[SOLVED] Do you have to reinstall Windows when you upgrade laptop's hdd to ssd?

[gizmo j]

Do I need a usb flash drive to transfer the operating system?

And do I need the laptop's drivers on the flash drive along with the operating system?

 

[USAFRet]

Do I need a usb flash drive to transfer the operating system?

And do I need the laptop's drivers on the flash drive along with the operating system?

It depends.

Do you have an external drive, large enough to hold the entirety of your current HDD?
How much space is consumed on the HDD?
What size/make/model is the new SSD?
What OS is this?

 

[gizmo j]

No external hdd, 900gb worth of space on hdd 500gb sad.

Do I need the laptop's drivers on the flash drive along with the operating system?

 

[USAFRet]

No external hdd, 900gb worth of space on hdd 500gb sad.

Do I need the laptop's drivers on the flash drive along with the operating system?

Assuming you mean there is 900GB data residing on the HDD, this requires a full OS reinstall on the SSD. And all your applications as well.

You need 2x USB sticks, one for the OS install, one to hold the laptop drivers.

Assuming Win 10, create your OS here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Then, How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10