Upgrade Laptop HDD to SSD

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richiestang_78

richiestang_78

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Mar 3, 2015
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So I recently did a Reset install of Windows 10 on my 4 year old Dell laptop and was thinking about picking up a cheap 250 or 500GB SSD and swap out the slow HDD.

My question is how do I simply clone the drive to a new one? I don't have any data I'm afraid to lose but don't have access to Windows to install it on the drive as the Dell Partition only has Windows 8 on it.

The drive inside is a 500GB but I am only using 88 GB of it.
 
Solution
geofelt
I have changed out the hard drive for a ssd to good effect on all the laptops our family owns.
For me, it is simplicity itself.
Buy a Samsung ssd of the capacity you want.
It should be at least large enough to hold the used contents of your current hard drive.
Use the free Samsung ssd migration aid to move the "C" drive to a Samsung ssd.
This is a move operation, not a bit for bit clone.
I do not know if it moves the proprietary dell recovery partition or not.
If you do not have a second sata slot on the laptop, use a usb to sata adapter cable to do the move.
Laptops have many specialized drivers and it may be hard to find them all if you will be doing a clean install.
If your laptop is operating well now, save yourself some hassle.
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Martell1977

Martell1977

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Oct 26, 2010
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If you did the free Windows 10 upgrade, then you can install Windows 10 from the MS website and just use the account you used for the upgrade and it will activate. Windows 10 registers with a digital entitlement, so as long as you don't make major changes, you can reinstall on that machine as needed. Just download the ISO to a USB drive or burn to a DVD and run the installation.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If you are running on a upgraded version now, it's likely a good idea to do the fresh install. Be sure to download any and all drivers needed for the laptop before doing the upgrade.

Also, you can buy a $10 enclosure and turn your old HDD into a external USB drive.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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You can clone it, but a clean install is preferred. Especially if you don't have anything critical in there.

Clean install of Win 10 here:
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

----------------
If you wish to clone it tot he new drive, you'll need to obtain a USB dock or cable to connect the new drive to.
Then, just like this:
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------
 
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richiestang_78

richiestang_78

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Mar 3, 2015
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I used the Windows Reset this PC tool that's in the Recovery control and Windows did its thing.

As far as Re-downloading Windows, although it is a legit copy of Windows from Dell I have no idea or don't remember an Account for it when I set up the computer or did the Windows 10 free upgrade.

I just want to copy the contents including the partitions/drivers/etc from the old HDD to a new SDD and put it in the computer.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
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Mar 16, 2013
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For a new clean install on the new drive, you won't need any account details or anything.
The system is already activated.
During the install, when it asks for the license key, Skip.
It will activate itself when it goes on line later.

Or, a clone operation, per steps listed above.
 
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Martell1977

Martell1977

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Oct 26, 2010
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I've always logged in with a MS account on Windows 10 and my systems show there. But it should activate regardless, apparently. Either way will work, but a fresh installation is preferable.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
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I have changed out the hard drive for a ssd to good effect on all the laptops our family owns.
For me, it is simplicity itself.
Buy a Samsung ssd of the capacity you want.
It should be at least large enough to hold the used contents of your current hard drive.
Use the free Samsung ssd migration aid to move the "C" drive to a Samsung ssd.
This is a move operation, not a bit for bit clone.
I do not know if it moves the proprietary dell recovery partition or not.
If you do not have a second sata slot on the laptop, use a usb to sata adapter cable to do the move.
Laptops have many specialized drivers and it may be hard to find them all if you will be doing a clean install.
If your laptop is operating well now, save yourself some hassle.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
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