How to know if I can install 2nd HDD in my laptop

[SuperAdithya]

I recently (4 days ago) purchased a new HP Pavilion 15-AU003TX laptop, & today, when I opened Intel Rapid Storage Technology software, I noticed that my laptop surprisingly had an "Empty internal SATA port" along with the existing 1TB HDD & CD Drive! (Screenshot: )

So how can I confirm whether this "empty port" really exists or if this is some misconception made by the software? And, if this port really exists, can I buy a new SSD and place it in this port? I know that I can confirm by opening the laptop, but I really don't like opening & messing-up a very-new laptop. I want to know this by using some other way. Thanks.

BTW Here are the full specs of my laptop: http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c05138580

 

[Blas]

Apparently (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250), besides the space for the HDD inside the case, there's place for an M.2 SSD. Not sure how easy it would be to reach it, though. And the document you posted doesn't even mention it, so not entirely sure. I would ask HP support before buying anything...

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

I've read several independent specification sheets for that laptop model, as well as several buyer reviews on Amazon and there is no mention of it having a second internal hard drive bay.

I've no idea why the IRST software says it has an empty internal port for storage, unless the laptop has an M.2 port for an SSD card.

You can always go down the external USB portable hard drive route if you just need extra storage space.

 

[SuperAdithya]

Apparently (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250), besides the space for the HDD inside the case, there's place for an M.2 SSD. Not sure how easy it would be to reach it, though. And the document you posted doesn't even mention it, so not entirely sure. I would ask HP support before buying anything...

Thanks to you & HP for that useful manual. I'm taking a printout of it, even though its 84 pages, as it will be useful for me in the future for disassembling, removing & upgrading parts (I usually do a lot of stuff of that kind). I guess I do have an empty M.2 Port (there are chances that I don't have one, for e.g.: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3156653/finding-port-laptop.html). I luckily even have an empty PCIe x1 slot according to HWiNFO, but its pretty useless, as I already have high-end BT & WIFI adapter & also have 2 USB 3.0 ports. These manufacturers are so lazy. They can't even specify proper details about SATA slots, M.2 slots, PCIe slots etc.