Help needed for Upgrading from a HDD to a SSD

[MollyB2014]

I have an HP-Pavilion Power - 15-cb045wm series Laptop with a 1TB internal HDD. Model HGST STS7-2101-0A9E-630  (sorry the dashes make it easier for me to read). I have been trying for 3 days to try and upgrade to a Western Digital (WD) BlueSN570 NVMe 1TB SSD Drive. I decided to reach out before I make another attempt because I really don't think it should be this hard and I don't know what I am missing.

Here is what I have done and tried;

• Created a complete back up of my entire PC on one of my of my WD elements 3TB externals using the free edition of Acronis True Image (ATI) from WD.
• I have tried a complete clone; it has failed every time.
• Created a "Rescue Media" through the tools on ATI on the same external. 
• I have tried using ATI to recover the back up from the external on to the new SSD. It says it works, but then when I switch the boot set up in BIOS to boot from the SSD it will attempt it then go in to a loop of "Detecting Auto repair/recovery".
• I am currently doing a manual search for updates to my BIOS and other things through the HP website even through the computers utilities say it is updates. 
• I am also currently completely "cleaning" the WD 1TB SSD so I can start over. I am doing this through ATI and will double check it in the command prompt, when it is done. 

I am at a lost now as to what else I could be doing wrong. I was really wanting this upgraded SSD as my primary drive, because I am a graphic designer/artist, gamer, and I am getting in to content creation for other medias. I also purchased a WD Blue SA510 1TB SSD to install afterwards for extra storage over using the original HDD.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

See if this works.

You can use the HP cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall Windows, the drivers and the software that originally came with the PC.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.  You will need a 32 GB USB flash drive to create the recovery media with.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Microsoft Store Apps

Then temporarily disconnect the hard drive and run the bootable USB recovery drive on the new SSD.

Don't connect the hard drive back up until the installation is complete and you have tested that the drive works fine.

[MollyB2014]

Thank you for the advice. I need to pick up a flash drive on my drive home from work but I will try this method when I get home (after 10am) or tonight after I get back to work (1130pm). I will get back to you then. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[MollyB2014]

I am working on creating the windows recovery now on a new 32gb usb, Should I run ATI recovery to the new SSD first then run the windows on the new SSD? I did completely wipe out the SSD this morning this morning so I could start fresh. I also found an update to my BIOS and installed it this morning as well. (This makes me feel rather stupid when it comes to computers.) Thank you again for all your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

All you need to do after you create the recovery media is to boot from it and follow the on-screen instructions.

The media will format the drive and create the necessary partitions and the PC's drive will be set to its 'out of the box' condition.

Hopefully that will work for you.

You will need to reinstall your programs and files afterward.

[MollyB2014]

Thank you again. I found out I will need my computer and on of my programs today so I will have to wait another day or too before I can try again. I will check in later. Thankfully I am not really worried about anything else. I can re-download everything else easily enough. 😊 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[MollyB2014]

 the horror...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

What is the problem?