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Help for re-install of Win7 while using existing Users folder
I have a system with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed on the C: drive and the Users folders moved to the D: drive (per the directions in this tutorial “User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation”. I have a new motherboard (Asus ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3), CPU (Intel I5-2500k), memory (Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 ), SSD (Corsair Force Series GT 120GB) and Win7 Home Premium 64-bit on order that I want to swap into this system. Well, actually, I guess that it is mostly a “new” system with my old D: data drive, power supply and case.
I have a few questions about the best way to go about getting up and running with the least amount of headaches:
- The new MB has a UEFI BIOS, so does that mean that it will automatically create a GPT style disk on the SSD for the new Win7 installation, or is there the option to create a MBR style disk? The reason that I ask, is that I use Macrium Reflect Free to make drive image backups of the C: drive periodically and it doesn’t work with GPT disks apparently.
- My thoughts are to leave all of the data on the D: drive as it is, and do a clean install of Win7 on the new SSD after all of the components are swapped out. Would it be better to rename the Users folder on my D: drive, install Win7 and use the same tutorial as above to move the Users at this time, thus creating a second version of the Users folder and then delete the new and rename the old, or would it be better to install everything to the new SSD, and then after installation, then move the individual folders and point them to the existing folders on the D: drive?
- Is there a difference in moving Users folders during installation and moving after installation? It looks to me like the move during installation moves the ProgramData folder as well.
- For those that do clean re-installs, is there a good “generic” way to preserve application preferences/configurations/settings for installed applications and then be able to use them after everything is installed back? If I can use the existing Users folder that is on my D: drive after the install of Win7, will this do what I am looking for? In the past, I have used various techniques like screen prints, some apps have a preferences file that can be saved and moved back, etc..
Thanks for any assistance,
Rodney