memory upgrade, RAM and SSD for HP 17-X051NR

[SunsShadow]

Thanks, Paul - the laptop is running fine, really only issue is very slow boot up [the HDD is a 5400rpm]

I now have all the items I need to do this:

 1. tool for opening laptop

 2. cable/adapter to connect SSD through USB 3.0 jack

 3. New RAM and SSD to install

My main concern now is what cloning software to use to clone/copy the HDD to the SSD. Been seeing a lot of ads pop up in my searches mentioning AOMEI Backupper [freeware]. Also, from some videos, have seen Acronis mentioned [the recommended go-to for WD SSDs - this is the SSD I chose]. Any advice, Paul?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I would use the free Macrium Reflect software to clone the drive.

It is easy to use.  I use it for making image backups for my PC's and I used it once to clone a 240 GB SSD to a 500 GB SSD.

You want the file on the left side of the page under the Backup at Home section.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

It works fine for both.

I prefer to clean install the OS on a new SSD and reinstall my programs and files since I don't have a lot of either to reinstall.

[SunsShadow]

That is an excellent idea, Paul! I CAN do a fresh re-install of Win 10 to this laptop for the same reasoning of having very little on it. 

The fresh install DOES sound much simpler than the cloning...

I believe I can make a USB bootable from the current install, right? And also can go to microsoft.com and get a most up-to-date boot program from them for free. I believe I should also partition the SSD before installing the new Win10 - or does the install do that for me as well?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can make a bootable W10 installation flash drive by using the Media creation tool from the link below.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

You can install the hard drive, boot from the tool and install W10 without the need for doing anything other than following the installation prompts on the screen after W10 has loaded the installation files.

After W10 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

HP Notebook - 17-x051nr (ENERGY STAR) Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support

Another thing you can do would be to use the HP cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook on the new SSD.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility...

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10, 7) | HP® Customer Support

If you use the cloud recovery tool to reinstall W10, you can then update to the latest version of W10 by clicking on the blue Update Now button on the media creation tool link I posted, to upgrade to the latest build (21H1).

That is if the 21H1 update does not show up under the Windows update section after you are connected to the internet.

[SunsShadow]

Hey, Paul

Just wanted to pass on my sincerest thanks for your assistance - the laptop is up and running with the new SSD and RAM installed! Was a bit of a stumbling block with re-installing W10, but it's done.

And WOW, does it boot up sooo fast now! I am so looking forward to how this laptop will perform when applied to it's intended purpose - astrophotography - specifically recording video through my telescope as well as being the viewfinder.

Once again, thank you so much for your help.

Kevin

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Kevin.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Enjoy your rejuvenated PC.

Paul

[SunsShadow]

Already do, Paul

In fact, come April, 2024, I'll be back here to show off what this rejuvenated laptop will help me to do.

See you in 3 years 8P