How to replace HDD with SSD on Windows 10 Home

This is a HP laptop, Model 17z with Windows 10 Home edition.

It has a 1 TB HDD which is a 2.5 inch SATA drive, model: WDC WD10JPVX-60JC3T0

I plan to replace with same size 1 TB SATA SSD

I also have a "USB 3.0 to 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD Cable w/UASP" which has a USB 3.0 A on one end and a SATA 7+15 pin on the other end.

What is the easiest way to replace the HDD with SSD?

If I connect the new SSD to this cable, then run the Microsoft Windows Backup will it create an exact image of the entire HDD onto the SSD with all partions?

Then when i physically replace the HDD with SSD and power up it will work as before?

Or do I have to find a separate large enough USB drive to put the backup on and then restore from that?

thanks for your response

best

@win10user1010 hello and welcome to TF ,

One way to do it:
1. Install Macrium Reflect Free (MR) on your PC/current HDD boot drive.
2. Make a bootable MR Rescue USB from within the MR app installed in step 1.
3. Connect your new SSD to the USB cable and connect the cable to a USB port on PC.
4. Boot from the MR Rescue USB (you will have to enter your BIOS and configure it to boot from USB first).
5. Clone the internal HDD as source to the new SSD as destination.
6. When the clone is done, turn off the PC, remove the MR USB, remove the old boot HDD for safe keeping, install the new SSD in its place.
7. Turn on the PC, enter BIOS, and set the new SSD to boot first. Exit BIOS and let the PC boot from new SSD.
8. PC should boot from the new SSD.
9. Login to Windows and everything should work as before.

MR tutorial: Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

There are many ways to get from here to China. This is just one

There are some good video tutorials on upgrading from HDD to SSD found on YouTube.

If your laptop can hold two drives, we can discuss how to use the HDD as extra storage later. I like to take the safe route and do that after you confirm the SSD boots and works fine.

I've always just cloned with Macrium Reflect in the past without issues.

NavyLCDR said:

I've always just cloned with Macrium Reflect in the past without issues.

Same as my experience using Samsung Data Migration. Making an image would take time and require storage which isn't always available.

I have cloned HDD to SSD with Macrium and all works fine as @steve108 and @NavyLCDR have suggested.

I wonder why cloning works good for some and not for others? I have never used the clone feature and have the computer boot without the need of doing a boot repair. I never had a boot problem when doing a image restore to a new drive.

Winuser said:

I wonder why cloning works good for some and not for others? I have never used the clone feature and have the computer boot without the need of doing a boot repair. I never had a boot problem when doing a image restore to a new drive.

Who said clonining didn't work here? Did I miss that?

steve108 said:

Who said clonining didn't work here? Did I miss that?

I said it by asking the question in my post. For some it works great and for others it doesn't.