Today, we're going to install an M.2 2280 slot SSD module in a brand new Dell
Inspiron 5570 laptop computer. It's configured with a 5400 RPM, 1 TB
hard drive, which can be a bit slow as the drive that holds the operating
system - so we're going to add an additional 360 GB into the M.2 slot with
the intention of using that as the boot drive. In a future video, I'll show you
how to clone the disk from the 1 TB hard drive to the SSD, including
the bootable Windows partition. The tools that you'll need are a Phillips head
screwdriver for removing the screws from the laptop's cover, and you might need a
smaller one for the SSD. You'll want to use an ESD strap or an ESD mat because
you'll be exposing the insides of the laptop to install the SSD. Finally, a
couple throwaway gift cards or expired credit cards will come in handy for
prying the cover off the bottom of the laptop. To install the SSD, you'll need to
flip the laptop on its back and remove its bottom cover - so the first step is to
remove the screws. You'll first want to remove the DVD drive, which is held in
place by this one screw. Once you remove it, the drive will slip right out.
The rest of the screws are immediately apparent - there are twelve remaining screws
that you need to remove, including two that sit on the edge of the DVD slot, as
shown here. I'll get those first.
Then, let's start in the lower right-hand corner and grab the remaining ten screws.
This first one has a long body, so you may need to use your fingernail to pull
up on the head while you turn the screwdriver.
Make sure to keep track of where each screw goes, because there are different lengths of screws.
Most laptops have an easy access cover to gain access to the memory or the M.2 slot, but the
Dell Inspiron 5570 requires you to pretty much dismantle the entire cover.
Having a magnetized screwdriver isn't required, but as you can see, it certainly
helps to pull out the screws.
When you get to this lower left-hand screw, it's
not going to want to come out, even with my magnetized screwdriver. So I'll remove
the final screw in the center of the cover.
Let me give this lower left-hand screw one more shot. I believe it's spring-loaded and I'm
positive it's unscrewed from the other side, so I'm just going to leave it here for
now. You'll now need to pry open the bottom cover. I'll flip the laptop over,
and let's crack open the lid. This groove is where we want to separate the bottom
cover from the top half of the laptop. The idea here is to wedge your gift
cards in between the groove going all around the edge. This will undo the
internal tabs holding the bottom cover in place.
I'll start at the top right side of the laptop, right below the corner.
Once you have the first card
wedged in, you can take the second card and work it into the spacing caused by the first one.
As you work along the edge, you'll hear some snapping sounds - meaning
that the internal tabs are being unfastened.
And as you continue along the edge, you can alternate between the cards to maintain
spacing between the two shells.
I'll now go along the bottom edge of the laptop.
Again, I'm alternating cards as I go along.
As I round the bottom left-hand corner, it really doesn't get any easier; I think it requires the same amount of
force to undo the clips as when I started.
Once we get to the top-left corner, I'm going to wedge the card in horizontally, but at a slight angle.
But you want to be careful - there are tabs underneath that can break if you force
the cards in too hard. I'll do the same thing for the top right corner.
Then, I just swing open the bottom cover.
The two cards in the corners may pop out while
you do so, but it should come off fairly easily.
This is the cover: it's made of plastic with some internal metal shielding.
Now we can install the M.2 SSD.
This is a 360 GB 2280 SATA M.2 SSD made by Intel and branded as HP. This is
the M.2 slot. According to Dell, it does support NVMe, but again, I'm just
installing a garden-variety SSD. Let's first remove the screw. If your
screwdriver bit is too big, you'll want to use the smaller screwdriver that I mentioned earlier.
Next, let's align the keys with the keyed slot, and slide the
module in at an angle. Push it down, and we'll finish it off by fastening the screw back on again.
While you're here, you can upgrade the memory as well, for
which there's two slots - one already configured with 8 GB of DDR4L
memory. It takes up to 32 GB, so you could upgrade to two 16 GB
sticks if you wanted to. You also have access to your internal 2.5"
hard drive which you could upgrade at a later time.
Once you install the SSD, you'll want to reverse the steps. Basically, you'll reattach the bottom
cover. Let's flip it over and open the lid again, making sure to snap each tab around the edges.
Once that's secure, it's just just a matter of screwing everything
back together, which I'll do in no particular order.
After all the screws are in, I'm going to flip it over one more time and reopen
the lid. Make sure to check the fit and finish, especially around the edges. In my
next video, I'll show you how to use Macrium Reflect software to clone the
bootable Windows partition on your 1 TB hard drive to the SSD drive, and
I'll show you how to successfully boot off the SSD.
I hope you enjoyed - Thanks for watching!