Upgrade 118 gig SSD to larger one for Windows 11

[Fixit03]

Hello and happy holidays!

I have a 118 gig SSD in my desktop, with only 10 gig remaining.

Is it easy to swap in a larger SSD so I can upgrade to Win 11?

This drive is the C drive with Win 10 installed.

My understanding is that I would have to clone a new SSD.

Has anyone else done this and is it difficult?

All comments, tips, suggestions greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

Brent

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Happy Holidays to you too, Brent.

Yes, you should be able to replace the 128 GB NVMe SSD with one having a greater storage capacity.

But since your PC only has one M.2 NVMe slot, you will have to also purchase a USB3/USB C adapter to fit the new SSD in so you can clone it.

Something like this:

UGREEN M.2 NVMe Enclosure, USB 3.2 Gen2 10Gbps Tool-Free Enclosure for NVMe PCIe M-Key(M+B Key), Ext...

Some SSD manufacturers such as Samsung offer free cloning software to clone the drive and provide instructions for use.

Samsung Magician & SSD Tools & Software Update | Samsung Semiconductor Global

That would work for one of their drives such as the Samsung 980 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD.

There is also trial software that is good for 30 days such as Macrium Reflect (bottom left corner of the link below) which you could use on any brand/model NVMe SSD you may want.

Macrium Reflect Free Trials

I don't clone drives so I wouldn't be able to provide detailed instructions for how to do that.

I find it easy enough to clean install Windows on the new drive and reinstall the few programs and files I need.

[Fixit03]

Thanks Paul for that information!...and also thank you for the detailed instructions on how to install

the Intel video driver for the uhd 630.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Brent

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Brent.

I saw your reply on the graphics driver article I posted.

If you are being offered a newer driver, that one should also work.

Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Paul

[Fixit03]

Hi Paul,

I did upgrade the driver to the latest version and it worked like a charm!

Many thanks again!

Cheers!

Brent

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime,  Brent. 

Glad to have been of assistance. 

Cheers, 

Paul 

[Fixit03]

Hi Paul, I cloned my existing Intel SSD to a Samsung SSD, the one you suggested, using Samsung Data Migration and it worked like a charm!

Now I can upgrade to Win 11.

Thanks again!

Brent

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Brent.

Glad all went well for you.

Cheers,

Paul