SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

I have just finished making decisions for upgrading my computer so it would run better for photo editing.
1. 16GB is doable, but 32GB better.
2. You will regret the 128GB SSD. That is what is in my computer, and I am always having to delete stuff to keep it out of the "red" zone. Just ordered a 500GB Samsung SSD from Newegg for $170. And if you take a lot of pictures, you are going to run out of space with less than 1TB. In reality, 2TB is better and I am moving up to 4TB.

PS: Another thing to consider is what your motherboard will let you do. Added components need to be compatible. Mine maxes at 32GB RAM

Robert63 Loc: Taunton MA

If I were you I would get the 500 gig ssd Crucial 500GB MX500 2.5 for 134.95 from amazon or B@H and do a clean install to the ssd and use your old drive for photos so format the old one do not use old one for operating system the whole point of an ssd is so the operating system is very fast.

timkramer Loc: PA

Definitely gonna go for a 500GB based on feedback and scale for the future. So would I clone the drive or just do a fresh install of the OS on the new drive?

Robert63 Loc: Taunton MA

I would do a fresh install if you clone all the old stuff you have comes with it what ever you installed and uninstalled there is nothing like a fresh install. The crucial is a good drive I have two of them with no issue I also have 3 Samsung with no issue but they cost more either way you will make that computer faster.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you do a fresh install, make sure to:
1) have your OS license key available
2) download the appropriate drivers for your ethernet, video, audio and any other peripherals, and save it in a place that you can easily get to it when you do the new install. Get the network up first, then the video, then everything else.
3) be sure, in addition to your data, to backup your download file. It will have the installation files for the majority of your aps and will save you lots of time searching for them.
4) enable regular restore points
5) set up a seperate administrator user with root priveliges (and a known PW), so you can get into the machine in the event your user account is compromised.

therwol Loc: USA

Fresh install is always best if you know how to do it. You have to have all of your ducks lined up in a row. Windows will find drivers to most of your hardware, but you may need some of them from HP. The manufacturer's web site may be the best source. You also need the media to do it. If you don't have it, then Microsoft will allow you to download it if you provide your product key. Once you get Windows up and running, you have to reinstall all of your software.

Cloning a drive can be a bit tricky if the drives are not the same size. There are instructions all over the internet. I've used the free Macrium Reflect software for this purpose.

therwol Loc: USA

I have some experience with putting an SSD into two older computers. They boot faster than before. They shut down faster than before. They install software and updates faster than before. Applications launch faster than before.

When it comes to data crunching, such as rendering video, they don't make much difference. The bottleneck is going to be your processor and how much RAM you have in the machine.

A clean install of Windows usually makes some difference as well. If you haven't reinstalled Windows in the past 5 years, you really should do that.

timkramer Loc: PA

I'm such a slacker! I have been swamped at work over the last week and a half and am returning to this concept. Here is what I think my plan will be:

1. Re-install Windows as has been mentioned by many of you out there and see what that does for me
2. Add the 16GB memory (currently I only have 4 but 16 is Max)
3. Replace the HDD with a 500 GB SSD

I could just skip step 1, but wanted to see if that make it better at all. Defragging seemed to work a little bit and it doesn't seem like it's running as hard. The question does come into play on whether I should worry about all this fresh install/reinstall stuff or just opt for that new machine. Here are some specs below on my laptop. This is why I wonder if it's just better to get a new desktop based on the specs below. I'm not super well-versed in whether or not some of the things are "good enough" for what I need or if it's outdated and time for some new things under the hood. If I end up getting new, I would go the route of desktop machine and use my lap top for travel.

