://imgur.com/wlhbeur

View: https://imgur.com/wlhbeur

 

[USAFRet]

OK, good!
Right click on the C partition, and it should give you the option to Extend.
This will extend that partition into that unused space to the right.

 

[Schunkster]

OK, good!
Right click on the C partition, and it should give you the option to Extend.
This will extend that partition into that unused space to the right.

Probably could've handled that one, thank you very much though you've been incredibly helpful. One last question though, as I now know my new drive has to live in the M.2_1 slot, why is that? And what drive will the M.2_2 support if I wanted to add another in the future?

 

[USAFRet]

Probably could've handled that one, thank you very much though you've been incredibly helpful. One last question though, as I now know my new drive has to live in the M.2_1 slot, why is that? And what drive will the M.2_2 support if I wanted to add another in the future?

Your spec sheet:
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-X570-GAMING-PLUS/Specification

That M2_1 is the only PCIe 4.0 port.
It will take either a 4.0 or 3.0

The M2_2 can only use a PCIe 3.0
(Either port can use either, but the M2_1 is the only one that wil give full performance to a PCIe 4.0 drive)

The M2_2 will also take a SATA III M.2 drive, such as a Samsung 860 EVO.

And then of course, several SATA III ports on the motherboard.