How to replace a hard disk with an SSD and the cost

This time, we will explain how to replace your computer's hard disk (HDD) with an SSD, costs, advantages and disadvantages, etc.

SSDs can read and write data faster, so you can use your computer more comfortably than HDDs.

If you want to use your computer more comfortably or want to know how to replace it with an SSD, please refer to it.

Advantages and disadvantages of replacing hard disk with SSD

When replacing your hard disk with an SSD, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of both hard disks and SSDs.

The premise is that SSDs are faster at reading and writing data than hard disks.

For this reason, many people are likely considering replacing it with an SSD, but it's a good idea to know the characteristics of each storage medium just in case.

• Advantages and disadvantages of hard disks
• Advantages and disadvantages of SSD

Advantages and disadvantages of hard disks

The advantages and disadvantages of hard disks (HDD) are as follows.

• Advantages: Good cost performance
• Advantages: Suitable for long-term storage
• Advantage: Data can be easily recovered even if a failure occurs
• Disadvantages: Weak against impact
• Disadvantages: Noisy operation

Advantages: Good cost performance

Hard disks have a large storage capacity and are also characterized by a low unit price for that capacity.
Therefore, if you want to store large amounts of data, a hard disk is suitable.

Advantages: Suitable for long-term storage

Hard disks have a long lifespan, so they are suitable for long-term storage.
Specifically, it has advantages such as being able to be rewritten more times than SSD.

Advantage: Data can be easily recovered even if a failure occurs

If the hard disk is damaged to the extent that it is recognized by the computer, data can be recovered.
Almost all data can be recovered except for severe failures.

Disadvantages: Weak against impact

One of the disadvantages of hard disks is that they are susceptible to shocks.
If you bump or drop your PC, your hard disk may be damaged.

Disadvantages: Noisy operation

The head of a hard disk moves to write to the disk, and the motor makes noise while it is operating. Some people may be concerned about the sound when compared to SSD.

Advantages and disadvantages of SSD

The advantages and disadvantages of SSD are as follows.

• Advantage: Impact resistant
• Advantage: Quiet
• Disadvantages: poor cost performance
• Disadvantage: Shorter lifespan compared to HDD

Advantage: Impact resistant

The advantage of SSDs is that they are more resistant to shocks than hard disks. However, if you drop or hit your PC, it will affect the main unit, so be careful.

Advantage: Quiet

Compared to hard disks, SSDs write directly to flash memory when writing. It also has the advantage of being quiet, since it doesn't make any motor noise like HDDs do.

Disadvantages: poor cost performance

SSDs are more expensive for their capacity than hard disks. Therefore, if you want to use a large capacity, the disadvantage is that it will cost more than a hard disk of the same capacity.

Disadvantage: Shorter lifespan compared to HDD

Since SSDs have a shorter lifespan than hard disks, hard disks are preferred in terms of long-term storage. However, it is not a problem in normal use, so you may not need to worry about it too much.

Disadvantages: Difficult to recover data

It is difficult to recover data from SSDs even if there is a minor failure.
Please note that it is almost impossible for an amateur to do this, and if you send it to a professional, it will cost over 100,000 yen.

How to replace the hard disk of a Windows 10 laptop with an SSD by yourself

In this article, we will explain how to replace the hard disk of a Windows 10 laptop with an SSD by yourself.

Also, when replacing a hard disk with an SSD, opening the computer can be surprisingly difficult for those who are not used to it.

When opening your computer, do not force it open or you may damage it. Therefore, it is a good idea to search by manufacturer and model number to find out how to open it. On top of that, I think it's a good idea to open your computer and check the contents before cloning.

Be careful of static electricity, etc., and discharge it by touching a metal object before touching any parts.

You won't have any problems if you line up the screws you remove when opening your computer so you know where they go. (Depending on the manufacturer, different screws may be used depending on the location.)

Furthermore, when you open your computer, there may be space for expansion.

People who purchase an SSD to increase capacity should be careful about this part.

In some cases, when you open your computer after cloning the computer using the replacement procedure, you find that there is enough space, so you just need to add it instead of replacing it.

Decide whether you want to replace the hard disk and SSD normally, or whether you want to increase the storage capacity.

In any case, before cloning, it's probably a good idea to open your computer and check its contents.

How to use a duplicator with error skip function

One way to replace your hard disk with an SSD is to use a duplicator.

A duplicator is a device that allows you to clone data from an HDD to an SSD without using a computer.

Among these, we recommend using a duplicator with an error skip function. If you use one that does not have an error skip function, the clone operation may fail if a sector error occurs.

Also, using this duplicator method requires you to remove the hard disk from your computer when cloning, unlike the method using the conversion kit and app explained in the next section.

[How to replace hard disk with SSD using a duplicator]

1. Prepare an SSD with a capacity greater than that of your hard disk.
2. Remove the hard disk from your computer
3. Insert the copy source hard disk and copy destination SSD into the duplicator, making sure not to confuse them.
4. Turn on the duplicator
5. Press the clone switch on the duplicator
6. Wait until the status lamp becomes 100%
7. After cloning is complete, insert the SSD into your computer
8. Turn on your computer (if an error occurs, restarting it may solve the problem)
9. If necessary, adjust the size using partition management software.

