Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
M.2 → “M.3” upgrade (laptop) — Basic Steps
Before you start
Back up anything critical (just in case).
Confirm drive type & size: Most laptops use M.2 NVMe. If your replacement is truly M.3 (rare in laptops), verify physical/connector compatibility first.
Get the right USB enclosure for the new drive (NVMe vs SATA matters).
If BitLocker is on, Suspend protection (Windows: Manage BitLocker → Suspend).
Clone with DiskGenius
5) Install DiskGenius on the laptop.
6) Insert the new SSD into the USB enclosure and plug it in.
7) In DiskGenius, confirm the new drive is visible. If it’s uninitialized, initialize it as GPT (don’t format).
8) Choose System Migration (or Disk → Clone Disk).
Source: your internal (old) SSD
Target: the new SSD (USB)
Options to select if available: “Adjust partition size to entire disk” and “4K alignment.”
If the target is smaller than the source, choose copy used space only.
Start the clone. If DiskGenius asks to reboot to PreOS, allow it. Wait until it reaches 100% with no errors.
Swap the drives
10) Shut down the laptop. Unplug power. If possible, disconnect the battery (or flip the battery disconnect switch in BIOS on some models).
11) Open the bottom cover carefully. ESD: touch metal to discharge.
12) Remove the retaining screw for the old SSD, slide it out, install the new cloned SSD, reapply any thermal pad, and reinstall the screw. Close the cover and reconnect power/battery.
First boot & tidy-up
13) Power on and enter BIOS/UEFI (often F2/F10/Del/Esc):
Verify the new SSD is detected.
Ensure Boot Mode = UEFI, and the cloned drive is the first boot device.
Boot into Windows. Confirm your files are there.
M.2 → “M.3” upgrade (laptop) — Basic Steps
Before you start
Back up anything critical (just in case).
Confirm drive type & size: Most laptops use M.2 NVMe. If your replacement is truly M.3 (rare in laptops), verify physical/connector compatibility first.
Get the right USB enclosure for the new drive (NVMe vs SATA matters).
If BitLocker is on, Suspend protection (Windows: Manage BitLocker → Suspend).
Clone with DiskGenius
5) Install DiskGenius on the laptop.
6) Insert the new SSD into the USB enclosure and plug it in.
7) In DiskGenius, confirm the new drive is visible. If it’s uninitialized, initialize it as GPT (don’t format).
8) Choose System Migration (or Disk → Clone Disk).
Source: your internal (old) SSD
Target: the new SSD (USB)
Options to select if available: “Adjust partition size to entire disk” and “4K alignment.”
If the target is smaller than the source, choose copy used space only.
Start the clone. If DiskGenius asks to reboot to PreOS, allow it. Wait until it reaches 100% with no errors.
Swap the drives
10) Shut down the laptop. Unplug power. If possible, disconnect the battery (or flip the battery disconnect switch in BIOS on some models).
11) Open the bottom cover carefully. ESD: touch metal to discharge.
12) Remove the retaining screw for the old SSD, slide it out, install the new cloned SSD, reapply any thermal pad, and reinstall the screw. Close the cover and reconnect power/battery.
First boot & tidy-up
13) Power on and enter BIOS/UEFI (often F2/F10/Del/Esc):
Verify the new SSD is detected.
Ensure Boot Mode = UEFI, and the cloned drive is the first boot device.
Boot into Windows. Confirm your files are there.
