My Acer Nitro AN515-55 is completely unusable and the screen is broken, so I can't access anything normally. It contains two SSDs with important and sentimental files. I was transferring the files to an external USB drive when the laptop failed. What's the safest way to remove the SSDs and copy the data using another computer? Do I need a specific adapter, and does the exact product number matter?
3 Answers
The drives may still be perfectly healthy even if the laptop itself is dead. If you’re comfortable opening the bottom cover, disconnect the battery first, remove both SSDs, and connect them one at a time to another computer. If you’re not used to working inside laptops, a repair shop can remove and test them safely, though there will be a service charge.
Remove the SSDs and connect them to another computer with the appropriate USB enclosure or adapter, then copy the files normally. The exact laptop product number usually isn’t necessary, but you do need to identify whether each drive is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD or an M.2 NVMe drive. SATA and NVMe use different adapters, so check the connector and drive label before buying anything. You can also install the drives directly into another desktop if it has compatible ports.
They’re only universal within the SATA type. An M.2 NVMe drive needs a separate NVMe USB enclosure, while a 2.5-inch SATA drive needs a SATA-to-USB adapter or enclosure.
M.2 NVMe USB enclosures are readily available and are often inexpensive. If one of the drives is an NVMe stick, put it in an NVMe enclosure and use it like an external drive. Just make sure the enclosure supports the drive’s interface; an M.2 SATA enclosure and an M.2 NVMe enclosure are not interchangeable.
Are USB-to-SATA adapters universal, or should I look for a particular type?