In most laptops, the hard disk or SSD sits under the bottom cover, either in a 2.5-inch bay or an M.2 slot on the motherboard.
You came here to find the storage fast. Here’s the short version: on the vast majority of notebooks, the drive lives beneath the bottom panel. Older or thicker models use a 2.5-inch bay with a small bracket. Many slim models use an M.2 stick-shaped SSD that plugs into a slot on the system board, often under a thin metal cover or heatshield.
Hard Drive Position In Most Laptops
Manufacturers keep the storage close to the mainboard for short cable runs and shock protection. That usually means a bay or slot near the center or rear of the chassis. A removable base cover exposes it in screws on business and gaming models. On some ultrabooks you’ll find the M.2 slot beside the memory slots, secured with a Philips or Torx screw.
There are edge cases. A handful of older designs place the 2.5-inch bay behind a side door or under the palm rest. A few sealed designs solder storage, which can’t be swapped. The easiest way to be sure is to check the service manual for your exact model, then peek under the cover.
Two Common Storage Layouts
2.5-Inch SATA Bay
This is the classic metal or plastic caddy sized for spinning drives or 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. You’ll spot a short SATA ribbon or a rigid interposer linking the bay to the board. The bay is often near the edge so the drive can slide in and out without stressing the cable. In many mainstream notebooks the bay sits opposite the battery to balance weight.
Access steps look like this on typical models: remove the base cover, lift a small caddy, disconnect the ribbon, and transfer the caddy rails to the new drive. Some models use a foam shim or rubber rails to control vibration. Keep track of screw lengths; a long screw in a short standoff can pierce the palm rest.
M.2 Slot (SATA Or NVMe)
An M.2 SSD is a slim circuit board that slides into a notched slot on the motherboard at a shallow angle, then lies flat under a tiny screw. The slot might be labeled 2280, 2260, or 2242, which matches the length of the stick in millimeters. Performance drives use NVMe over PCIe; budget sticks may use SATA. You’ll often see a thin heat spreader or a black plastic label over the drive.
On many thin-and-light models, the M.2 sits beside the Wi-Fi card or under a shared plate. Some workstations include two or more M.2 slots; the primary one is typically closest to the CPU for best lanes. If your model shows a blank mounting post, it likely supports another stick with the right standoff.
How To Confirm The Spot On Your Model
Check The Service Manual
Every major brand posts a Hardware Maintenance Manual that shows drive location and removal steps. Look for sections like “Customer Replaceable Units,” “Storage,” or “Base Cover.” These PDFs include screw maps and part names, which saves time and guesswork.
Use A Trusted Guide
When a manual is vague, a model-specific teardown helps. Repair guides often include photos that show exactly where the bay or slot sits and which cables to watch.
Tell-Tale Visual Clues
- Rectangular bay with rubber rails — 2.5-inch storage.
- Small slot with a single screw post — M.2 SSD.
- Thin metal shield held by two small screws — heatsink above an M.2.
- Short flat ribbon — SATA interposer for a 2.5-inch drive.
Access Methods By Laptop Style
Business And Gaming Laptops
These often use a single large base cover. Remove perimeter screws, pop the clips with a plastic pick, and the storage sits in plain view. Some models add a quick-access door for the 2.5-inch bay.
Ultrabooks And Convertibles
These tend to hide screws under rubber feet and use more clips. The M.2 slot is still under the base cover, but it may sit beneath a thin plate shared with memory or Wi-Fi. Expect Torx T5 or T6 screws and an ultra-slim profile.
Older Designs With Keyboard Access
A few legacy models route the storage under the keyboard or palm rest. In those cases, the manual shows a keyboard-first sequence. If you see that pattern, stop and plan the steps before you open anything.
Prep, Safety, And Tools
Back up your data before touching hardware. Power down fully, unplug the charger, and hold the power button for a few seconds to drain residual charge. Work on a clean table. A PH0 or PH00 driver handles most screws; some covers need a T5. A plastic spudger helps release clips without marring the edge. An anti-static strap is a plus, but touching bare metal on the chassis as you handle parts works in a pinch.
