Putting the SSD of one laptop into another? Stupid idea?

Ask Fedora
1

I got hold of a new (used) laptop (Lenovo T14 Gen3) which is more powerful than my current T470s.

Currently SSD prices are up, and I have a 1TB in my current laptop with Fedora installed. The used one only has 250G.

So I was wondering if it’s possible to take the SSD out of the T470s and put it into the T14?

If it doesn’t work, I don’t really mind, but I am a bit worried that this could somehow damage the installation on the SSD and then it wouldn’t work on either computer any more.

Both are Intel based with an integrated graphics card.

Is this a completely stupid idea, or worth a try?

2

I do that often. There’s a bit of reconfiguration after the fact, that’s all. Unless the receiving gig is hostile to linux, I know some are (HP).

3

It’s possible IF the ssd has a PCIe NVMe interface, The T470s supports also the older SATA interface.

4

Hello,

the difference between SSD on SATA and NVME are relatively marginal. More important is type of filesystems. But decide is about your and your money…

5

Hi,

again, the changes of SSD in to new HW will works without problems. Probable, you try it and you will see - I expect: no problem.

6

nvme pcie x4 only sockets do not support sata SSDs.

7

Hmm,

this is supristing, but it means: sorry. I don’t know your HW.

8

Thank you all for your answers. I am going to try :slight_smile:

9

check output of lsblk for device names nvme*, then it’s a pcie nvme drive. sd* devices are sata and most likely won’t work. You could use an external usb m2 sata enclosure for the ssd though.

10

Hi,

If you have standard SATA interface (of course your HW - sorry I don’t imagine, that it is old as ISA or IDE or similar interface), your should SATA SSD will works. What I say more. We will see…

11

m.2 m-key nvme slots can support sata but it’s not a must, and you’ll find no such m.2 slots on modern systems anymore. m.2 sata is dead.
If the specs don’t mention sata as supported, then it’s most likely not supported.

12

Well,

we will don’t like to be oposit, we will see how the problem decided. For standard SATA interface: it will works or not pche, we will see, I only say, that if this HW has stadard SATA interface - it will works - I don’t believe, that SATA is abadoned…

13

Are you assuming that we’re talking about 2.5 inch drives rather than M.2?

Looks to me like the T470s came with either an M.2 SATA or an M.2 NVMe, depending on the model.

14

Why do we ask about it - if there is true, waste of time…

15

As long as you can correctly connect the SSD to the new machine (no “Oh the new machine doesn’t have this kind of socket”), it’s fine.
I have a fedora system on USB drive and I boot it on all kinds of machines without problems.

16

That’s a wrong assumption. Keying does not reveal what the socket is electrically connected to.

You’ll have a hard time getting sata drives operational in both m.2 sockets on this system from 2021, not super modern by any means.

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here is a random asus motherboard with pcie only m.2 socket

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another one with 4 m.2 sockets only one provides sata support

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17

Mine does have a M.2 NVMe

18

Cool, then you are likely to be fine moving it to the new machine.