How to Install 2242 SSD or Replace It With 2280 or 2230

Introduction to 2242 SSDs

Nowadays, most modern laptops have adopted M.2 SSDs, which usually use the PCIe bus and NVMe protocol.

The M.2 modules are rectangular, with an edge connector on one side and a semicircular mounting hole at the center of the opposite edge. The M.2 standard allows module widths of 12, 16, 22, and 30 mm, and lengths of 16, 26, 30, 38, 42, 60, 80, and 110 mm.

The popular M.2 SSDs are usually 22 mm wide, with varying lengths of 30, 42, 60, 80, and 110 mm. A 2242 SSD means that the module is 22 mm wide and 42 mm long.

2242 vs 2280 SSD

The most popular M.2 SSD form factor on the market is 2280. Understanding 2242 vs 2280 SSDs will let you learn 2242 SSDs better.

In general, the main difference between 2242 and 2280 SSDs is the length. However, due to this difference, 2242 SSDs usually have a smaller capacity and slower speed than 2280 SSDs. The reasons are as follows:

• The 2242 SSD is smaller, while the 2280 SSD is larger. Therefore, the 2280 SSD can be equipped with more NAND flash chips. As a result, the capacity of 2280 SSDs is bigger than that of 2242 SSDs.
• Due to the difference in the number of flash chips, the read and write speeds of the 2242 and 2280 SSDs may vary greatly. In terms of read speed, a large-capacity SSD will usually be faster than a small-capacity SSD, mainly because they have more flash chips and a larger cache.

How to Install or Replace 2242 SSD

Some laptops may have an M.2 2242 slot or use an M.2 2242 SSD as the system disk. Then, you may need to install 2242 SSD or replace it for storage expansion, performance improvement, troubleshooting, or other reasons. In this part, I will show you how to install or replace 2242 SSD.

Stage 1. Migrate the OS (Optional)

If your computer uses the 2242 SSD as the system disk, you can migrate the system from the old 2242 SSD to the new one before the 2242 SSD replacement. This can avoid the trouble of reinstalling the system and software.

Then, you can use MiniTool Partition Wizard to migrate the OS. It is a professional partition manager that can clone Windows 10 to SSD, convert MBR to GPT without data loss, format FAT32 easily, perform SSD data recovery, etc.

How to clone the OS using MiniTool Partition Wizard? Here is the guide:

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Buy a new 2242 SSD and connect it to your computer via an M.2 to USB adapter. Then, launch MiniTool Partition Wizard and click Migrate OS to SSD/HD Wizard.

Step 2: On the pop-up window, choose Option A and then click Next. It will clone the entire system disk to the new 2242 SSD.

Step 3: Select the new 2242 SSD as the destination disk and then click Next. A warning window will pop up. Read it and click Yes to continue.

Step 4: Review the changes. You can resize the partitions here. If all is OK, click Next.

Step 5: Read the NOTE information and then click Finish. Then, click the Apply button to start executing the OS migration operation.

Stage 2. Install or Replace 2242 SSD

At this stage, I just give you a brief guide. The specific process may vary depending on your PC model.

1. Disconnect the power cable.
2. Shut down your laptop.
3. Remove the screws that fasten your PC base plate and then remove the base plate.
4. Remove the battery and then press the Power button for 15 seconds to use up any remaining power.
5. Then, find the M.2 2242 slot on the motherboard. It may be shielded by a piece of black plastic film.
6. Lift the piece of black plastic film and remove the screw that fastens the original 2242 SSD.
7. Remove the original 2242 SSD and then place the new 2242 SSD.
8. Fasten the new 2242 SSD using the screw.
9. After that, place the battery and base plate back. Then, you can boot the computer to see if it can work normally.

Do you want to install or replace 2242 SSD? If so, this post is for you. It offers a detailed guide.Click to Tweet

2242 SSD Replacement FAQ

Bottom Line

This post introduces 2242 SSDs and compares 2242 with 2280 SSDs. It also shows you how to install or replace 2242 SSDs. During this process, if you encounter problems when using MiniTool Partition Wizard, feel free to contact us via [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as possible.