Best way to migrate Win10 to new HDD

Title really says it all.

I am getting my mother an upgraded MB/Processor/RAM for Xmas as she's on a MB from 2009 currently <LOL>

The computer has a 1st or 2nd generation SATA 300GB HDD and the bundle package I ordered came with a brand new 1TB SATA HDD.

Aside from putting in the new components and taking care of making sure the licensing issues are resolved before I do any HDD migration; I am looking for opinions on what would be the best way to move the Win10 installation from the older slower HDD to the newer one?

Looking around on the web opinions vary between using some program someone wants you to pay for to mirror image the drive, to installing Win10 fresh on the new drive and then telling Windows to migrate everything over, to simply setting up the new drive as a system drive and copying all the files and folders from the old to the new.

Anyone have a good opinion on this?

Thank You

A system imaging program such as Macrium Reflect, which is free, http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx would be the easiest way. IMO

Yep - Macrium Reflect Free which is....well....Free.

Make sure the old computer is logged into with a Microsoft Account to link the digital entitlement for Windows 10 to the Microsoft Account so you can run the activation troubleshooter when you transfer it to the new computer.

With so much change chances are it wont activate and may not even boot if the hardware is a lot different

Samuria said:

With so much change chances are it wont activate and may not even boot if the hardware is a lot different

Sure it will. Windows 10 is the most tolerant OS to moving to a new computer than any other OS. The first screen on booting on the new computer will hang for a few minutes with the message installing new devices and then load from there.

As far as a activation, Microsoft has made specific provisions for moving the digital license via a Microsoft account.

The easiest way to move your system partition to new HDD is by using the tool EaseUS Todo Backup. Just download the software, and you’re almost ready. Also, it is recommended to perform a defrag of your system hard drive.

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Yea I already got Windows to reactivate itself after the hardware changes. Had to kind of dig into the activation apps a bit but once I did I just had to tell it this was the same machine still with hardware updates. I will give the Macrium Reflect program a try.

Thanks