SSD How To - PC Guide https://www.pcguide.com Practical Guides to PC & Tech at Home, Work, and Play Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:45:17 +0000 en-US https://www.pcguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PCguide-favicon-75x75.png SSD How To - PC Guide https://www.pcguide.com 32 32 How To Initialize SSD Using an SSD (or Solid-State Drive) along with your regular hard drive is a great way to buff your computer’s performance and get the most out of your PC.

SSDs add extra storage to your hard drive so you can store and process more data, more quickly.But before you can start using your SSD, you first need to initialize it. This process formats the SSD to your computer so it will be detected and function properly.

This process might sound like a lot of techy jargon, but that’s why we’re here to help! In this handy guide, we’ll take you through the steps to initializing an SSD, so you can start taking advantage of your new storage in no time!

Final Thoughts

Initializing an SSD might seem daunting at first, but it’s simple once you know what you’re doing. Simply follow the steps in this guide and you’ll be able to get your SSD ready to use in no time!

So if you have a new SSD that you want to put to good use, now you know everything you need to do to initialize it and take advantage of your new storage!

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https://www.pcguide.com/ssd/how-to/initialize-ssd/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=148813 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:06:17 +0000
How To Install M2 SSD M2 SSD is a new generation solid-state drive (SSD), and it is claimed that this offers faster performance and a longer lifespan compared to other SSDs.

If you are looking to upgrade your system and install an m2 SSD, we have all of the information you need to proceed.

What Is An M2 SSD?

An m2 SSD is a small form factor SSD that can be used as a replacement for the hard disk drive in your computer.

SSDs are designed to fit into existing slots on motherboards or add-on cards, and offer much better performance than traditional hard drives, with greater speed and power available.

Why Use An M2 SSD Instead Of A Regular HDD?

An m2 SSD offers a number of benefits over a standard HDD, including:

Faster Boot Time

One of the main advantages of SSDs in general, and m2 SSDs in particular, is that they have a much faster boot up time compared to traditional HDDs.

Increased Reliability

Another advantage of SSDs is that they are far more reliable than traditional HDDs. The key reason behind this is that SSDs do not rely on mechanical parts like platters and moving parts to store data.

Instead, they use flash memory chips that are non-volatile, meaning that they retain data even when the power supply is turned off.

Improved Multitasking

Because SSDs don't have mechanical components, they also make multitasking easier. You can easily switch between applications without waiting for programs to finish loading.

Noise Reduction

Because SSDs are quieter than traditional HDDs, they reduce noise levels in your computer. This makes it easier to work while others around you aren't aware of what you're doing.

Final Thoughts

Adding an m2 SSD to your computer or laptop can be a great way to improve user experience, boost speed and power, and allow you to make the most of your devices.

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https://www.pcguide.com/reviews/how-to-install-m2-ssd/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=146477 Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:43:23 +0100
How To Install an SSD SSD or Solid State Drive is a storage device that uses flash memory instead of spinning disks like Hard Disk Drives.

They have become increasingly popular over the last few years, largely due to their power, speed, and reliability.

In addition, SSDs offer faster access time and better performance compared to HDDs.

SSD is a great choice for those who want to upgrade their system because they offer higher speed and reliability - but just how do you go about completing the upgrade?

We have put together everything you need to know in just a few short steps.

What Is an SSD?

SSD stands for a solid-state drive. It is a type of storage media that has no moving parts and it stores data on chips rather than magnetic platters.

The advantage of this type of storage is that there are no moving parts to wear out, making them more reliable than traditional hard drives.

The downside to SSDs however is that they are much slower than HDDs. This means that an SSD will take longer to boot up your computer, load programs, and open files.

However, once the operating system is loaded, applications start running almost instantly.

The Benefits Of Upgrading To An SSD

There are several reasons why you should consider upgrading to an SSD. Here are some of the most common:

Faster Boot-Time

If you are looking to improve the speed at which your PC boots up then an SSD is a good option.

Because SSDs do not use any mechanical components such as hard disk drives (HDDs), they can be accessed very quickly.

Better Performance

An SSD can perform many times faster than a standard hard disk drive. This means that when you launch your favorite program, it will start up quicker and run smoother.

Improved Reliability

SSDs tend to be more reliable than the alternatives, so if you’re worried about damaging your old drive, then an SSD is a safer bet.

More Space

If you are looking to increase the amount of space available on your computer, then an SSD is definitely worth considering.

With an SSD, you can store all of your important documents, photos, and music without worrying about filling up your hard disk.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading to an SSD can have a hugely positive impact on your laptop or computer, but does require a little technical prowess and know-how. By following our steps above, you can enjoy faster speeds and more efficient working.

