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Part 1: Prepare
Step 1: Gather supplies
You’ll need your Crucial SSD, a screwdriver, your computer’s owner’s manual (which will specify the type of screwdriver you need), and a SATA-to-USB cable (sold separately). If you have a Mac? system, see our Helpful Tip below for additional instructions.
Step 2: Set the spacer aside
In the box with your SSD is a spacer (it looks like a black bracket). Set it aside for now – it won’t come into play until later in the process, and based on your system, you may not even need it.
Step 3: Back up important files
Before starting the install process, save any important files on your computer to a USB flash drive or external storage drive.
Step 4: Go slowly and deliberately
The information you need is all here. Your system will likely look different than the ones shown, but the process is the same. Read each step thoroughly and consult our Helpful Tips for more info.
For Mac installations, follow our Mac-specific SSD install steps here, as the process is significantly different and not all Mac systems are upgradeable.
The longest part of the SSD install process is copying everything from your old drive to your new SSD. Before you start, get a sense of how long this’ll take by referring to our chart below.
Amount of data on old hard drive |
Time it may take to copy to new SSD |
|---|---|
Less than 256GB |
20-30 minutes |
256-512GB |
30-60 minutes |
512GB-1TB |
60-90 minutes |
More than 1TB |
90+ minutes |