How to use an SSD replacement kit and cloning app

To replace your hard disk with an SSD, there is a way to use an SSD replacement kit and a cloning app.

Unlike using a duplicator, this method allows you to clone the HDD while it is still in the computer.

This method uses the Crucial SSD Replacement Kit.

[How to replace hard disk with SSD using cloning app]

1. Just to be sure, open your computer, check if you can remove the HDD, and put it back in.
2. Start your computer
3. Right click on "Start (Windows mark)"
4. Select "Disk Management"
5. Right click on “Disk 0”
6. Select "Volume"
7. Check the “Partition Style” and make a note of it.
8. Connect SSD to computer
9. Open “Disk Management” as in step 3.4.
10. "Initialize disk" is displayed
11. Select the format of the partition style you noted down
12. Select "OK"
13. Right-click on the "Unallocated" part of the initialized SSD
14. Select "New Simple Volume"
15. Click "Next" and select "Format this volume with the following settings"
16. Press "Next" and select "Finish"
17. Install the software available when purchasing a crucial SSD
18. If possible, turn off security software and set the power settings to no sleep mode.
19. Start the installed software
20. Select "Cloning Wizard"
21. Select "Auto"
22. Select "Next"
23. Select “Source Disk” from the left menu
24. Select "Disk 1 (basically the hard disk this is using)"
25. Make sure the menu on the left is "Target Disk" and select your SSD
26. Select "Next"
27. Select "I want to replace a disk on this computer"
28. Select "Next"
29. Select "Next"
30. Select "OK"
31. Select "Next"
32. Select "Run"
33. Once the cloning is complete, turn off your computer
34. Open your computer, remove the battery, and replace the hard disk and SSD.
35. Start your computer, configure security software settings, check for updates, etc.

If the hard disk has failed

If your hard disk has a problem such as an error or breakdown, depending on the severity of the problem, you may need to perform a clean install before replacing it with an SSD.

If an error occurs with the above two cloning methods, first select "Skip the error" or "Ignore all".

If the clone is successful and the computer works fine, there is no problem.

However, there may be cases where you know that the hard disk is malfunctioning or the cloning fails.

In such cases, placing more load on the hard disk may cause further failure. Cloning operations will also put stress on your hard disk.

Therefore, in the case of a faulty hard disk, it may be better to replace it with an SSD without migrating data.

Naturally, in this case, the data on the hard disk will not be transferred, so there will be no data on the computer.

What should I do if I fail to replace the hard disk with an SSD?

When replacing a hard disk with an SSD, cloning may fail.

If it fails, please check the following points.

• Are you working on your computer while cloning?
• Is the security setting turned on?
• Is it going to sleep while cloning?

Are you working on your computer while cloning?

There are cases where working on a computer during cloning may affect the cloning process. During cloning, try not to touch your computer as much as possible and keep an eye on it.

Is the security setting turned on?

If security settings are turned on, cloning may be affected depending on the type of security software.

Therefore, please turn off your security software and try cloning.

Is it going to sleep while cloning?

If the computer goes to sleep during cloning, the cloning process may be affected.

Therefore, check the power settings of your computer and change them so that it does not go to sleep.

[How to prevent Windows 10 from going to sleep]

1. Press the "Windows" key and "X" key at the same time
2. Select "Power Options"
3. "Power & Sleep" is displayed
4. Select "Never" from the "Put the PC to sleep after" drop-down in the "Sleep" item.

Cost of replacing hard disk with SSD

If you are worried or troublesome about drying the hard disk to SSD yourself, you can also ask a professional to do it for you.

In this article, we have summarized the costs of having a professional replace your hard disk with an SSD.

• Yamada Denki SSD replacement cost
• Computer workshop SSD replacement cost

Yamada Denki SSD replacement cost

The SSD replacement costs at Yamada Denki are as follows. Here, it is stated that data migration from the HDD is also included. Additionally, the destination SSD will be charged separately.

• General price: 39,060 yen (tax included)
• Member price: 31,460 yen (tax included)

Computer workshop SSD replacement cost

The SSD replacement costs at the computer workshop are as follows. There is an additional charge for the backup destination media. As stated below, a verification fee of 6,600 yen will be charged. This fee will also be charged if the replacement does not go well.

• Verification fee is 6,600 yen + 4,400 yen upon successful conversion, 11,000 yen

How to replace hard disk with SSD and cost summary

This time, we explained how to replace your hard disk with an SSD and the cost of hiring a professional.

If you can replace your hard disk with an SSD yourself, it will be cheaper. In fact, conversion kits are sold on Amazon and other sites, and in some cases it may be relatively easy to do so if you check the steps online.

However, you may be worried about following the steps incorrectly or breaking your computer by prying it open. In such cases, one option is to ask a company such as Yamada Denki or Computer Studio to do the work for you.