Replacing HDD of my HP Envy 15 with SSD

[ARJEE]

I have an old HP Envy 15-ho40 notebook (purchased 2013), with 12gb Ram and 1tb storage. It has gone deadly slow in every way - startup, operation and shutdown. I hear people say that replacing my HDD with an SSD will make it run much faster.  Could someone please advise me as to how to go about it - hardware, software and the process involved? Any HP-specific video or guide.

My Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64 bit (non-Windows 11 compatible)

Processor: Intel Core i7-4700MQ CPU @ 2.40GHz

[erico]

You can replace the HDD with a 2.5" (7mm) SSD.

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp-compaq/envy-touchsmart-15-j040el

Unfortunately, there are no HP specific videos, except  for third party videos on YouTube
The first one has no sound. 

It isn't as difficult as the creator of this video says it is.  Your laptop does not even require complete removal of the bas. Lucky you!

Another disassembly video. Don't use a power tool like the guy in this video does!

https://youtu.be/kmb6E97s4Rk?si=t3VYrQTwqcs9Hxpu

If you want a fast Windows 10 installation, make yours a fresh installation Windows 10. 

Once you create a Windows 10 installation USB and install it, the OS will self activate as soon as you connect to your home internet router. You will need a USB flash drive of at least 16GB for this. 

If you can't find drivers, go to the Windows Update Catalog.

If you need any more assistance, just let me know.

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/search.aspx?q=windows+10

I do recommend buying one of those cheap Windows 10 Pro keys. I have seen them for under $12.00

[ARJEE]

Thank you Erico for offering to help.  Since I'm a non-technical person regarding computers and hardware, my first worry was how to land the right SSD replacement for my SATA HDD.  After searching the internet I came to learn that there are mainly 4 types of SSDs (Sata 2.5",  NVMe, PCIe and M.2) with different types of connectors.  So from what you said, I have no other choice except SSD SATA 2.5".  I tried Crucial's SSD upgrade search but my HP Envy 15-j040el laptop does not feature on their data bank. 

1. Could you suggest some reliable SSD brands? I have some bad experiences with Chinese brands.

2. Will a 1tb SSD Sata be Ok to replace my HDD Sata 1tb?  There is some 43% unused space on it.

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiivZr9A100&ab_channel=EasyTechs  Do you think this Youtube guide  to cloning is OK? 

[erico]

I did provide a link with Crucial Memory's SSD products that are compatible with your laptop, but you did not click on Storage and then Compatible SSD's.

In the case of your laptop, I would not clone from the legacy HDD to the SSD.

You need a fresh installation of the operating system, since the one in the HDD has issues, causing it to be "slow".

A 1TB SATA 2.5" SSD is compatible.

PCIe NVME and M.2 SSD products are not compatible with your laptop.

Aside from their reliability, I suggested the Crucial SSD because they come with an adapter that lets it fit right in the same place where the legacy HDD did.

Your laptop, as far as I can see was delivered with Windows 8. It does not have support for Windows 10 or Windows 11.

HP does not provide drivers for it any longer, but you can source them from the Windows update catalog.

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx

You can download the Windows 10 creation utility and create a usb installer.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10%20

[ARJEE · Accepted solution]

Thank you, Erico for your advice. You're right, I did not click on storage and then compatible SSDs on the Crucial link you provided. Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-inch SSD.  I'm quite hesitant to proceed as my HP came with Windows 8 and I later upgraded to Windows 10.  In this case, cloning the HDD to a new SSD would not work out.

Any way, thank your for your help. 

[erico]

Why would you think that cloning would not work?

If you clone the Windows 10 OS to an SSD it will already be registered on the Microsoft Licensing servers.

Clone it and then go through the hassles of repairing the OS. It can be done and I can help you with it.