Windows 7: Fresh install want to keep some files, 7229 to 7600

Upgrading everything but HD, Have files and install from old 7229 build and have upgraded board Proc & mem,

Best way copy off wanted files and do a fresh w quick format.

Not always practical for me, I have no Sata ports free on my other machines all external are USB ide encloser, this is for a friend and need a way to do this. Can I install 7 on this sata drive and keep the few dirs I need without endangering the integrity of the install?

Many thanks
Have searched

Best way to copy files over to another install is to copy them to a usb storage device. Either by hand or using the easy transfer tool.

Not sure what you mean there? It's always better to backup files and folder before you install an OS.

hi zooman, welcome to the forums,

you could also make a new partition on your hard drive, and move all files you want to keep there.

you can also arrange things so all your documents, pictures, music etc get saved on new partition by default.

advantage is, if you need to format c: and wipe windows, all your personal files on d: will remain untouched.

I have everything up and running w/ a 7600 update install. If I do a fresh install will windows find and use my current drivers or will I have to do myself? Whats a good free program for backing up drivers?

windows will keep your existing drivers if you upgrade, but will wipe on a fresh install,

if you want free driver backup/restore software, try here. i haven't tried any myself - i use driver-genius, but it's not free.

^Tanks! Getting it down now from littlestar.

Thanks for the info.
Coming here daily since March. Have had 7 installed since then too.

My question was answered by me. I had a pc that I set up for a friend. Installed 7 and added some ram and life was good. Old Asus 478 p4 3.0 MHZ. A power surge later I’m installing a new E5400 on a Gigabyte board p43 series.
I was finished building and I wanted to see the CMOS (new to Gigabyte) I missed the Del key, It booted and ran fine, did one reboot. The board is Windows 7 certified, ? Added a few items from Gigabyte but no drivers where needed. I’m a big Asus fan but that was nice for a change not to fight to install.