Changing the drive should not affect the warranty.
You can clone the original drive directly over to a new 500GB SSD, easily.
You'll need a USB cable like this:
https/www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84
Some drives come with one included.
How to?
This was written for a desktop, but the procedure is basically the same.
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Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install
Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
[strike]Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive[/strike]
Take out the old HDD< and replace it with the new SSD.
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up
It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.
If it works, and it should, all is good.
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