Upgrade current 128 GB SSD to 500 SSD - can I do this safely and easily?

[BarrieR]

My ENVP 700 is 4 years old functioning fine. No gaming, just photography and other usual uses.

the 2TB HDD has all files, photos, music and the 128GB SDD (the C drive) has OS and programs. The SDD is 99% full and limiting use of some programs, but I can't find much to delete. I am under the assumption that I need to keep my programs on the C drive (I could be wrong). 

I have been looking at getting a new SDD (basic SATA type, not M.2). It seems fairly straightforward to clone the current SDD to the new larger one and then install it, but then I read about BIOS and partition size and failures and I worry that this will end in disaster.

Thanks in advance

[Big_Dave · Accepted solution]

Hi,

You shouldn't have much of a problem cloning your existing SSD to another SSD. Paragon, Macrium Reflect and Acronis have free cloning software and all of guides on how to clone.

If you do clone rather than doing a HP recovery back to day one then unplug the original SSD before you boot up and then use that SATA port for your new SSD.

I tend not to recommend cloning but rather to do a full HP recovery to the new SSD using the HP recovery media.  You did make a set of the HP recovery media, right?

[BarrieR]

Thanks, your comment got me to make the HP recovery USB!

[BarrieR]

I have a new crucial 500 GB SSD and following their instructions used achronis software but was unable to get the cloning process to even begin. The SSD was connected by a SATA to USB cable to the USB 3.0 port on the HP

The computer "restarted" but hung at a black screen.

Maybe this is why you advise against cloning! If I decide to do the clean install, can you direct me to instructions?

Thanks

Barrie