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Laptop Storage Upgrade Lab

Complete hands-on storage upgrade with proper tools and safety

All Activities Complete! You've mastered laptop storage upgrades!

Activity 0: ESD Safety Preparation

0/3 steps

Before touching any components, you must protect against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). Use the toolbox on the left!

Workstation

Safety Checklist

✓
Place ESD Mat
Select ESD Mat from toolbox, then click here
✓
Wear Wrist Strap
Select ESD Wrist Strap, then click here
✓
Ground Yourself
Clip wrist strap to grounded surface
Exam Tip: ESD can damage components with as little as 30 volts - you can't even feel discharges under 3,000 volts! Always use proper ESD protection when handling RAM, CPUs, motherboards, and storage drives.

Activity 1: Laptop Teardown

0/6 screws

Remove all 6 screws. Select the correct screwdriver first!

Required Tool: Phillips #0 Screwdriver (select from toolbox)
Bottom Panel - Remove Screws
Battery
RAM
2.5" SATA
M.2

Activity 2: Identify Storage Types

0/8 sorted

Drag each drive to its correct category.

Unsorted

HDD

~100 MB/s

SATA SSD

~550 MB/s

NVMe SSD

~3,500+ MB/s
Exam Tip: M.2 is a FORM FACTOR, not an interface. M.2 drives can be SATA or NVMe!

Activity 3: M.2 Key Matching

0/3 matched

Match each interface to its M.2 key type based on notch position.

SATA
NVMe PCIe
Both
B Key

Notch LEFT

M Key

Notch RIGHT

B+M Key

BOTH sides

Activity 4: Install NVMe SSD

Step 0/5
NVMe SSD

Steps

1
Pick up drive Click the NVMe drive
2
Insert at 30° angle Click the M.2 slot
3
Press flat Click the drive
4
Select screwdriver Phillips #0 from toolbox
Need Phillips #0
5
Secure screw Click screw hole
Step 1: Click the NVMe drive to pick it up.

Activity 5: BIOS Verification

0/3 tasks

Verify drive detection and set boot order.

AMI BIOS Setup
↑↓ Select F10 Save
Task 1: Go to "Storage" tab to verify drive.

Activity 6: Upgrade Challenges

0/5 complete

Apply your knowledge to real scenarios.

Key Points: HDD ~100 MB/s | SATA SSD ~550 MB/s | NVMe ~3,500+ MB/s
B key = SATA | M key = NVMe | B+M = Either

Challenge