Question Dell Inspiron 7577 Hard Drives Question

[thestrangebrew1]

I have the above laptop and I need to add more storage. I currently have a 512mb ssd and a 1tb ssd connected. However, my laptop also allows for an M.2 Nvme ssd. It currently has one that I had no idea about until I started researching drives, but it doesn't come up as a drive in windows (no C: or D: drive etc.). Can someone tell me what the drive is for? Looking at the text it says Compeq 8-5 1621 94v-0 mrc on and a bunch of smaller numbers. Can I just order a new nvme and replace this one? Since I'm getting back into photography, my plan is to install Lightroom and Topaz on the new drive, and store photos on it and do some cleanup on my C drive.

Thanks.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Disregard. It appears I have an older generation M.2 with B + M key modules that, looking on Amazon are more expensive than just 2.5" ssds. I'll probably just get a 2 tb ssd and clone my C drive.

 

[Shmee]

According to this page: https://laptopmedia.com/laptop-specs/dell-inspiron-15-7577-4/ your laptop does support NVMe m.2 drives. Though, there may be slightly different trim levels of the 7577, so I am not sure.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

You should open it up and take a look inside first - a couple of Dell laptops I've seen, the 2.5" drive bay is partially blocked by battery (for high capcity battery options) or is missing the required cabling if the laptop originally shipped as m.2 SSD-only.

Good luck.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Yea I opened it up and took out the M2 but like I said, it's got the older b + m keys (2 notches instead of the newer 1 notch) and they're a bit more expensive and less brands selling them since they're older now. As of right now, I'm able to put 2 2.5" ssds and the m2 slot is easy to get to as well. Just odd that there's an nvme drive in the slot, but IDK what it's for as it's not appearing as an available drive.

 

[Shmee]

Yea I opened it up and took out the M2 but like I said, it's got the older b + m keys (2 notches instead of the newer 1 notch) and they're a bit more expensive and less brands selling them since they're older now. As of right now, I'm able to put 2 2.5" ssds and the m2 slot is easy to get to as well. Just odd that there's an nvme drive in the slot, but IDK what it's for as it's not appearing as an available drive.

It might just be a caching drive for use with a spinner. Or that may have been the original intention, anyway. If it is 2 notches though, it sounds like it may be one of the older gen2 x2 NVMe drives, or or possibly a SATA based m.2. Hard to say for sure, would need to know the exact specs of the laptop.