Hardwired IT upgrades slow computers to solid-state drives on-site across Ottawa, sending a certified technician to your home to back up your data, swap the hard drive for an SSD, and clone your files, programs, and settings across. The technician confirms your machine's drive type and the right SSD size on-site and quotes an exact price before any work begins.
The most common reason Ottawa residents call us is a computer that "just got slow." The assumption is usually that it's time for a new computer. In the majority of cases, that's not true.
Most laptops sold between 2015 and 2021 came with spinning hard drives — also called HDDs. These drives use magnetic platters and a mechanical read head that physically moves to access your data. It's slow by design, and it only gets slower as the drive ages and fills up. When you combine a full, aging HDD with a modern operating system that expects fast storage, the result is exactly what you're experiencing: a startup that takes five minutes, programs that freeze while loading, and a browser that lags with only a few tabs open.
Replacing that hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD) is the single most impactful upgrade you can make to an otherwise functional computer. We've done this hundreds of times across Ottawa. The transformation is immediate and dramatic — customers who've been putting up with a slow machine for years are genuinely surprised at the difference. A laptop from 2018 with an SSD often outperforms a brand-new budget machine with a spinning drive.
We tell you honestly before starting whether an SSD upgrade will solve your specific problem. If there's another issue contributing to slowness — too little RAM, a failing battery, malware — we'll diagnose that too and give you the full picture before any work begins.
The gap between a spinning hard drive and a solid-state drive isn't subtle. Here's what changes the moment you boot from an SSD.
The mechanics behind this: a hard drive's read head must physically seek to the location of your data on a spinning platter. An SSD uses flash memory chips — no moving parts, no seeking, just instant electronic access. The difference in access time is measured in milliseconds vs microseconds.
From the moment we arrive to the moment your computer is running fast, here's exactly what happens.
We check your current drive's health using diagnostic tools, confirm the SSD form factor and interface your laptop or desktop supports (SATA, M.2, NVMe), and discuss the right storage capacity for your usage. This takes about 10–15 minutes.
Before touching the drive, we create a full backup of your personal files to an external drive — photos, documents, downloads, browser data. If anything unexpected happens during the process, your data is safe. This step is never skipped.
We open the laptop or desktop (we bring the right tools), remove the old hard drive, and install the new SSD. For most laptops, this takes under 15 minutes. Desktop towers can take slightly longer depending on the case design.
We clone your entire original drive to the SSD — this creates an exact copy including Windows, your programs, your settings, and your files. In cases where the OS has years of software buildup, a fresh Windows install with file restoration may be a better option. We discuss this with you before deciding.
We boot from the new SSD, confirm Windows activates, verify all your files and programs are accessible, test the boot speed, and walk you through the results before we pack up. You see the difference before we leave.
No — not if you use us. This is the question we get asked most often, and the answer is straightforward: we clone your entire drive before doing anything else. Cloning creates a sector-by-sector copy of your original hard drive onto the new SSD. Every file, every installed program, every browser bookmark, every saved password, and your entire Windows installation transfers exactly as it was.
On top of the clone, we do a separate file-level backup of your personal files at the start of every job. So even if something unexpected happened during the process — which is rare — your documents and photos are already safe on an external drive.
There are situations where a fresh Windows install makes more sense than cloning — specifically when the current installation is heavily bloated with years of accumulated software, registry errors, or malware remnants. In those cases, a clean install of Windows on the SSD combined with a restore of your personal files often produces a better result than carrying over a problem-laden OS. We'll explain which situation you're in before we start, and you decide.
The short answer: you will not lose your files. We've done this hundreds of times and have never lost customer data.
In most cases, yes — particularly if the laptop is otherwise working correctly. If your only problem is that it's slow, and the slowness is coming from the hard drive, an SSD upgrade gives you a computer that feels brand new at a fraction of replacement cost.
Laptops from 2016 to 2021 with a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, 8GB or more of RAM, and no other hardware issues are excellent SSD upgrade candidates. The CPU in those machines is not what's limiting performance — the storage is. Swap the drive, and you've solved the problem.
When it might not be worth it: if the laptop has a failing battery that also needs replacement, a damaged hinge, a cracked screen, and an 8-year-old single-core processor, the math changes. We'll give you an honest cost comparison between upgrading and replacing. Some situations genuinely do call for a new computer — we'll tell you when you're in one of them.
The CompTIA A+ certified technician we dispatch has seen thousands of these machines. The assessment is free, and you'll have a clear picture of your options before committing to anything.
Your quote covers labour plus the SSD itself, confirmed in full before we start anything. You only pay once you approve it.
Quality SSDs from trusted brands are included in your quote, with the cost depending on the drive size you need. We only use drives we'd put in our own machines — no grey-market parts — and confirm the exact price before we start.
Labour covers the full upgrade process: assessment, backup, physical installation, drive cloning or fresh OS install, and post-upgrade verification. You get a firm quote before we begin — no surprises on the invoice.
First service? Use code WELCOME25 for $25 off. Seniors, veterans, students, and first responders receive 10% off. The two discounts are not combinable — whichever saves you more applies.
If the SSD upgrade doesn't solve the problem we diagnosed, you don't pay. We assess thoroughly before recommending any upgrade — we won't sell you a repair you don't need.
Free estimate — no obligation. Call (613) 416-9482 or book online to get a quote for your specific laptop or desktop model.
We dispatch on-site technicians across the National Capital Region. No shop visit, no transport risk, no days without your computer.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call (613) 416-9482 — we'll tell you right away.
A customer in Barrhaven brought us in for a Dell Inspiron that took over five minutes to boot and froze constantly; he assumed it was beyond saving. The diagnosis showed a healthy machine bottlenecked entirely by its original spinning hard drive. We had a quality SSD on hand, cloned his drive so nothing was lost, and swapped it — the laptop booted in under 20 seconds afterward, all in about 90 minutes.
Usually 1–2 hours on-site. We clone your drive, swap the hardware, and verify everything works before we leave.
No. We clone your entire drive to the new SSD — your files, programs, settings, and passwords all transfer. We also do a backup first. Nothing is lost.
Most customers see boot times drop from 4–8 minutes to under 20 seconds. Programs open 3–5x faster. For most people, the computer feels brand new.
In most cases, yes — especially if the laptop is otherwise in good condition. If the only reason it feels slow is the hard drive, an SSD upgrade gives you 2–3 more years of useful life at a fraction of replacement cost. We'll tell you honestly if your situation is different.
For most home users, 500GB–1TB is the right choice. We assess your current storage usage and recommend the right size. We only use quality drives.
Yes — Hardwired IT is a mobile service. We bring all the tools and drive to you, anywhere in Ottawa or Gatineau. No shop visit needed.
A hard drive (HDD) uses spinning magnetic disks to read/write data — slow and mechanical. An SSD (Solid State Drive) uses flash memory with no moving parts — dramatically faster, quieter, and more durable.
If the SSD upgrade doesn't solve the problem, our no-fix-no-fee guarantee applies. We diagnose fully before recommending any repair and give you an honest assessment upfront.
A certified Hardwired IT technician comes to you — same-day in Ottawa and Gatineau. Free estimate, no obligation.
Or call us directly: (613) 416-9482
Available 8am – 10pm, every day. English and French service.