IdeaPad Y510p Questions ... UltraBay, HDD & SSD Options, & OS Transfers

I'm getting close to ordering a Y510p (single graphic card) but I have some questions regarding the UltraBay, HDD & SSD options, and OS transfers. First, does the Y510p support dual HDD's? I'd like to replace the standard 5400rpm 1TB drive with a Hitachi TravelStar 1TB 7200rpm drive and move the 5400rpm drive to the UltraBay. Is that possible?

I'd also like to install a Crucial M500 240G SSD (part #CT4416095) as my C: drive and move the Win8 installation to that drive. I've heard that the Y510p does not have a mSATA connection but includes an NGFF connection for the SSD (is NGFF considered an M.2 interface?). Can anyone verify this? If so, I'm assuming the Crucial M500 can be connected to the NGFF connection (since this SSD is guaranteed to work in the Y510p by Crucial). Does anyone have any first hand experience with all of this? Is it possible to have the SSD as my C: with the 7200rpm 1TB drive installed in the internal HDD location and the 5400rpm 1TB drive in the UltraBay?

Since I believe the Y510p does not ship with Win8 disks, how do I go about transferring the OS from the original 5400rpm 1TB HDD to either the 7200rpm HDD or the SSD? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

*Post in the right section next time so we can service you better

1, Yes it does support dual HDDs. Heres a Link (ebay) to a caddy for the Y series:
New 9 5mm 2nd SSD HDD Hard Drive Optical Bay Caddy Adapter for Lenovo Y400 Y500 | eBay

2. It has an NGFF (M.2) connection, no Msata. Source: I own a Y410P. I dont know if the Crucial will fit. However the older Y500's have Msata ports.

3. Try using a Cloning tool like Clonezilla or Acronis to make a carbon copy of the HDD OS. Alternatively, use auditing software like Belarc Advisor to extract the serial (which isnt marked on the machine) and then download Windows 8 (via the Green monster) and then put in your serial + activate it using the codes in the UEFI. This will allow a clean install.

 

Thanks for the info. Sorry about the location of the post, didn't originally see the IdeaPad forum location. Can this post be moved over there?

I did get a response from Crucial on the M500 and the tech. is saying that it is only a SATA drive, no mSATA or M.2. Here's what the tech said: "The intention of a SSD is to install into the proper SATA connection of your system, this drive is fully compatible with your notebook." However, on their website they list it as having mSATA & M.2, I'm still not quite sure. Here's a link to the M500. If the M500 is only SATA compatible, then I guess I'd have to replace the primary HDD or put the SATA SSD into the UltraBay. Not really happy about either of those 2 options. Really think the best approach is to get an SSD that has an M.2 connection ability so I don't have to replace the primary HDD or use the UltraBay. Do you know of any M.2 SSD drives that can connect directly to the motherboard on the Y510p? Worst case, I know M.2 is new so some M.2 SSDs should be available soon.

Assuming I can get an SSD to fit in the M.2 location, should it be possible to have that as my C: and use the primary HDD & another HDD in the UltraBay all together?

Thanks for the cloning info. Sorry, stupid question, but what is the Green monster and UEFI. I'd rather do the clean install.

 

And it's done

 

Green monster = torrent client

UEFI = UEFI stands for "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface". The UEFI specification defines a new model for the interface between personal-computer operating systems and platform firmware. The interface consists of data tables that contain platform-related information, plus boot and runtime service calls that are available to the operating system and its loader. Together, these provide a standard environment for booting an operating system and running pre-boot applications.

Basically a small piece of firmware that contains specific data and is required for OEM Windows 8 to be legally activated on this laptop


Also, i highly doubt the crucial will fit in the M.2 NGFF port. Finding an NGFF drive outside of ebay is *impossible* and even there they arent common and they arent cheap.

 

Also note that if your 510 does not come with an SSD cache there is a chance your 510 wont even have NGFF connection. My y510p I received last week from Newegg does not have any NGFF connection.

 

Call Lenovo and try to send it for a replacement if it's under warranty.

 

Hey, I´m considering to buy the Lenovo y510p but I have some questions regarding the Ultra bay!
I´m more inclined towards the SLI version, but I'm also worried about not having a OD. I know, I only use my PCs OD once a year, but its usually when s happens and I need a clean install or whatever....
Is it easy to buy an OD for the Ultra-bay? Can it be easily swapped for a clean install?

Thanks on advance!

 

For such a situation, I would recommend simply purchasing an external ODD, specifically USB. They start at around 30 dollars, are small and portable, and shouldn't need external power. I'd link you to one but am on my phone.
EDIT: Depending on your technical ability, you could also share the CD/DVD over a network through a machine with an ODD. Obviously, this method can be slower and will be more complex.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

Cool!

I absolutely love computers but I'm still learning... lol
Can a clean install be done from an external ODD without issues?

 

Yep. Just tell the lappy to boot from the external ODD.

 

Hi, I just bought this computer and i'm trying to do a new install in the y510p the OS in the SSD, but I want to do a clean install as you said. How can I make this possible? I already got the serial with Belarc, what are the next steps, could you guide me?

Thanks in advanced!

EDIT: I see you have a pretty similar Laptop, hope you can really help me out.

 

Once you have the serial, you will then need a Windows 8 (non-pro) install media. Good luck finding those, your best luck is borrowing one from a friend, or visiting a certain bay of pirates....

After that, imput your serial and activate the laptop, Windows should check for validity in the UEFI and then it should be activated.