Use USB to reinstall Windows 10 on a replacement SSD

[AlbertWesker]

So I just bought a hp laptop and I want to replace the hdd with my ssd, can I use the hp recovery tool to create a recovery usb stick and then use it with my ssd? Would it work or do I must use the DVD revovery for the ssd? Thanks

[Huffer]

Depends on the size of the SSD. It needs to be likely at least a 256 gig SSD for the HP recovery disk to work, but no reason you cannot use the usb version. If you want to put Windows 10 on a smaller SSD you can make a Windows 10 install disk from the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and then harvest drivers and apps off the old hard drive. 

Post back if you have questions. 

[AlbertWesker]

Thanks for the reply, been waiting all day, I do indeed have a 256gb sandisk ssd, so based on what you described, it should work.

I've never tried USB stick recovery before, so I am not sure how it works, I want to try it out because it is a lot more convenient than using Dvds, now one more question, the hp recovery software said that I can only create 1 copy of the recovery media, what if I created the usb recovery and it didn't work, can I create the Dvd recovery or it is impossible due to the limitation? Or does it mean I can create 1 copy of each media, meaning one for usb and one for the dvd?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

No it means what it says. You get one shot and one shot only. The usb install is a little faster-no changing of disks- but obviously that usb disk is then useless for anything else if you want to store away the usb disk for possible later use. I usually make the DVDs but have done it both ways. All you have to do with the usb stick recovery is set the boot order...tap esc and then f9 to select boot source and if the usb stick is inserted it will be one of the boot options. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[AlbertWesker]

It worked, thanks