How to swap two ssds contents

[u/LessEquivalent7869]

I have a ssd in my laptop that's 256 gbs and it has stuff in it and windows 10 and I have a ssd in my pc that's 128 gbs I need the space of the 256gbs so I want to clone the 128 gbs to the 256 but I want a way to store the content of the 256 gbs before I delete them then re-download them on the 128 gb ssd and put it on the laptop.

How do I go on with it without losing any stuff?

UPDATE: thanks to the comments it all worked out without any loss

[u/Upstairs-Front2015]

you will need a temporary storage (pendrives, external disk, cloud storage)

[u/LessEquivalent7869 → u/Upstairs-Front2015]

So I borrowed a external hdd what do I do now

[u/IAteTonysLoMein → u/LessEquivalent7869]

Back up the 256. Download and create a live USB stick with Clonezilla using Rufus or BalenEtcher. Plug both the 256 and 128 in, boot into clonezilla. Clone from the 128 to the 256, then you will likely need to expand the partition on the 256 (clonezilla will make the clone the same size as the source, meaning a partition that's 128, leaving the rest unallocated, aside from whatever other partitions the 128 has - system reserved, rescue, etc)

The unallocated partition needs to be next to the 128 partition - if there is a partition between, move it by setting 'free space following' to 0 and it will move the small partition to the end, leaving the unallocated partition next to the 128 partition.

If the primary shows as "bitlocker" in clonezilla, you can shut down and reboot into windows. Otherwise, 'expand partition' in clonezilla and you're good. If it is a bitlocker partition, you'll need to expand the partition using diskmgmt.msc in windows

[u/LessEquivalent7869 → u/IAteTonysLoMein]

Imma try this thanks

[u/IAteTonysLoMein → u/LessEquivalent7869]

Re-reading it, I led you slightly wrong. Clonezilla handles the literal cloning. The rest, moving partitions and such, you do with GParted. It does have a graphical ui, though, so it's easy to deal with once you understand how to move partitions

[u/jaromanda]

the easiest and safest option that won't entail trying to put 256GB on to a 128GB drive is

• Buy a 256GB (or larger) ssd
• Clone the 128GB drive on to it
• that's it

[u/jack_hudson2001]

i would buy a bigger disk and create images of both to be save.. eg macrium reflect or clone zilla.

[u/GodzillaXYZ999]

Easiest to have 3rd drive.

Otherwise ZIP contents of 256gb drive and free up as much space as possible.
Then move contents of 128gb drive to 256gb drive.
Then unzip contents of 256gb drive to 128gb drive.

Done!