Which Is The Best Least Complicated Way To Clone And Install An Ssd

I have a Dell laptop running 64bit Windows 10
It has 500 GB hard drive and 4gb memory
I wish to clone and insert a 240Gb SSD
Is there an easy method for a novice
of the 500 gb HD only 55GB is being used by the OS and files

Would I be best to do a factory reset first and maybe a fresh install of Win 10 so that I won't be transferring junk along with windows etc?

 

Minitool has a wizard that might be of use.
You could reduce the size of your partitions with the same tool.
s.

 

Can you link the following jpg to the above posting? s.

 

Sometimes a fresh install can be a good thing. If the existing install of Windows has gone through multiple major Microsoft version updates and/or you've installed then uninstalled a lot of programs, it's possible your current Windows install may have some corruption (to check, hold down the Windows Logo key (between "ctrl" and "alt" on the bottom left), press "X", choose "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the drop-down menu and type in sfc /scannow. If the scan shows no errors it isn't corrupted. If it ends with unresolved errors, a fresh reinstall is the easiest way to go without having an IT Degree).

It's also good if you don't want to go to the trouble of cloning. Just remember:

• Backup all your files first.
• Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 10 will auto-detect your existing license once finished and connected to the Internet.
• You will have to reinstall all of your software (Word, Excel, McAfee, etc.) and your printer drivers. Be sure you have the discs and/or license codes for such software available before you begin.

Hope this helps.

 

You can also use the Backup applet in Control Panel:

1. Create a system image on an external drive.
2. At the end of the process, create a recovery disc.
3. Remove the hard drive.
4. Install the SSD.
5. Plug in the external drive.
6. Boot off the recovery disc.
7. Restore your system image to the SSD.

If anything goes wrong, then you still have your original setup on the hard drive.

 

Thanks to all for the advice. I managed to clone my HD and now have everythinh on the 240GB SSD. My only question now is that there are several partitions which take up space so I'm wondering which are necessary and which are not and can be removed
I think one of the partitions is for factory reset

 

Take a screenshot of Computer Management > Disk Management and post it.

 

Thank you, here it is

 

I would not remove any of those partitions. The only thing that could stand to be addressed is the 2.9 GB of unallocated space at the end of the drive. That should have been put into the C: partition so you could actually use it. This could be easily fixed by one of the disk partitioning tools here on MajorGeeks. Have you ever done anything like this before?

 

No, I haven't done

 

[QUOTE="Mister Krinkle,This could be easily fixed by one of the disk partitioning tools here on MajorGeeks. Have you ever done anything like this before?[/QUOTE]
Thank you for your advice. Would you be ok to suggest which program and any advice on using it. Thanks

 

I mentioned Mini tool a while back.
More info can be found here.
It could answer a few questions.
Good luck,
s.

 

Like Stephen_c16 said, MiniTool Partition Wizard will do the trick; Aomei Partition Assistant works well, too. Here's what you want to do:

1. Back up your data. This is not an optional step. You shouldn't have any problems with either of these partition managers, but considering the nature of their work, better safe than sorry.
2. Install the program, and then launch it.
3. Select the drive that you want to modify.
4. Select the 665 MB partition, and tell the software to move it. Drag the partition to the end of the drive. This will put the 2.9 GB of unallocated space between that partition and the C: partition. Apply the change.
5. Select the C: partition, and tell the software to resize it. Extend the partition to use all of the unallocated space. Apply the change. This will likely require a reboot to take effect.
6. After you have logged back in to Windows, launch the partition program one more time and take a look at the drive map. There should be no more unallocated space on the C: drive.

That's it. You can uninstall the partition program now.