Storage, Backup & Data Migration

Choosing between 2.5-inch SATA, M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe, checking key and length before buying, installing a drive, and moving an existing Windows installation across without losing anything. Backup and recovery-key checks come first in every one of these.

3 guides

• 2.5-inch SATA, M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe: the difference that matters — M.2 is a shape. NVMe is a protocol. Confusing them is the most common wrong purchase we see.
• Check M.2 key, length and protocol before buying a drive — Three properties decide whether an M.2 drive works in your machine. Check all three.
• Fit an M.2 NVMe drive in a desktop — The fitting, the standoff screw people lose, and getting Windows to see it.