how to transfer my hdd to a new ssd

[Mark7000]

If I was going to replace my HDD with a SSD, how would I transfer all the data, including the OS without having to re-install everything? Is it possible? I have Windows 10 installed. But since I wont even have the 😧 partition to recover. I guess I just use an old Windows XP install disk then upgrade to Windows 10? The only Windows 7 is on my 😧 partition. If I remember correctly, Windows 10 free upgrade is only from Win 7 or 8? Then just transfer everything else to an external drive or USB memory card? HP 15-r030wm Notebook PC (ENERGY STAR) is my laptop. I just ordered an 8GB memory card for this machine. I hope that helps some. Task manager shows it running at max RAM a lot and max HDD read a lot. So I am sure doubling the RAM and using a SSD would make a decent difference in performance. Would the following SSD work with my system?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Q300-120GB-Internal-SATA-III-Solid-State-Drive-for-Laptops-Gray-/321...

The Maintenance and Service Guide does not specify any SSD.  Glad I downloaded that a long time ago. When I try to download it now, it is missing.

[WAWood]

Mark7000

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

I read your post about wanting to transfer the contents of your HDD to an SSD and wanted to help.

I have done this numerous times, so I will provide some lessons from experience ...

1) SSD size (capacity).  The easiest transfer is to an SSD with the same capacity as the hard drive.  This can be done quickly and flawlessly as it involves no partition resizing.  If you get a smaller SSD, you will have to use Disk Management to shrink the main (OS) partition to be small enough so that it, and all the other partitions you want to migrate, easily fit on the SSD.

2) Migration approach:  The quickest way is to attach the SSD to the PC using a USB-to-Drive adapter.  This will allow you to migrate the HDD contents in just one step.  Otherwise, you have to a) make a backup of the HDD to an external drive, b) insert the SSD into the PC, c) boot from some disk/USB media, d) restore the backup to the SSD.

3) Software used: My recommendation, which I use, is the free version of Macrium Reflect.

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR)
2) Connect the new drive to the PC using a USB drive adapter
3) Run MR and choose the option: "Backup --> Image Selected Disks" to clone the current drive onto the new drive.
4) Shutdown the PC when done
5) Swap the drives and reboot the PC.

You should boot from the new drive without any problems.

Since Win10 on your PC is already registered with the MS Activation servers, then don't mess around with installing Win7 and Upgrading -- that's a lot of unnecessary work.

Good Luck

I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
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[Huffer]

Just to echo the above post, installation media for Windows 10 is freely and readily available and if your computer ever had Windows 10 on it and the installation was activated, you can clean install Windows 10 back onto it if the only hardware change is a new hard drive or ssd. 

But if you want to move installed programs and data the best way as stated above is to "clone" the old drive to the new. 

[Mark7000]

Thank you for your responce. I will have to find my USB adapter. I may have to buy a new one, since we moved and can't find anything. lol  I am glad there is a free program to help out with this. I have to do it the harder way, since those SSD are so much more expensive than the old HDD type. I am only using 80GB of 500GB. So I was thinking the 120GB should be good. This laptop is a terrible design for upgrading the RAM. Of all the laptops I have had, this is the only one where you have to disasseble the whole thing to change the RAM.

[Huffer]

Awful hard these days to get by with 120 gigs. A 240 or 256 gig is just a few bucks more. Unfortunately, the "closed" no access laptop is becoming the norm now. 

[WAWood]

Mark7000

While the OS partition may only use 80GB, you want at least 10GB of free space inside that.

If you don't include the Recovery partition then take the time to make an image backup to an external drive after the SSD migration and the PC is up and running with it.

While 120GB will work, if I was doing this, I would agree with  @Huffer and go with 240GB SSD.

Good Luck

I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
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If you feel my suggestions helped you, please click the Thumbs-Up symbol to say thanks!

If they helped resolve your issue, please click "Accept As Solution" to help others find similar information.

[Mark7000]

So this would be good?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crucial-BX200-2-5-240GB-SATA-III-Internal-Solid-State-Drive-SSD-CT240BX200SS...

I want to only take it apart one time when I upgrade the RAM and HDD to 8GB RAM and SSD.