Can't install an M.2 SSD

You need to check your specs to find out which type your M.2 connection is for.

Tried doing so, but I could not find any useful info on the offical Acer website. This may sound weird, but please trust me it is 100% true. I may have not tried hard enough, which is very much possible. Thanks.

My model is Aspire 315-51_z, purchased 2018.

I also tried to find more info by trying to enter my laptop serial number, but no success. Thanks.

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Do as I said in another thread to find out if you had an m.2 pci express port and which version.
Download hwinfo portable version:
HWiNFO download latest version

run exe 64 if windows 64 or exe 32bits if windows 32 on acer computer.

Close all the small windows except the biggest, it's the main one.

In the tree on the left expand "BUS" then expand "PCI bus", then under "pci bus" click on each information ending "PCI Express Root Port #", when you are going to click on each pci express root port, in the part right of the window the information will be displayed. Capture the information for each pci express port and post the captures in this thread or an image site.

Thisi what makes sense to me. Yes, I will do exactly what you have said about HWiNFO, many thanks.

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I just looked at your photos of the inside of the laptop and in particular the m.2 port. It looks like the port is an m.2 "B" key port, and I think you have put the samsung 980 ssd upside down. You can't put the samsung right side up, it need nvme port "M" key.

port m.2 M key(nvme), the polarizer, facing the slot pins, is on your right.

port m.2 B key(sata 3), the polarizer, facing the slot pins, is on your left.

You need to buy a B and M key sata ssd, it will be a sata 3 ssd. I don't believe there is ssd with only a B key.

an example: Amazon.com

The samsung 980 in a good way: 980 PCIe(R) 3.0 NVMe(R) Gaming SSD 250GB Memory & Storage - MZ-V8V250B/AM | Samsung US

Thanks a lot. Very useful reply, indeed. I have had this feeling all along that I have misunderstood something, now your reply has got me thinking.

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Incidentally, you will normally get better responses by posting diagrams here the normal way.
Near the middle of the Editing toolbar that appears as you write your, post, click on the Insert image icon Can't install an M.2 SSD-insert-image-icon.jpg, browse to it, select it & upload it.
- - When I want to post a diagram, I right-click on the file first, choose SendTo to put a shortcut on the Desktop.
- - Then when I "browse to it, select it", it's always on the Desktop and the "browse" always opens there so it's both quicker and less error-prone.
- - The TenForums Upload function has no problem with a shortcut being selected, it uploads the file itself without complaint.
How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files - TenForumsTutorials

Hi Denis,

Yes, I do agree 100% with what you have said. In fact I have tried doing the same thing in the past, but due to some weird reason, I have never been able to upload images properly. May be something wrong with my ISP. Sorry and please forgive me for the inconvenience caused.

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Serial partially hidden deliberately to protect privacy, sorry and thanks.

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You do realise that M.2 NVME & M.2 SATA card connectors look the same?

Not really. I often think that if there is only one notch then it is NVME and if two notches, then SATA. I need to learn and understand the key issue as it looks like I know nothing. Thanks.

This product with the trailing Z notation seems to only have been available in India

It has an older W94-W95BU 2-replaceable RAM sockets DDR3 mainboard that is also used in some Lenovo machines as far as I can tell.
What type of M.2 SSD can i install on my aspire 315-51_z laptop? — Acer Community

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Acer Aspire 315-51_z ram and ssd upgrade. — Acer Community

Here are the components for that machine according to the users at userbenchmark.

UserBenchmark: Acer Aspire 315-51_z Compatible Components

Try3 said:

The "notches" are normally referred to as "keys". They are not indicators of NMVE/SATA.


So you need to find and study your system specs [which might or might not be in your computer manual].

Denis

Your photo is misleading and the ssds in the photo are upside down (there are plenty of misleading photos on the web)
Slot M key the notch is on the right
Slot B key the notch is on the left





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It's probably a sata slot in his laptop, he probably won't have more information.