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Question

SSD replacement fails due to size

Jan 1, 2015 9:45AM PST

Hi there,

I just got a new SSD (Samsung 850 EVO 256 GB) to replace the existing stock smaller Samsung SSD that was already in my Dell Latitude E6410 laptop. The new drive is only about 1/8" smaller than the old one length-wise but that's enough to not work together with the caddy. Without it, I can insert the new drive and make it work, but with the caddy, it physically stops before reaching the connectors in the back and doesn't quite make it. Any suggestions on how to make it work with the caddy?

Thank you.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Not long ago
Jan 2, 2015 12:35AM PST

I had to make some small filler blocks to make up the mechanical difference. I don't do this often enough but why not get out the Exacto knife and make something?
Bob

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Answer
This sounds like a job for...
Jan 2, 2015 1:05AM PST

DOUBLE-SIDE tape!

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OK I admit it
Jan 2, 2015 1:13AM PST

I used some plastic, Exacto knife and double sided foam tape.
Bob

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No no...
Jan 2, 2015 1:25AM PST

I meant the tape was the solution. I was think of the double-sided form tape (easy and cheap).

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Yes yes
Jan 2, 2015 1:31AM PST

I also have used hot glue guns to make/fill in the voids. So on the cheap we have the usual knives, scissors, tape (foam or not), hot glue gun, plastic bits and some imagination.
Bob

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Tried
Jan 2, 2015 4:30AM PST

Tried fillers already to nudge the drive closer to the end but when I use those, it puts the caddy faceplate too far from the screw holes on front of drive and I was unable to attach it.

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(NT) So new screw holes are needed?
Jan 2, 2015 5:40AM PST
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Yes
Jan 2, 2015 8:11AM PST

Yeah, those would be great man. Can they be made in a hard drive case?

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Almost always.
Jan 2, 2015 8:22AM PST

I'm not there so you have to consider all the advice so far.

For plastics I use an Exacto knife to drill the hole. I guess being crafty or a machinist at times helps.

Have you any PC builder buddies that can check this out?
Bob

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I wouldn't do it, but...
Jan 2, 2015 9:31AM PST

it sounds to me the evo is the wrong Hdd. for this situation. If you are replacing a 2.5" drive with another 2.5"...it should fit. If it doesn't then something is really wrong. You sure you are replacing a 2.5" drive?

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Keep it simple
Jan 20, 2015 1:10AM PST

I have used cut up wine corks (the plastic or foam kind, not real cork) and strips of folded up cereal box cardboard in the past to fill in gaps like this. It seems low tech but I have never had a problem! Avoid anything metal or conductive due to the risk of grounding or shorting something out.

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Tried it already
Jan 20, 2015 9:51AM PST

Hey,
Thanks much for your suggestion, but I tried this already, remember? As I stated before (above), I tried fillers already (plastic, paper, etc) to nudge the drive closer to the end but when I use those, it puts the caddy faceplate too far from the screw holes on front of drive and I was unable to attach it.

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Answer
Laptop drives are
Mar 15, 2015 11:00PM PDT

a standard 2.5" while Desktops are a standard of 3.5" for SATA drives. SSD drives are now coming fo SATA, PCI or MSATA. I just replaced a 256 GB MSATA SSD with a Samsung EVO 1TB MSATA. The M for stand for minature. The specs for that SSD says 2.5".