>>
>> So for me;
>>
>> 1) Clone
>> 2) Check you have everything copied to a USB stick that you need to save
>> 3) Decide whether or not to subsequently do a clean install.
>>
I think I agree.
If I were me (oh, I am...) I'd probably do a clean install, because I'm reasonably confident in overcoming driver etc. problems (though I think there will be few, if any), but I would certainly want to assess how easy it will be to obtain install files and product keys for all the non-OS applications I still need, and will wish to re-install.
The re-installation of Windows is relatively easy and quick; the subsequent rebuild back to something that resembles the original start position might not be so.
A clean install (especially from the MS download), is likely to run rather better than a years old upgrade.
If I were Bobby, however, with somewhat less knowledge and confidence, I think I'd probably try the clone first, since if successful that should provide him with a laptop that is much like the one he already knows and loves, without any further work, and still leaves the option of a clean install (anytime down the line) if it doesn't work, or there are subsequent issues.
If it works, the whole process will be quicker.
My feeling is that the clone might fail (and since Macrium will, if asked, do an integrity check in the process of doing the clone, it probably will if there are problems getting some sectors to read). Given that integrity check, however, it is less likely that there will be major issues down the line if the clone appears to have worked.
If the clone does fail, then nothing has been lost but a bit of time, and a small (insignificant enough) amount of the SSD's life. The next step would be a clean install to the SSD.
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I still think I would like further confirmation (other than Lenovo tool feedback) of the fact that the disk is having (hardware) problems, rather than there being some other issue, since if it isn't then cloning is not necessarily the correct step.
Bobby, there are various ways of carrying out such a check, but to make it fairly simple, I would suggest you download and install "Seatools for Windows" from the bottom link on this page here:
www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/downloads/seatools/
Whilst it is designed for use with Seagate disks, (and will do rather more with these) it will do basic tests on any make, and is simple to use and understand.
If, once installed, you fire it up, it should search for, and find, your one installed physical disk. If you tick the selection box next to it, go up to the "Basic Tests", click that and then select "Short Drive Self Test" it will run the DST that your Lenovo reporting is saying is failing. It will show progress, and should, of course, ultimately report a failure - if not, there might be a rethink (after running one of the more rigorous tests).
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I think, for the way ahead, the existence and content of the D: drive is of no consequence, other than to confuse me why it has been set up like that. It will be largely irrelevant to either cloning (as it isn't the Windows install location) or to a clean install. Thanks for checking contents though, Bobby.
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I know Crucial link to Acronis, I'd suggest Macrium (free) because I've used it, the instructions for a simple clone are very straightforward, and I know it will do a file system verify as part of the process (which is pretty relevant in your case). Your call though.
Let us know your preferred way forward.
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