Acer Nitro AN515-52 SSD upgrade I took the unit apart and replaced the original SSD.

Hello there,

Could someone please help me out with this problem that is doing my head in.

I have recently purchased a Crucial P3 2TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe m.2 SSD to upgrade the original 128GB SSD in my Acer Nitro AN515-52.

I thought it said it was compatible with my model, was apparently going to be a performance boost. I cloned the disk, I took the unit apart and replaced the original SSD.

I now can not get windows to boot from the new drive, I have to boot from the old drive through the hard drive enclosure/USB I used to clone it.

The new drive is there in windows though, I can use it to copy to/from and execute files on it. It just will not let me boot from it, even though the files/folders are identical to the original.

Does anybody have any advice on what I could possibly do to address this, what I've done wrong or if there is anything that can be done because I have been at it for about for about 4-5 days on and off searching youtube/forums etc. for answers but keep getting my hopes up and let down at every fresh fix attempt, it's been quite a frustrating process.

I would be so grateful if someone could help me out with this.

Thanks

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Accepted answers

brummyfan2

Hi,

You could try cloning again with Macrium reflect using dragging the partitions, explauned in this tutorial, then replace the original M.2 SSD with the new 1TB SSD.

Convert to a solid state disk (macrium.com)

leonaip

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/677363/acer-nitro-an515-52-ssd-upgrade

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1171870#Comment_1171870

if you use Macrium Reflect to clone your drive, use also Macrium Reflect bootable usb flash drive to successfully copy the clone image to the new SSD.

leonaip

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1172035#Comment_1172035

watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHCENfs87F4&ab_channel=accessrandom

All comments

brummyfan2

Hi,

Could you please tell us how you cloned the original SSD, which program you used etc. could you also post the picture of Disk Manangement with the new SSD is installed.

Sofrustrated

Hi brummyfan2,

Thanks for the quick response👍️.

I first cloned the original drive using Macrium Reflect, took apart the cover, swapped over, replaced cover then the problem begun as described above. I have since retried the clone process sort of in reverse from the USB enclosure to the now installed new SSD using Acronis True Image. Throughout the whole process I could not adjust boot sequence in UEFI also as it was not an option to do so.

So (E:) is the new drive, I chose to replace disk and clone with bootable os. What you see is after latest Acronis clone.

I tried to do similar clone to sata drive (D:) to boot from that after having my head done in, it wouldn't work that way either, it did come up as a recognized boot option in UEFI though but still wouldn't do the job.

brummyfan2

Hi,

You could try cloning again with Macrium reflect using dragging the partitions, explauned in this tutorial, then replace the original M.2 SSD with the new 1TB SSD.

Convert to a solid state disk (macrium.com)

Commodore_1995#

You have to clone all the partitions, as reported by colleague brummyfan2. From the image you showed, the boot partitions weren't cloned.

leonaip

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/677363/acer-nitro-an515-52-ssd-upgrade

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1171870#Comment_1171870

if you use Macrium Reflect to clone your drive, use also Macrium Reflect bootable usb flash drive to successfully copy the clone image to the new SSD.

Sofrustrated

Thanks for the help guys 👍. I will give it a try as soon as I can, your advice is much appreciated.

leonaip

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1172035#Comment_1172035

watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHCENfs87F4&ab_channel=accessrandom

Sofrustrated

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY @LEONAIP, YOU GOT ME OVER THE LINE WITH THE LAST POST IN THIS THREAD, THANK YOU SO, SO, SOOOO MUCH! YOU'RE A LEGEND MATE!! I OWE YOU A DRINK 🍺

I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN COMPLETING THIS MISSION! I CAN NOT TELL YOU WHAT A FRUSTRATING TEST OF WILL THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN.

I HAVE EPILEPSY AND MY MEDS MAKE LONG BOUTS OF CONCENTRATION HARD ENOUGH ANYWAYS BUT THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING ELSE.

I'VE BEEN AT IT MOST OF TODAY AGAIN TRYING AND TRYING, I STARTED WITH THIS POST FROM @BRUMMYFAN2, GOT MY HOPES UP, THEN HAD MY WILL BROKEN AGAIN.

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1171888#Comment_1171888

SWITCHED BETWEEN MACRIUM AND ACRONIS ATTEMPTING ENDLESS VARIATIONS UNTIL I FINALLY THOUGHT I MUST HAVE MADE A MISTAKE AND BOUGHT AN INCOMPATIBLE SSD. THEN I FOUND THIS POST FROM @LEONAIP , WHICH I TRIED AS A BROKEN MAN EXPECTING ANOTHER FAILURE BUT THOUGHT ONE LAST TRY, AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, SUCCESS!! 🌟✨🎈 (RESCUE MEDIA WAS ALSO NECESSARY STEP TO SWAP OVER TO NEW DRIVE THAT STILL DIDN'T EXIST IN BIOS BOOT ORDER AFTER CLONE PROCESS IN THE VIDEO BUT JUST FOLLOW THE VIDEO AND HAVE FAITH IN A HIGHER POWER)

