I got a new SSD drive and want to clone the old hard drive to the new but smaller SSD drive. For that I need to leave a downloads folder out of the cloning. How can I do that? Is there a cloning app that let's me choose what I can clone?
It is really bad that, new SSD drive is smaller older HDD. You can create some Data Backup Discs with blank DVD Discs.
The dd command can do that easily (even if it's a bootable drive). If you're not running Linux, you can download dd for Windows. You may have to compact the existing drive first - it depends on how much of it is used. (You'll have to read the dd tutorial and learn how to use it. No one can give you an exact command for your drive - it depends on the way the drive has been used. You'll understand what I mean once/if you read the tutorial.)