Hello again, fellow readers and fixers! Now, sometimes when you buy a refurbished computer, it comes without caddies or screws for holding internal storage. Without them, they can rattle or loosely flop around inside when you carry it around. They may even become disconnected from SATA, M.2 or NVMe ports without warning when you put the computer down…
So it’s worth thinking outside the…umm…case, and getting creative in holding internal storage securely in place. In this time’s QuickFIXits, we explore different ways to ensure they don’t rattle, flop or loosen themselves free! It’s worth remembering that every desktop PC and laptop is different. And that means they call for different measures!
Securing SATA drives
On desktop PCs, you can try using perforations inside the case as places to mount 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives. They’re handy if you want more room for data, but you have no spare drive bays left. As long as they’re not heavy and there’s enough room in there, that should do the trick. If you want the drive as a ‘permanent’ fixture, try superglue! A generous amount of glue to the underside of the drive will keep it stuck in the case. Getting it back out when it dies is another matter altogether, though!
For laptops without a caddy, one good way to secure SATA drives is to wedge them inside the drive bay. Something like a piece of rubber that’s slightly thicker than the gap opposite the SATA connector works wonders here. In a pinch, some cellotape works as well to tide over while getting a replacement caddy.
But what about M.2 & NVMe SSDs?
A piece of strong double-sided tape comes in handy here. In the past, we successfully used 3M VHB tape to stick M.2 & NVMe drives in. You can use double-sided tape from other available brands, though! If they come with a thermal pad, just transfer it from the motherboard and stick it on top. It also works very well for the 2.5″ and lighter 3.5″ hard drives.
Want another more ‘permanent’ solution? Try using some duct tape! A small piece is enough to keep it firmly secure in place. If it works for holding the whole laptop together, then it works for holding internal storage in place, too!
There’s other ways of keeping internal storage from rattling about, besides those we’ve covered. Some of them work as stopgaps, while others are more permanent. Nevertheless, a little creativity goes a long way. Oh, and remember as always, just keep calm and keep on fixing!