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1172064#Comment_1172064

THE KEY POINT OF DIFFERENCE IN EVERYTHING I DID WAS THE PART IN THE ABOVE VIDEO WHERE HE DESCRIBES THE UPSIZING SSD PROCESS BEGINNING AT 9:40 .THE CURRENT VERSION I USED WAS 8 THOUGH AND I HAD TO RIGHT CLICK THE ACTUAL PARTITION TO OPEN PROPERTIES INSTEAD, THEN DO AS HE SAID AND WRITE DOWN THE EXACT SIZE DISPLAYED, UNDO ETC(FOLLOW THE VIDEO), DRAG BACK IN PROPER ORDER, MANUALLY ENTER THE EXACT SIZE VALUE AS SHOWN, (FOLLOW VID AGAIN) REBOOT AS EXPLAINED, ENTER BIOS, CHANGE BOOT ORDER TO USB THAT WAS CREATED THROUGH MACRIUM RESCUE MEDIA (WHICH I PUT ONTO USB), BOOT INTO USB AND FOLLOW THE VIDEO AGAIN FROM 16:10 TO ''FIX WINDOWS BOOT PROBLEMS'' THEN THERE WAS THE NEW DRIVE, MY HOPE HAD RETURNED, THEN SELECTED DRIVE, REBOOTED, ENTERED BIOS, CHANGED BOOT ORDER BACK, REBOOTED READY TO CRY AND ASSUME THE FETAL POSITION ON THE FLOOR WHEN IT CRASHED AGAIN BUT MIRACLES DO HAPPEN, NOW IM SMILING AGAIN AFTER I DID THE MOONWALK FOR A FEW MINUTES.

BASICALLY FOLLOW THAT VIDEO TO THE LETTER AND IT SHOULD WORK AS DESCRIBED, IT DID FOR ME ANYWAYS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT HELPING ME OUT, IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED, ESPECIALLY @LEONAIP, YOU HAVE MADE MY DAY, I CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH MY LIFE AGAIN😂. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE ONLY A NEWBIE, RESPECT 🤜🤛, YOU DESERVE TO LEVEL UP I RECKON 👍️.

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS LOCK, I'VE HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE AND I'M STILL EXCITED AFTER PASSING THIS TEST OF WILL, WITH EVERYONE'S EXPERT ASSISTANCE OF COURSE. HOPE YOU'S HAD A GOOD CHRISTMAS AND HAVE AN EVEN BETTER NEW YEAR, PEACE ✌️

leonaip

You're welcome mate @Sofrustrated. I am flattered at the same time happy for you. I really like the "LEGEND" word. Whiskey and beer is fine for me. 😉

I am delighted to know that your problem was solved, and made your day and finally you can move forward with your life. 😁

Consider it a struck of luck given from a higher power. Hope to level up soon. 😆

Thank you very much for the compliments mate. My pleasure to help you and everyone. 🤩

Sofrustrated

Haha😂, thanks heaps @leonaip I probably exaggerated a bit but for real, I had pretty much given up after brummyfan2's last post below technically didn't work either but it did teach me the concept of drag and drop partitions, I thought if brummyfan2 cant help me as THE God of good advice on this site, all hope is lost, then your posts were the missing ingredient for success.

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1171888#Comment_1171888

I thought it would be a quick plug and play 1 hour process after watching YouTube tutorials and be happily on my way but it turned out to be a 4, 5, 6 day??(lost track of time and my mind nearly) mission. I was heading for a padded cell if my last attempt with your post did not work.

Oh you are a LEGEND sent from the Acer Gods in my time of need😂 in my opinion, I will tell your of your magnificent deeds for years to come oh wise one🙌.

If you're ever stuck I'm happy to try and help you out, it would most likely be secondhand advice from the internet but I'm happy to try and help.

Wish you all the best mate 👍️

leonaip

Indeed you are a wise man of words mate @Sofrustrated . 😁

" Oh you are a LEGEND sent from the Acer Gods in my time of need😂 in my opinion, I will tell your of your magnificent deeds for years to come oh wise one🙌. "

This line really flattered me so much like I am raised to heaven up high. You made my day. 😁

Thank you very much mate. Good luck and God speed. 😉

Frausing

As I have been reading in the forum the AN515-52 does only support up to 1TB M.2 disk, and not a 2TB (Nice if you get this to work on a 2TB)

You can use a 2TB 2.5" in the 2. slot

I did find a youtube video on how to clone the harddrive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egNMtC3vwN0

I am also here in the forum to find how to upgrade my AN515-52-74W6

Commodore_1995#

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1173906#Comment_1173906

This model supports capacities greater than 1TB. What happens is that the manufacturer has tested this model with ssds of up to 512GB. But that doesn't mean that this model doesn't support capacities greater than 1TB.