Upgrade SSD on Surface 4?

David333

Hello. I intend to buy a new Surface 4. Microsoft says that the SSD is upgradeable (by a professional), and I've looked at some guides, and it seems like a relatively easy process according to https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Microsoft+Surface+Laptop+4+(13.5-inch)+SSD+Replacement/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_xtmU1IpeE Although I am slightly nervous about the thermal glue!

The guides suggest creating a system image on a hard drive as well as installation media on a bootable USB. If I'm buying a new laptop, do I need to create a system image? I'm wondering if I can just receive the laptop, get it open, upgrade the SSD, then boot it for the first time in my possession through the USB?

SiliconChip

Even if you can do it does it really make sense to immediately invalidate your warranty?

cerebus

Link doesn't work

David333

SiliconChip said:

Even if you can do it does it really make sense to immediately invalidate your warranty?

Tbh, the only Surface 4 available is with 128GB, so it's by necessity rather than choice

David333

cerebus said:

Link doesn't work

This one maybe: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Microsoft+Surface+Laptop+4+(13.5-inch)+SSD+Replacement/157171

facade

David333 said:

SiliconChip said:

Even if you can do it does it really make sense to immediately invalidate your warranty?

Tbh, the only Surface 4 available is with 128GB, so it's by necessity rather than choice

You are supposed to save all your files to Onedrive............

SiliconChip

David333 said:

SiliconChip said:

Even if you can do it does it really make sense to immediately invalidate your warranty?

Tbh, the only Surface 4 available is with 128GB, so it's by necessity rather than choice

This one has a 512GB SSD.

Surface 4

David333

SiliconChip said:

David333 said:

SiliconChip said:

Even if you can do it does it really make sense to immediately invalidate your warranty?

Tbh, the only Surface 4 available is with 128GB, so it's by necessity rather than choice

This one has a 512GB SSD.

Surface 4

Sorry, by available I wasn't being clear. I'm looking at the 13" for portability and AMD for battery life. It's available through the Microsoft refurbished store at a decent (-ish) price. Everything else is out of my budget

David333

facade said:

David333 said:

SiliconChip said:

Even if you can do it does it really make sense to immediately invalidate your warranty?

Tbh, the only Surface 4 available is with 128GB, so it's by necessity rather than choice

You are supposed to save all your files to Onedrive............

Haha, tbh, it seems that almost all of the models do have more space, just not the one that they have left!

Newcad

I'd try the laptop out first, you may not need to change the drive it may be sufficient for your needs.

(This laptop I'm typing on came with a 1TB HDD, when I changed it to a SSD a few years later I decided I didn't need that much internal storage so fitted a 500GB SSD. My other laptop I went even lower and that's got a 250 GB SSD. Both run Win10 and Win11 without problems).

If you are determined to change the drive straight off then:

Firstly once you have then new machine I would make sure what drive is already in there so that you can get the correct replacement/upgrade.

The Surface 4 and Surface 4 Pro have different types of drive, here's the iFixit link for a Surface 4 Pro:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Microsoft+Surface+Pro+4+SSD+Drive+Replacement/60383

Your particular machine may have a different type of drive altogether, manufacturers do change what is fitted inside laptops without changing the name, so it's always best to check what is actually in there.

I'd probably also finish the setup as a new owner (even though you'll have to do that again if you later do a total reinstall of the OS).

The new drive will be blank and have no Operating System on it, so generally when swapping a drive you need to either:

• Clone the existing drive to the new one before swapping. After swapping it should boot straight away from the cloned drive.
  or
• Make an image of the old drive and then use a recovery environment to reinstall that image on the new drive after swapping.
  or
• Swap the drives and reinstall an OS from scratch, using the Windows media creation tool to make a USB installer for Win10 or Win11 is the usual way to do that.

I've used all 3 of those methods (and others) when upgrading drives, depending on what was already on the machine and if it all wanted keeeping or not.

The first 2 are usually used when you are upgrading the drive of a machine that has been in use for a while and so you want to keep all the User Accounts, all the installed apps and all the files that are already on it, as well as all the Windows settings etc.
The 3rd is for if you want a totally new Windows installation so you can start from fresh and install new apps as you want.

Here is a more detailed guide to replacing the SSD in a Surface 4, using a 'Surface Recovery Image' to reinstall the OS onto the new drive:
https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-change-ssd-surface-laptop-4/

David333

Newcad said:

I'd try the laptop out first, you may not need to change the drive it may be sufficient for your needs.

(This laptop I'm typing on came with a 1TB HDD, when I changed it to a SSD a few years later I decided I didn't need that much internal storage so fitted a 500GB SSD. My other laptop I went even lower and that's got a 250 GB SSD. Both run Win10 and Win11 without problems).

Thank you so much for this really helpful comment. I've done a fair bit of research into what laptop would be best (mainly writing and editing, light, and portable), and decided on the Surface 4, 13", AMD, which just about fits into my budget. I hadn't been thinking about storage, assuming that it would be suitable for my fairly basic needs. Then I discovered that it only has 128GB. I'm using 200GB of my current 256GB, so I really don't want to have to spend all my time managing storage. Initially, it was back to the drawing board with researching a laptop, but then I discovered that the SSD is upgradeable. I've played around a bit with computers and repartioning, etc, so I think that I know my limits, and, having looked at the guides and videos, I'm pretty sure that it's within my capabilities.

My one concern was the heat shield on the stock SSD, which some videos suggest that you should take off and apply to the new SSD (others suggest that you don't need to bother). I think the easiest solution is to stick a thermal pad to the top of the new SSD (probably https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aairhut-Silicone-Conductive-Resistance-Self-Adhesive/dp/B09XJVBPQ1/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8XtWzJ8jaUjC6ZtLIVs8o65l8SLGvXaSvt6Tdgl9AVXUMKT-2qYFsUxOiQdV4tycrbm6rPe6U4J2w0zLZhJA-BIIAZ6YlY94mz3gsmHMdR25wKVogPVirHPy55QJfJOqsKA77gupR17NxHC3wnibPvp8XNhLCQXoAfsGmFbdlPcSj3v-IwIPICSiUYu6UihLEMGc6dIgUgjJTnpPl6mzuVRym4EcU9IRioHSqnbuEoE.ofpQxv0_P9Z2vRbK5ihimC5e8ptlRmfVHamkn3jSdto&dib_tag=se&keywords=m.2+ssd+thermal+pad+1mm&linkCode=gg3&linkId=19abdb7889558c95f02a9f714b52723b&qid=1708736692&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&smid=A1KCXPXZBNMZFO&th=1 cut to size).

I just need to make sure I get the right SSD, which I think is just any brand of M2.2230. I'll try to work out which is best (and within budget!)

My concern with just sticking in a new SSD was the Windows license.

I think that you're right that it's a good idea to setup the new laptop initially. From that I will create the USB bootable drive, then, following your point 3, turn everything off, replace the SSD with a thermal pad on the top, boot from the USB, and keep my fingers crossed! Thanks again