Windows 7: Transfer OS on HDD to SSD & Swap-Out Drives, BUT Save OS on Old HDD??

I have my OS (Windows 7 Pro) on a 80GB HHD... That I want to upgrade to an 120GB SSD.

After the Transfer, I will Upgrade the OS to Win8 Pro. (for which I need Windows 7 installed first???)

I saw threads on "Migrating" the OS using 'Paragon Migrate OS to SSD 3.0', but I want to KEEP Windows 7 on my old HHD, in case I don't Like Win8 and want to move back later. To migrate, means 'to move', as apposed to Copy/clone... If my English is correct.

Will Paragon Migrate leave the Original copy of the OS on the HHD after the Migration to the new SSD????

I read that Using a program like Acronis will Clone the drive, but not make it Bootable. (The Bootmanager partition is not cloned???)



Is there an Easy & uncomplicated way for me to clone the whole OS to a New 'C' SSD, with the Bootsector,.... while retaining a Bootable OS copy on the Old 'C' HHD so I can swap back if needed?

I initialized the new SSD as drive 'S' in my Hot-Swap Dock... But now I'm stymimed about how to make the OS Transfer, with the New SSD as 'C' while keeping a Full copy on the old 'C' drive. I will replace the Old 'C' HHD from the Computer... The Only OS 'C' drive will be the new SSD.

A little knowledge makes me confused & paranoid and unable to make a correct decision.

Thanks in Advance for any advice you can provide!!!

I actually used the same Paragon app to "migrate" my Windows 7 setup to an SSD -- and it left the original untouched. Once I confirmed it was working OK, I erased the original setup on the HDD. You might have to reactivate on the SSD, but that should not be a problem.

When you boot using the SSD, the Windows 7 OS partition will automatically load up as "C".

Mark,.

Thanks for your reply...

Please elaborate what you mean by "... You might have to reactivate on the SSD"
I assume that you Pulled out the Old HHD and replaced it with the new SSD with the OS installed???
And then you had to reactivate it??
Didn't that mean you had to do a Quick Format also??
If it wasn't 'Active' how did you boot so you can access Disk Management??

I plan to leave my old drive with Win 7 installed... just as a spare, and in case i hate Win 8 and want to "roll-back". the HHD is only 80GB.. not much use for it otherwise. So it pays me to leave it as is.

Thanks again... I'm getting calmer about what I have to do.

he is talking about Windows 7 activation. You may need to write again the same code that is on the sticker somewhere on your PC. More often than not it won't notice though.

If you can connect both disks to the same machine at the same time, you can use AOMEI partition assistant to clone the HDD on the SDD, here is the tutorial. Download and install the partition assistant program from the bottom of that tutorial (the free version is more than enough for what you need) You need to do DISK copy if you want the clone to be bootable.
Since you are copying the system's partition (disk C), it will ask to reboot to perform the requested operations after you selected "apply". Go watch a movie on TV as it will take some time and won't need your presence there.

It even gives you instructions on what to do after you cloned the HDD. It's basically "turn off the computer, remove the old drive, place the new drive on the same cable that was used by the old drive".

At most you'll have to go in the BIOS boot options to select the SSD as boot drive, but if it is the only memory device I doubt you will have to.

As with all disk cloning, it makes a copy without erasing the original.

If you use Paragon Migrate, it will transfer the OS to the SSD. You will still have the original OS and the new one on the SSD which will still be activated if the old OS was activated. Both OS's will still work. You will just have to change the boot order in bios. You can either keep the old OS or erase the disk and use it for whatever you want.

Whatever drive you boot into will be the C drive. It makes no difference what letter you assign it now. If you assigned the new SSD 'S' drive and install it into the computer, when you boot into it, it will automatically be the C drive. Most likely your current C drive will become the S drive. You can reletter the old OS to any letter you want that is not already in use. And you will be able to boot back into the old OS drive at any time, until you erase it.

Essenbe you answered the final questions in my head... Now My comfort level is 100%.

Thank you all for contributing... This is why this Forum is the place to go when Help is needed!

BTW... Now my son is trying to convince me to do a Clean Install on the SSD and forget about doing the Win 8 upgrade altogether... maybe he is right on both counts... My current Win 7 64bit install is just a little flaky, and I really would feel more comfortable waiting for Win8 SP1... also I should try out the new interface before jumping into it... even though a New interface doesn't scare me much.. but Win 7 has been and still is a simple and solid OS... and I feel no pressing need to change! I think I'm just trying to save a few bucks by beating the Upgrade special deal deadline! I wish I knew the price in 6 months or after the SP1 release.... and I never use Windows Media player anyway, so why care about the free app inclusion before the deadline.

Ho Hum... the constant never ending upgrade Battle... Computing and technology never stands still and give us a chance to breath and just enjoy.... Pressure to stay on the cutting edge... pressure... Pressure...& Stress ...

But it is Fun... Isn't It !!!

Thanks for your response. If you decide to use Paragon Migrate, you will need to go to disk management and assign it a drive letter (the new drive) it is a simple process that takes 1 minute. I can't advise you on Windows 8. Some like it and some hate it. I have both but end up using 7 almost all the time, but still use 8 some. If your current Windows 7 is 'flaky' as you said, it may be the best idea to do a clean install. If you go that route, let us know and we will be happy to help you get a good install. Whichever way you decide to go, ley us know and we will be happy to help.

Thank you for your kind words. If you need any further help or suggestions, we will be happy to help. That's what we're here for. If you decide to do a clean install, we can show you how to do it where you can keep your current install also, just like you wanted to do. In that case just ask and we wil tell you how.