Windows 7: Install to new SSD from old HDD Recovery Partition

I have a Mesh i5 750 PC base unit which performs very well but I would like to add a Corsair 60GB Force SSD 2.5" SATA-II as a boot drive, and use the original 1TB HDD as a data/games store. Can anyone tell me whether it is possible to simply install the SSD then restore the Mesh's operating system (Windows 7 64-bit HP) onto the SSD from the original HDD's recovery partition?

I have previously done a 'clean' install of a retail copy of Windows 7 64-bit to a SSD boot drive on a home-built system and remember that it had a slightly different sequence from 'normal' installations to a HDD. As I recall it created a small (100MB?) hidden partition on the SSD for nefarious Windows purposes then I had to perform a couple of registry hacks to optimise Windows 7 for a SSD, and move my default Libraries and data stores to to the 'slave' HDD.

I suppose the real question is: does a reinstallation of Windows 7 from an OEM Recovery partition (or even from a Recovery Image backed up to DVD) go through the same installation process(es) if it recognises that it is being installed onto a SSD?

Thanks in advance.

Despite what you think, it was NOT for "nefarious Windows purposes"; instead, it's the default Windows 7 setup which creates what essentially is a boot partition. It does this to allow you to fully encrypt your other partition -- the Windows 7 OS partition.

IF you create an NTFS partition on a drive in advance, you can install to THAT partition and Windows 7 then will not create the separate boot partition.

In addition to what Mark Phelps has said, it also contains a link to the Windows Recovery Console in the advanced boot options menu built into Windows 7 that you won't get without the 100MB System Reserved partition being present.



I have been working on methods to create this useful partition where needed, have a look at these links below.

Boot Windows 7 from Logical

Boot Windows 7 from a Logical Partition

click to enlarge

Now let's see if we can get you some help with the reason you're here.

Hello phoenix198.



Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going so far.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.


How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums



Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

You can try cloning your Windows 7 installation over to the SSD, but you may be better off clean installing if the calibration doesn't come out correct.

You would need to make your Recovery Disks to use to install to the new SSD. Acer has extra procedures when installing to a new drive which you should read about in the Manual on Acer's Support Downloads webpage for your model. Who knows if Recov Disks work on an SSD - Acer tech support might but don't count on it.

Unless you want all of the bloatware you'd be better off starting fresh with a clean install while other HD is unplugged, then you can plug it back in afterward to copy files in or boot it if necessary using F2 BIOS Boot Menu key.

You could try this...
Partition Image - Restore from a HDD to a SSD

Phoenix,
We really need that snapshot of the output of DiskManagement to correctly advise you.

Clear up one confusion on my part--do you have a separate Win 7 DVD for this system in which you desire to install a SSD?

Apologies for delay in posting this - I had some wetware issues to deal with.

Disk management drive map is below



D drive is an external USB drive and not relevant to the issue.

In response to a number of other queries:

• I have the original Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium OEM DVD. It is a 'Mesh' branded version but I don't think it has otherwise been crippled
• I intend using a Corsair Force 60GB SATA II SSD
• I realise that I cannot possibly squeeze a full image of my currently installed OS, App and games onto the SSD. I am therefore going to have to reinstall these after the basic Windows installation

I am starting to think it might be simpler in the long run to simply use the OEM disk for a clean install onto the SSD ...

You can dual boot for while till you get things sorted; have a look at the info below to get some ideas.

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

   Information

The easiest way to do away with boot issues between separate Operating Systems (OS) is to use the BIOS one time boot menu to select which OS to boot at system startup, each motherboard has an individual hot-key to tap during system start-up to access this menu.

If you have 2 separate Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and have one OS installed to one HDD and you want to install another OS to the second HDD, disconnect the HDD with the first OS installed on it and leave only the HDD you want to install the second OS to connected.

Just be sure not to change where the original HDD SATA cable was connected, it has to be re-connected to the exact same port to avoid boot issues.

Install the second OS to the connected HDD and when complete and the system is booting good, power down and reconnect the first HDD with the first OS on it.

This way the OSs will boot independently of each other and there will be no boot conflicts between the 2 separate OSs to have to sort later.

Then set the BIOS to boot the HDD / OS you want as default and if you want to start the other (new) OS you use the BIOS one-time boot menu to select that HDD / OS to start when the PC is started.

I have an Acer desktop and made a duplicate HDD as an emergency backup. I used imaging and this included the recovery/hidden partition (PQService). MS imaging won't move the recovery partition and I used Macrium. I used MS imaging for the rest since this is my default imaging application.
I found it a very straightforward procedure. I am happy to help here but others will need to provide specific advice on the SSD.

Acer support in my part of the world is terrible. Maybe Acer US can give simple recovery advice using the recovery disks.

But as someone suggested you can use your COA key on the Acer machine with your Retail windows 7 disk to do a clean install. gregrocker the person for this I think.