Need help with an idea for my current situation (Windows 7 Install).

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  1. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
       #1

    Need help with an idea for my current situation (Windows 7 Install).


    Okay, long story short, my SSD crapped out on me and it happened to have Windows 7 installed on it. I still have a HDD installed which I used mostly to store games on (it's a gaming PC), and I had an idea.

    So what I was wondering was, because OCZ are being pretty slow with the RMA process, is there some way I would be able to install Windows 7 onto a new partition on the HDD with affecting anything that's already on it? My HDD as is doesn't currently have any partitions as I mostly install games on it, so I just separate things via folders. So prior to installing Windows 7, I'd need to somehow make a new partition big enough to then install Windows 7 to.

    And then, when I get my replacement SSD, install that and then Windows 7 onto that, and have that as the main boot option leaving the Windows 7 installation on my HDD unused, but as a backup incase the SSD dies again.

    Is this possible, and can someone please carefully talk me through the process if so. Simple explanations preferable!

    Thanks in advance for any help!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #2

    If you would like to be able to restore your win 7, for whatever reason, then use Win 7 Backup and Restore.

    System Image Backup - Create
    How to Create a System Image Backup in Windows 7

    System Image Recovery
    How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 7

    For advice on partitioning your disks, we need a snapshot of your present setup.

    Please read very carefully the following. Drag the field separators so that we get the info we need. Make the image using this method:

    HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY
    Run disk management:
    WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
    WIN
    is the key with the wavy flag.

    Maximize the output of Disk Management:
    ALT-Spacebar key combo (this pops up a menu) followed by X key (selects Maximize) |
    Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field. This is very important, otherwise, needed info is not visible.

    Make a snapshot:
    WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
    Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
    File | Save as | select save location and name | Save

    Post the snapshot:
    Upload a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #3

    Hello, you should be able to install win7 on the hdd temporarily and activate it. You havent specified but from your system specs, this would probably be a retail or system builder oem copy of windows. These versions are hardware sensitive so in case you have trouble activating windows after the install, you may need to go through the phone activation process and explain that you just swapped the hdd. In any case win7 can be used in trial mode for as long as 120 days.

    You'll need to create a separate primary partition on the hard disk for windows only. Your game and other data files should be on a separate logical partition. As long as they are on a separate partition, they wont be affected by changes to the primary partition. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping data backed up before changing partitions. Use PW boot CD to repartition. Alternatively, after moving your data off, just delete all the partitions on the hard disk (you can do it from the install dvd via format drive options) and let windows use the space to install. A logical partition for data can be carved out later.

    As for your question about keeping windows installed on BOTH drives, that would be a breach of the EULA- one license can only be installed once.

    Here are some helpful tuts.

    Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

    Partition or Volume - Shrink

    Partition or Volume - Create New

    Clean Install Windows 7
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ehh, I thought I made this clear, but let me just point out that currently, the PC is out of use. I have taken the SSD out, and all I have in there is the HDD with no Windows installation on it. So I have no means of making a 'Partition Wizard Bootable CD.' I'm posting on a netbook right now, so no CD drive.

    I recall being able to choose a partition to install Windows 7 to during installation, but is there an option while installing that'll let me create a partition? And yeah, it's the OEM version.

    And if I manage to do the above, when I get my replacement SSD, could I then simply delete the partition with Windows 7 on prior to installing it fresh on the SSD? that would allow me to avoid the breach of EULA right?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #5

    We're talking about resizing the hard disk partition here, the drive format options in the install dvd are pretty basic. You need to find a way to hook up that hard disk to a working computer and either partition it there or move off the data. If the data is already backed up, theres no problem because then you can just format during the install and later create additional partitions per choice.

    Yes, deleting the windows partition on the hd, then installing on ssd would be fine.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #6

    GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING YOUR WIN 7 DVD

    ■Boot up from a Windows 7 DVD.
    ■At the first dialog window, press SHIFT + F10
    ■You will have a X:> command prompt
    X: is a ram drive created by Windows 7.

    Now once there you can use the DiskPart command to partition the hard disk as you desire.

    Of course, you can just let Win 7 be the controlling factor on preparing your disk as part of the Win 7 installation.

    Here is an example of using the diskpart command
    PREPARE A DISK FOR USE
    Enter following commands, each followed by hitting ENTER:
    · DiskPart
    · List disk (lists disks in your system)
    · Select disk <numeral> (without the < and the >)
    · Detail disk (info should let you know if you selected correctly)
    · Clean ALL (your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
    This can take a considerable amount of time. Leave off the
    ALL for a much shorter clean which only cleans the boot sectors)
    · CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY(create a primary partition)
    · FORMAT FS=NTFS(format the partition)
    · ACTIVE(the partition can contain operating system startup files)
    · ASSIGN (the next available letter is assigned to disk)
    or
    ASSIGN Letter=X (Assign X as drive letter. Use the letter of your choice)
    · EXIT (only type after Clean is finished. Exits from DiskPart)
    · EXIT (this exits from the command shell)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #7

    The DiskPart command, thats the one I was thinking of. But I'm a little on edge about doing it now, as mentioned, I don't have anything from the HDD backed up so I'm a little worried about messing that data up.

    Hmm. So if I use the DiskPart command, create a new partition (how big? 30GB?), then I need to format that partition correct? then assign a letter to that partition? (all in that order?) and then during Windows 7 installation, it asks which partition to install to doesn't it?

    Also, if I manage to install it, having activated Windows 7 on the SSD already, it'll ask me to activate it again correct? But as stated, there's a trial period, and I only expect to be out of an SSD for a week or two (easily within the trial period) so I shouldn't need to activate it. And when I'm not in need of the HDD Win 7 installation anymore, how do I delete the partition? and deleting the partition should essentially set my HDD to the state it's in now, right? (one big partition, folders containing installed games and other software).

    Thanks for the help so far.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #8

    Do you have an external hard drive? See if you can plug it in, boot from your install dvd and then use this method to copy off the data to the external.

    Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

    Actually you can even copy off all the data with the copy command at the cmd prompt if the external is detected, be careful about drive letters.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #9

    No external HDD.

    I only used PCs casually until a couple of months ago when I built my first proper PC. So I've only just started focusing on important things like backing up data and such, only I still havn't got around to picking up an external HDD. I do have a backup of my SSD's Win7 installation on the HDD, but that's just a restore point.

    All I need is to make a partition on the HDD, install Windows so I'm at least able to use the computer for a couple of weeks, then delete the partition to completely get rid of the Windows 7 installation (restoring my HDD back to the state it's currently in) so I can install to the replacement SSD.

    I understand I can use the DiskPart function to create a partition on the HDD. I then use the Windows disc to install Windows to that partition. But I need to know how to then delete the partition containing Windows so I can install it to the SSD. I have no other PC to use other than this netbook at the moment. I have no external HDD, and I've only got a 2GB flash drive for additional storage at the moment.

    That's all I have to work with right now.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #10

    Well you can use Diskpart to shrink that partition but I didnt advise it because for one you have data there and the risk of data loss is always there and second, people tend to make horrendous mistakes in selecting the correct volumes in a command line setup. So dont blame me if you lose data.

    Basically you need to select the correct volume and then use "shrink desired=" command. Prior to shrinking, you can use the querymax switch to figure out how much space is actually available for shrinking. How much space you actually shrink depends on what all you install but as a temp thing, 30 gb should be fine. Follow Point 4 in the TOC in this article.

    How to Shrink and Extend NTFS Volumes in Windows Vista
      My Computer


 
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