finding m.2 port in laptop

lxgoldsmith · Aug 16, 2016

Hi all

I'm on a HP Pavilion 15-au023cl right now. I saw that there is a m.2 port in the manual.

manual - http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

I opened up my laptop to fix a loose sata connector, and I couldn't find the m.2 port. I even looked under the hdd and battery.

Any suggestions?

boosted1g · Aug 16, 2016

By open up do you mean you removed a cover or two, or you removed the entire bottom of the laptop and exposed the motherboard?

Also the port could be on the top of the board.

alexoiu · Aug 16, 2016

Hi,
The manual is generic.
You can find the laptop specs here: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05096846
No m.2, as far as I can see.

Samer1970 · Aug 16, 2016

alexoiu :

This is configuration , not full specs ... but I agree that M2 could not be on that model .. still need full specs

rgd1101 · Aug 16, 2016

since you open it already, take a pic and post the link here

lxgoldsmith · Aug 16, 2016

After taking another look at the hdd install section, I found a spot that looks a lot like a m.2 location next to the hdd, but there's no port soldered to the joints.

https://s4.postimg.org/4ldl48hb1/20160816_144206_1.jpg

lazy manufacturers

open laptop - https://s4.postimg.org/b9v7iwezx/20160816_144901_1.jpg

I removed the hdd at the bottom left and the battery at the top right

Samer1970 · Aug 16, 2016

lxgoldsmith :

you are right , the M2 port is missing ... that location in your manual has the m2 socket

boosted1g · Aug 16, 2016

Ive tried looking for motherboard images online, searched the HP 15 manual, and did general google searching for that laptop and M2 and can not find any shred of evidence that it has an M2 port.

M2 port is not something that just comes on all laptops, only higher end ones have it. Mostly in gaming laptops, ultrabooks, and higher end business models.

Samer1970 · Aug 16, 2016

boosted1g :

look in page 34

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

rgd1101 · Aug 16, 2016

Samer1970 :

boosted1g :

look in page 34

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05228250

Page 50 #10 is to the m.2 cable. where does it lead to?

rgd1101 · Aug 16, 2016

lxgoldsmith :

is that with the HDD removed? page 34 said to removed HDD.

rgd1101 · Aug 16, 2016

lxgoldsmith :

is that with the HDD removed? page 34 said to removed HDD.

Samer1970 · Aug 16, 2016

rgd1101 :

Samer1970 :

Page 50 #10 is to the m.2 cable. where does it lead to?

I dont know

hard to tell

rgd1101 · Aug 16, 2016

Never mind look like you are right, it missing the port. look at the image on page 33, on the left size of the hdd.

Samer1970 · Aug 16, 2016

rgd1101 :

nice catch

Samer1970 · Aug 17, 2016

I have this idea , how about getting M2 slot from Electronic Shop and solder it (or ask some technician to do it for you) ?

Then use the bios of the Notebook with M2 slot ?

rgd1101 · Aug 17, 2016

Samer1970 :

If they try to save a few buck, not sure what else they might have remove than just the slot.

Samer1970 · Aug 17, 2016

rgd1101 :

it is a direct pci express x4 lanes ... they connect directly to the chipset ... I think it will work , and just needs bios to be programmed to use it.

lxgoldsmith · Aug 25, 2016

M.2 can be either sata or pcie. As of now, I have no idea which it is in this case.

Samer1970 · Aug 25, 2016

lxgoldsmith :

or can accept both..

from the manual P34, it appears that it can take M2 SATA3 ...

lxgoldsmith · Aug 25, 2016

My point was that if it's sata3 and not pcie, then it would need to have a storage controller that's configured to handle two sata connections. Without a more in-depth knowledge of motherboard connections and storage controllers, I couldn't know that just soldering a m.2 port on would make the port usable.

Samer1970 · Aug 25, 2016

lxgoldsmith :

well if you soldier an M2 slot and it did not work , you will loose nothing , just non functional M2 .

but make sure it is the right M2 slot.

ex_bubblehead · Aug 25, 2016

Samer1970 :

You can also end up with a bricked system when you destroy the board from too much heat or shorted connections. Soldering to a board not designed to be hand soldered, and without the right tools is a recipe for disaster. Please do not dispense such potentially damaging advice.

Samer1970 · Aug 25, 2016

ex_bubblehead :

scroll up

I said : (or ask some technician to do it for you)

Soldering a slot is different from soldering a chip . I am a technician and I know What I am talking about . soldering broken ports , slots , is not dangerous . and as I said , he should give it to a Technician if he does not have experience in it..

Onus · Aug 25, 2016

If it can be done on that model, no doubt someone will have done it, and posted video and/or a description somewhere. Unless you find that, do not do it. You won't do any good, and you may do harm. The solder and equipment you use will almost certainly be entirely different than the equipment that wave-soldered that board. There may be supporting components missing as well. Like I said, without proof it has been done, including any BIOS flash and setup needed, at best you will have wasted time, money, and effort; at worst you will have destroyed your laptop.

finding m.2 port in laptop

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