Keep screws grouped by step. Phone photos of each stage make reassembly quick. Avoid metal pry tools on painted edges. Don’t yank on ribbon cables; lift their latches first. If the base cover resists, recheck for hidden screws under feet or labels.
Step-By-Step: Find And Open To The Drive
1) Identify The Exact Model
Flip the laptop over and read the full model string. Search the vendor support site for the service manual or removal guide. That document shows whether you have a bay or an M.2 slot and where it sits.
2) Remove The Base Cover
Take out all marked screws. Some are captive and stay in the cover. Pry around the edges with a plastic pick. Lift the cover from the hinge side where clips are strongest.
3) Spot The Storage
Look near the battery and memory. A 2.5-inch bay will be a flat rectangle with four small screws or rails. An M.2 stick will be a tiny board held by one screw with a label on top. If a heatshield hides the stick, remove its two screws and lift it gently.
4) Confirm Cables And Screws
For a bay drive, check the SATA ribbon and bracket. For an M.2 stick, note the screw size and standoff length. Some vendors use thread-locked screws; press firmly to avoid stripping.
When The Storage Isn’t Removable
A few thin models solder storage. Signs include the lack of any bay, no M.2 slot, and chips labeled with flash markings near the CPU. Manuals flag this by omitting a removal procedure. In these cases, you can still add space with a microSD slot, a USB-C SSD, or cloud storage. If you’re troubleshooting, run health checks before you open the case.
Brand Patterns Worth Knowing
Dell
Many Latitude, Inspiron, and Precision systems place the 2.5-inch bay near a corner and the M.2 slot mid-board. Dell’s support pages include remove-and-replace videos and full service manuals with screw maps.
Lenovo
ThinkPads typically use a one-piece bottom cover. Performance models like the P and X1 Extreme lines often include two M.2 slots under a shared plate. Manuals label storage as a CRU when users can swap it.
Quick Reference Table: Typical Locations
| Laptop Style | Likely Storage Type | Access Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstream 15-inch | 2.5-inch bay | Large base cover; bay by battery edge |
| Thin-and-light 13–14-inch | M.2 2280 | Base cover; slot near memory or Wi-Fi |
| Mobile workstation | Dual M.2 | Base cover; shared plate with small screws |
Tips For A Clean Swap
- Clone the old drive to the new one while the laptop is closed, then swap. It saves time.
- If moving from a 2.5-inch hard disk to M.2, confirm the slot supports NVMe, not just SATA.
- Keep the original drive intact until the new one boots and passes a health check.
- Save the caddy, rails, and interposer; you’ll need them if you revert.
What To Do After Reassembly
Boot into firmware and check that the new storage appears. Set the boot order if needed. In the OS, verify capacity and run a quick benchmark or a SMART check to confirm the link is healthy. Update storage drivers and firmware when a vendor tool suggests it.
When To Call A Pro
If the base cover is glued or the steps require removing the keyboard deck, weigh the risk. Paying for a swap is cheaper than a cracked case or torn cable. A repair desk can also transfer data from a failing disk before it quits.
Helpful Manuals And Guides
Here are two reliable references that show real layouts and screws. A general M.2 guide with clear photos, and an OEM service manual with labeled diagrams:
Pick a photo-rich repair guide for confidence, and keep an OEM manual nearby for part names and screw maps.
Checks Before You Open The Case
Do a quick model lookup first. Vendor pages and repair guides list storage type and whether it’s user replaceable. Some 15-inch designs ship with both a 2.5-inch bay and an M.2 slot; one sits by the front edge, the other near the center.
Common Gotchas And Fixes
- Hidden screws: rubber feet and labels often hide them.
- Drive not seen: reseat the connector; on M.2, insert at a shallow angle, then tighten the screw.
- Wrong M.2 length: confirm 2242, 2260, or 2280, and move the standoff if needed.