HDD to SSD Upgrade in Toronto
If your laptop or desktop still has a spinning hard drive, an SSD is the biggest speed-up you can buy. We fit the drive, set up Windows fresh and move your files across.
$70 + drive · Files and settings moved over · Model checked before you buy
A computer that takes several minutes to start, freezes when you open a program, or sits at 100% disk use in Task Manager is usually waiting on an old hard drive. A spinning drive has to physically find your data; an SSD doesn't, and the difference is obvious the first time you press the power button.
The job is more than swapping a part. The right drive depends on what your machine accepts: a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, a smaller M.2 stick, or a faster NVMe drive. Your Windows and files then need to move to the new drive without losing anything. We check your exact model first and tell you which drive to buy before you spend anything.
Signs Your Hard Drive Is the Problem
Takes minutes to start up
Long boots and a desktop that stays unresponsive after you sign in are classic hard drive symptoms.
Disk stuck at 100%
Task Manager shows the disk maxed out while the CPU is nearly idle. The drive is the bottleneck, not the processor.
Programs take forever to open
Browsers, Office and anything with a lot of files loads painfully slowly.
Clicking or grinding noises
A failing hard drive. Back up now; an upgrade at this stage also rescues the machine from the next failure.
Out of space on a small drive
Move to a larger SSD at the same time, so you get speed and room together.
Old laptop you'd rather keep
A 2012-2019 laptop with a decent processor and a new SSD often feels close to new for a fraction of a replacement.
SATA, M.2 or NVMe: What Your Computer Takes
Most older laptops with hard drives take a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, which drops straight into the same bay. Newer machines may use a small M.2 stick, and some of those are SATA while others are NVMe, so the same-looking slot can need different drives.
Buying the wrong one is the usual mistake, which is why we check the model first. Send us the make and model (or a photo of the label on the bottom) and we'll tell you the exact type and size to buy, or supply it ourselves.
Moving Your Windows and Files to the New Drive
We install Windows fresh on the SSD with the drivers and updates done, then move your documents, photos and settings across. Starting clean is why upgraded computers feel faster than a straight copy of years of leftovers.
Your old drive is left untouched until you've confirmed everything is there. If it was failing, tell us up front and we'll check what can be recovered before anything else is done.
From First Message to Fixed
Step 1: Send the model
Message the make and model or a photo of the label. We confirm which SSD it takes and whether the upgrade is worthwhile.
Step 2: Firm quote before any work
You get the labour price and the exact drive to buy. Nothing starts until you approve it.
Step 3: Install, migrate, test
We fit the SSD, install Windows, move your files and check the machine boots and runs properly before it comes back.
What an SSD Upgrade Costs
| Compatibility check & drive advice | Free |
| SSD upgrade + fresh Windows + data migration | $70 + drive |
| Desktop, NVMe or multi-drive jobs | Quoted after model check |
The SSD is priced by the retailer. We tell you the exact drive before you buy, or supply it and quote it separately. See full pricing.
HDD to SSD Upgrade FAQs
How much does an HDD to SSD upgrade cost in Toronto?
$70 labour for the SSD upgrade with a fresh Windows install and your data moved across, plus the drive. We'll tell you which drive suits your computer so you don't overpay.
Will I lose my files or programs?
No. Your documents, photos and settings are moved to the new drive, and your old drive stays untouched until you've confirmed everything is there. Programs are reinstalled with the fresh Windows setup, so have your licence keys or logins ready for paid software.
How much faster will it be?
For a computer that still has a hard drive, startup and program loading are usually dramatically quicker. The gain is smaller if the machine already has an SSD, in which case RAM or a clean-up is a better use of money.
What size SSD should I get?
Go at least as large as the space you actually use, plus room to grow. For most people 500 GB to 1 TB is a comfortable fit. We'll check how much you're using.
Is my laptop too old to bother?
Not necessarily. If the processor is reasonable and the rest is sound, an SSD gives it years more life. If it's not worth it, we tell you instead of selling you a drive.
Can you upgrade a MacBook or a laptop with a soldered drive?
Apple silicon MacBooks and many thin laptops have storage soldered to the board and can't be upgraded. Some older Macs and many Windows laptops can. Send us the model and we'll say which yours is.
Can you do this for a desktop PC?
Yes. Desktops often have room for an extra SSD alongside the old drive. We'll set up the SSD for Windows and keep the old drive for storage if you want.
Do you cover the GTA, or just Toronto?
Our workshop is in North York and works by appointment. You can drop the computer off, or arrange pickup from elsewhere in the GTA, charged by location and confirmed before booking.
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Send us the make and model. We'll confirm which SSD it takes and give you a firm price.