Upgrading Current C: Drive SSD To A Larger SSD - Best Method?

[golf nut]

Hello all, this may be an elementary issue for y'all, but I sure could use some elementary help! I have a Samsung 1208GB SSD as my C: drive now, and it's getting close to full. I'd like to upgrade to a 512GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD. I am currently running Windows 7 (have not done the free upgrade to Windows 10 yet).

I know the word "Best" in the title leaves it open for interpretation, but I don't know if it's better to just do a clone of the current C: drive onto the new SSD, or if I should do a fresh install of Windows 7, do the upgrade to Windows 10, and then re-install all my software programs. Doing a fresh install of Windows and re-installing all my software feels like a big hassle, frankly.

Please chime in with your thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CountMike]

It's easier to transfer (clone) OS from smaller drive to bigger one. You can use http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx to clone it. Note that you will have to extend main partition to extra space on new drive after finished cloning because you' end up with partitions the size of your old SSD plus un-allocated space to the end of your larger drive. It's easily fixed thru disk management in the Windows.