How to upgrade the SSD in your Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C or NP900X3B/C Ultrabook

-----UPDATE------
If you'd like to see some photos of ultrabook internals (including what the mSata form factor looks like), see some of my other posts:
http://uselesspuzzles.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-fix-lenovo-yoga-fan-noise.html
http://uselesspuzzles.blogspot.com/2012/03/13-ultrabook-with-8gb-ram.html
http://mobtechwatch.blogspot.com/2013/06/sony-vaio-pro-one-of-first-haswell.html
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I've had some folks ask me how to go about upgrading their storage capacity in their ultrabook.

The simplest answer is to buy a Dockbox, so you don't have to install anything to your machine or follow this guide (which is not necessarily for beginners :)

However, if you have some time, know-how, and $$, upgrading the SSD is definitely the best way to get more storage (at the fastest speed).

Here are the steps for doing it on the Samsung Series 9 (it will be pretty much the same for any ultrabook that uses the mSata form factor SSD. The Asus Zenbook Prime uses the Apple-style form factor).

1. Acquire the tools/supplies:

• Download the clonezilla iso from here
• get a 2+gB flash drive
• follow this guide to make a bootable USB flash drive with the clonezilla file you downloaded
• get an external drive or enclosure for your new SSD
• get a new ssd

2. backup your existing drive

• we need to boot to clonezilla. to do this, shut down your computer, and go to BIOS by turning it on and tapping f2 (or 'del' key in some cases) until you see a (likely) blue screen.
• in BIOS, you will likely need to navigate to where you see 'boot options' or 'boot order' to enable USB boot and move it to the first in the list. The Samsung also requires you to DISABLE 'fast boot' (on another page) and I had to disable the SSD from the boot order list entirely by highlighting it and pressing shift+1 (shift key and the number 1)
• now you can restart with the clonezilla USB stick in the machine, and it will boot to XBoot, where you can then select utilities->clonezilla. if you can't get to the XBoot screen, try using a different USB port or ensuring you have all the USB booting options enabled in BIOS. Also, make sure you created the USB stick properly ;)
• clonezilla is pretty simple to use. after it loads, plug in your external drive and you will see some weird text when it 'sees' the drive. press enter and follow the on-screen instructions to make a backup image of your ssd to the external. you can choose beginner mode, and note you use the spacebar to select which drive is which (your external will be where you store the image, and the 'source drive' will be the 120gB Sandisk/Samsung SSD)
• You can save yourself a few steps if instead of using an external drive you put your new SSD in an enclosure (effectively making it an external drive) and choosing the device->device option in clonezilla instead of device->image

3. install the new SSD & restore the image!

• After clonezilla creates the image and saves it on your external, shut down the machine, unscrew the bottom panel and look at my photos for removing the insulation tape to get to the SSD. pop that sucker out and slap in your brand new one
• Assemble, put the USB stick back in if you removed it, and this time do 'restore from image', obviously selecting the image file from your external as the source and the new SSD as the target
• Undo whatever you changed in BIOS, remove the flash drive, and boot right back to where you left off, but with your new SSD!

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them below!

-----UPDATE-----
Here are some photos for your reference:

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upgrade the np900x3b by hacking the SD slot

Having a computer that I can't upgrade is kind of a buzz kill IMO. As I'm currently roadblocked re: upgrading the RAM, I decided to see if I could upgrade something else in my Samsung Series 9 2012 13.3"

It perturbs me immensely when companies build a memory card slot that leaves part of the card sticking out. This coupled with the fact that SD cards are obsolete caused me to want to use the bay to add 64gB (or 128gB if you have the cash).

So...

To do this you need to do the following:

1. Hack a device that uses SD pinout but that is half the length

2. Open up the computer

3. Hack 1 into the SD slot

Here are photos from the operation. Without my soldering iron the closest I could get was a 32gB SD showing up (see photo of computer screen) - but when I get my tools back I will try out a microSD - > SD hacked adapter (also pictured)

13" Ultrabook with 8gB Ram?

I was severely disappointed with the Asus Zenbook when I got it many months ago- not due to the 4gB of ram, but rather the keyboard. It was unusable.

I had been waiting for the right Ultrabook to come along that could match the Zenbook's Sata III, excellent resolution & form factor, and come with a usable keyboard. At CES, I found it. The Samsung Series 9 2012. 1600x900 resolution on a 400 nit (super bright, awesome viewing angles) panel w/ i5, supporting Sata III (or so I was told), 2.5lbs, .5" thick, nice battery, gorgeous form factor, awesome keyboard - etc.

Now that it's finally out, I did some research and decided to go for it.

I found this:

http://answers.uk.samsung.com/answers/7463-en_gb/product/NP900X3B-A01UK/samsung-np900x3b-series-9-notebook-questions-answers/questions.htm

Which is a Samsung rep clearly stating that the NP900X3B (B for 2012, 3 for 13") can take 8gB of ram. Awesome!

So... it came yesterday. I opened it up. Really looks like the RAM is soldered underneath the metal grate, doesn't it?

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UPDATE (7/7/2012):
I noticed this post gets a decent amount of traffic. If you are still seeking an ultrabook with 8gB RAM, consider the new (NP900X4C) Samsung Series 9 15". It has the brightest screen of any ultrabook (400 nits), is only 3.6 pounds and .58" thick, and has a 10 hour battery life. I wrote up a teardown of it here.

I actually upgraded mine from 8gB RAM to 16gB RAM.

I also wrote up a comparison of the Samsung Series 9 to the Macbook Air on my other blog.