It is possible, and IMO ideal, to NOT use a USB-to-SATA. Instead, use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to make a Windows 10 install USB stick or ISO DVD. Make this using the computer you will put the SSD in and check the box to make the files tailored to that computer. Then, disable SecureBoot, install the SSD, and boot off of the USB drive or ISO DVD. Delete and format existing partitions on the drive, and then allow the clean install to do itself.
Cloning is rarely as good as a clean install. Further, with cloning you cannot upgrade certain aspects. For example, if you have a newer computer, it may use Legacy BIOS for an older OS, but be able to use the superior UEFI. As the primary C drive partition, using NTFS w/ GPT is superior to any other file system and NTFS w/ MBR.
As for the IO errors, you can plug the drive into a USB enclosure and use CrystalDiskInfo to pull SMART data. While never 100% accurate, it does a pretty good job at predicting drive failure and alerting you to any of the fail indicators.
