HP 14 - df0023cl Laptop SSD upgrade not working.

[VH2000]

Then you have to shrink the new C-Partition to 128 GB first. Then create a D-Partition. 

Try to boot from the USB-Installation (BIOS F9) and start a Backup and direct the Image to your new D-Partition.

Then run a Recovery from the D-Partition to the new shrinked C-Partition.

This has to be done by a Acronis USB-Boot medium.

Good Luck

Will be back tomorrow

[Alcon2256]

Thanks for all your help. I will give it a go tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

Best,

Al

[Alcon2256]

I tried shrinking the partition and creating a new D partition but it says "operation cannot be completed because Driver C: is in use now". So I tried booting from USB, however instead of booting it immediately goes into Windows setup to install Windows.. Any thoughts?

[VH2000]

Rightclick on "Start" and select Diskmanagement.

then Click on "C" then rightclick and select shrink volume

[Alcon2256]

Before attempting to execute all the steps you previously suggested, I wanted to recap and confirm. I am trying to replace my sole (i.e. no other drive is installed in laptop) 128GB SDD in my HP 14-Df0023cl with a 500GB drive. I originally had trouble in that operation as I was able to clone the original but the laptop could never see it. I was able to erase  the new drive and load windows and partition per your suggestion of 128GB. I have installed it in the Laptop and it does see it, so that is a  sign that it is compatible. Now I have reinstalled the old drive into the laptop and have the new drive in the SSD enclosure. The pic shows the Disckmanagement view of both drives. Is there a simpler way of essentially copying Disk 1 C:Windows into Disk 2 😧  ?

Best,

Al

[Alcon2256]

In the meantime I went back to see if I could clone the drive by reversing what drive was where (Part of your earlier suggestion). So I put the 128GB" Old" drive in the SSD enclosure and the "New" 500gb Drive (it has windows loaded) in the laptop. When I ran disk Management it shows the SSD in the laptop including the partitions but for the SSD in the enclosure it only says Drive :(F) and the partition section is completely blank.  I then swapped the drives around and then it shows both like in the pic. Any thoughts? 

[VH2000]

On 12-04-2021 03:28 PM I posted:
"It's possible, but that would be a difficult operation."

So it's not possible to boot from the disk that is attached to the external USB enclosure.
(Only very few DELL Precision Laptops provide this WIN2GO possibility)

The problem is that you go on your own and you do not follow my steps!
(ex. The photo you posted on ‎12-04-2021 02:42 PM was from a Windows environment and not from WinPE!)
But you know at least how to run "diskpart"
Your Recovery Partition has a size of 3834 MB and the original size on the 128 GB drive is 980 MB. You also have a useless 98 MB Partition.
I don't know how this happened. (Partition Wizard Free 12.6 ?) But this can be fixed later easily by diskpart!

Now you have to learn how to use ACRONIS in the right way. Acronis is just a company name. You have to tell which version you use! Start your laptop from the old 128 GB disk and prepare a USB-Recovery-Stick. Check if it boots from the stick! When you are in Acronis look around because it is different to the Windows surface! If your laptop has 2 USB-Ports you can run a Backup-Job from ACRONIS and select all the 4 Partitions for the Backup. The target for the Backup-Image should be the Data Partition (E:\) on your new 500 GB drive. Do not try to run a CLONE procedure! It will not boot!

When ready come back.

[Alcon2256]

Ok. So I have successfully run the Back-up of Original 128GB SSD  and targeted E:/ of new 500 GB SSD. (note: only 3 partitions were selectable not 4 for back-up. The 16MB was not displayed although I suspect it doesn't matter as status said "none" refer to previous pic for reference)

Also Note: Disk 0 (128 Old SSD) is in Laptop and Disk 1 (New 500GB  SSD) is in SDD enclosure and connected by USB)

See Pic. So I think I'm ready for the next step

[VH2000]

Great! Good Job!

Now you have to replace the disks. Take out the 128 GB disk and install the 500 GB Disk.

If you feel comfortable with ACRONIS, you can boot from the Acronis Boot Medium and select Recovery.

You have to select the source. That is your Image file on the E-Partition. (probably the letter E has changed.

When selected, select the target destination. Here you have to select each Partition. Step by step. The EFI Partition, The Recovery partition and the Windows partition.

When all partitions are selected you confirm and run the Recovery.

But be carefull that you don't select the E-Partition.

In 99 % of the cases, the system boots. 

If not, it's not a problem. That can be fixed easily.

Good luck

When ready, we go for the next step

[Alcon2256]

I am somewhat "comfortable" with Acronis, I'm a rocket scientist not a computer guy 🙂 

I selected the 3 partitions 

At the "Specify recover settings of Partition 1-1" What do I do here (see pic)