Processor: 2.6GHz/2.1GHz AMD Dual-Core A6-4455M Accelerated Processor
Microprocessor Cache: 1MB L2 Cache
Video Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7500G Discrete-Class graphics
Hard Drive: 500GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

There's a bunch of information about what's on the motherboard, but I have no idea what to look for to see if it's even a smart idea to upgrade.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you can afford it, I would consider replacing the machine if you want to use it for photo editing. The processor is quite slow (with integrated graphics). I'll have to look back through the thread to see if you mentioned what version of Windows you're running, but if it's a 32 bit version, then you will need to upgrade that to a 64 bit version, or the extra memory you're planning won't be usable.

timkramer Loc: PA

I'm on Win10, 64-bit version

I would tend to agree TriX. I think the better option is actually just to upgrade the memory to 16GB (relatively cheap) and then doing a re-install of the OS and programs. I am sure that over the years, there is a bunch of garbage that can be removed. Then buy a nice desktop for photo editing and just using the lap top for when I am on the go.

therwol Loc: USA

Your computer wasn't sold with Windows 10, so I assume you went the free upgrade route. I don't know if you started with Windows 7 or 8. I upgraded two computers from 7, to 8 to 8.1 and then 10, and there have been a couple of major revisions in 10 since it was released. About once a week, I'd get a cryptic error message that I could never solve. Sometimes a blue screen. When I did a clean install, those problems went away, and the computer was much more lean, even with all of the applications reinstalled.

I would personally not do the clean install your current hard drive. Do it on the new SSD. You can download the media from Microsoft (Using the media creation tool. I download an.iso file and then burn it to DVD and boot it from there to install Windows. ). If you have Windows 10 on your computer already, you don't have to enter a product key, even on a new hard drive. Microsoft will recognize the machine. Skip that step when you install it.

timkramer Loc: PA

OK, so ended up getting the following bits:

1. Samsung 500GB 850 EVO SSD
2. Samsung 8GB RAM (2)

I still need to buy a drive enclosure. So now I am assuming that I would follow these steps:

1. Swap out the Memory
2. Clone the drive
3. Physically install the SSD
4. Re-install Windows 10 once the SSD boots up

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Assuming you plan to do a fresh installation, first make sure you have the Windows license key and either the Windows installation disk or a USB drive with the Windows ISO (you can download the ISO from Microsoft and write onto a USB thumb drive). Note that if you don’t wish to do a clean install, then the procedure is simpler - just install the SSD, clone the HD to the SSD and remove the HD.

1. Add the new memory - reboot and go to start, control panel and system and make sure the new memory is recognized and usable.
2. Add the new SSD. Either use the Samsung utility to partition and format the new drive, or do it manually from start, control panel, computer management, storage. If you need help with this step, let us know and I’ll describe in detail. At this stage, you could clone the HD if there’s an option not to clone Windows, just data and applications (depends on the cloning SW). if the cloning SW does not provide this option, then copy all your user data (my documents, photos) and especially the download folder to the SSD. This assumes that you’re not going to keep the HD and that you have room for both the OS and all your data on the SSD. If you intend to keep the HD and simply add the SSD, just add the SSD.
3. Shut down and remove the HD.
4. Boot with your Windows installation disk in the DVD/CD drive or the USB thumb drive with the Windows ISO plugged in. The Windows installation program should start. If you instead get a Windows or system not found error, then reboot and go into the BIOS (typically by holding down the Del key during booting - the screen will tell you). Change the boot order to add the DVD (or USB) after the HD if not already there. If it is, change the order to boot from the DVD (or USB) first. Then reboot and run the Windows installation. Windows should find the various drivers for your HW and install them. After the installation, make sure your ethernet is working and configure your video/screen resolution.
5. Re install the various applications, either from their disk or the installation executables in your download folder.

timkramer Loc: PA

Is there a way to just install the OS on the SSD and then load up the files from an external hard drive? I still have the product keys for the applications that I use so I was wondering if it's possible just to "plug and play" once the SSD has an OS to work with.

timkramer Loc: PA

Found this on the MS site...seems like it's much easier

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/clean-install-of-windows-10-os-on-new-ssd-best/9186ae98-b2b4-4b7a-b3ff-0b053ce2d1c9