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https://www.pcguide.com/ssd/how-to/install-an-ssd/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=146713 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:22:46 +0100
How to clone HDD to SSD in Windows 10 Gone are the days of solely using a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for PC storage with a number of other options entering the market. One of said options is a Solid State Drive (SSD) which boasts incredible speed improvements over traditional HDDs as well as being seriously compact.

However, if you’re going to be replacing your old HDD with a fancy new SSD, you’re going to need to transfer the data. If you simply want to transfer everything over, this is a process known as cloning and in this article, we’ll be going through all you need to know about how to clone an HDD to an SSD while also providing you with a bit of knowledge around the subject so you can be as informed as possible when handling your precious files.

Gone are the days of solely using a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for PC storage with a number of other options entering the market. One of said options is a Solid State Drive (SSD) which boasts incredible speed improvements over traditional HDDs as well as being seriously compact.

However, if you’re going to be replacing your old HDD with a fancy new SSD, you’re going to need to transfer the data. If you simply want to transfer everything over, this is a process known as cloning and in this article, we’ll be going through all you need to know about how to clone an HDD to an SSD while also providing you with a bit of knowledge around the subject so you can be as informed as possible when handling your precious files.

Why use an SSD over an HDD?

As previously mentioned, one of the main reasons why you’ll want to swap your HDD over to an SSD is to take advantage of those speed benefits. On average, even the most basic SSD is up to five times faster over its traditional HDD counterpart meaning not only will your data be transferring quicker, if you opt to use it as your main drive for booting your operating system, but your PC will also be up and running far quicker than ever before.

Moreover, if you’re a gaming enthusiast, an SSD could change your life, showcasing much faster load times as well as better overall performance in-game. The benefits don’t stop there though. An SSD is also more reliable, compact, and consumes less power making it almost a no-brainer to ditch the old-school HDD and make the switch.

The only real downside of opting for an SSD over an HDD is that you get less bang for your buck. Yes, SSDs have come down in price dramatically with you being able to pick up a 128GB variant for under $30 but if you’re wanting something like a 1TB or 2TB option, you’re going to be paying a far greater sum over an HDD.

Why clone an HDD to SSD?

So, if you have chosen to make the switch from HDD to SSD, you’re going to need to transfer those files over. If you’re looking to simply make a copy of your HDD and then format it, using a cloning method is certainly the best option. Cloning takes out all the work of manually choosing all the files you want to copy and simply makes a carbon copy of everything on your current hard drive.

This is extremely useful if you’re getting rid of your HDD completely, or as mentioned earlier if you’re wanting to simply copy and format. Additionally, if you’re currently using your HDD as your main drive, housing your operating system for your PC, you’re actually able to use cloning to transfer your OS onto your SSD so that it can be utilized as your booting drive, speeding up your whole PC startup.

Cloning is also a surprisingly easy process with software essentially doing all the hard work for you, all you have to do is hook up both drives and press a few buttons. We’ll get onto what software you need and all the steps you need to take shortly.

What do you need to clone an HDD to an SSD?

You’re almost at the stage of cloning your HDD to your SSD but what do you actually need to get it done? Well, you’re obviously going to need at least one HDD and one SSD but what’s more important is that your SSD has the capacity for the clone. If you’re cloning a full 1TB HDD, you’ll be needing an SSD of equal capacity to successfully transfer the data.

You do have to be careful here though because as with all storage, you dont receive the absolute maximum that it states on the packaging thus we’d recommend if you’re cloning a 128GB of HDD data for example, maybe opting for a 250GB SSD will be a safer option, allowing for more room just in case.

Once you’re got your hardware sorted, you’re going to need cloning software to start the process. We’d recommend either AOMEI Backupper Standard or MiniTool Partition Wizard as we believe these are the most reliable while also being very simple, with you getting to clone your HDD to SSD in just a few clicks.

And that’s it, you should now be all prepped. Next up, we’ll go through the actual steps for how to clone an HDD to an SSD.

How to clone a HDD to SSD

Before you get to the actual drive cloning you’ll need to make sure your SSD is connected to your PC, whether that’s via a USB to SATA adapter or if it’s in a second drive bay. You should be able to see the drive and letter in your Windows Explorer once it has been connected successfully.

We’d also recommend, if possible, making a backup of your current files just in case any corruption takes place in the cloning process. Now that’s out of the way, let’s move to the software.

And that’s all there is to it, you can now reap the benefits of a brand new cloned SSD in your PC setup! We hope these steps were easy to follow and you were able to get it done successfully. If you have any further questions drop a comment down below and we’ll do our best to get them answered.

You can also check out how to clone HDD to SSD in Windows 11.]]>
https://www.pcguide.com/ssd/how-to/clone-hdd-to-ssd/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=16545 Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:30:38 +0100