Windows 7: Removing Win 7 from HDD after clean install on SSD

I am unable to find a thread that discusses this. Can someone help me?



I installed an SSD and performed clean install of WIN 7 on it from DVD. I had a dual boot system. I installed some core programs and tested and optimized for two weeks - no more crashes and stable.
My intent was to install one program at a time from the SSD environment onto the hard drive and uninstall the program from the HDD once I found it works from the SSD. Now I cannot boot into the HDD anymore, and boot fixer does not work.
What do I need to do? I no longer need the HDD boot.
I guess I can manually delete a lot of the folders on the HDD, but I am hesitant since I have installed some of my programs on it from the SSD.
Does anyone understand my warped description and my intent?

Please boot into Windows 7 with both HD's attached and post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map with listings, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu: Screen Shots

You can copy any remaining data you need from HD into SSD or externally via Explorer now, correct?

So are you ready now to recover the System boot files into SSD and wipe the HD?

Here are the disk manager and superimposed msconfig boot tab windows.
Does this help?

Do I understand correctly:

You cannot boot from the HDD, but don't need to anymore?

What exactly is the problem?

I cannot boot from HDD.

I want to reboot to HDD only to remove all the programs I am reinstalling from the SSD (onto a folder on the HDD) - that's why I can't just reformat the HDD. ( I am installing programs I need but use inconsistently to a subfolder on the HDD as I am reinstalling them through my new Win 7 installation on the SSD in order to save SSD space and maintain speed)

I then want to remove Win 7 from the HDD and remove the dual boot option.

I have no problem accessing my files on any of the drives at this time.

I am not sure I am being very effective in explaining my intent... Or perhaps what I am trying to achieve makes no sense - educate me!!

I'm still not sure I understand your point.

Is it that you want to uninstall programs from the HDD but cannot?

Or??

In one sentence, what can't you do that you want to do?

If you are going to remove Win 7 from the HDD there is not need to boot into it to remove anything. Just delete the Win 7 directory, Windows, from that drive and then delete the User folder then the Program Files and Program Files (x86) directories. All the programs and Windows will be gone from that drive.

It would be cleaner if you can wipe the HDD after you get your data off. However if you have too much data to wipe it then we can help you move all of the data to a second partition so you can correctly remove Windows 7 which is done by deleting its partition.

You cannot copy over Programs but must reinstall them from scratch to the SSD.

Currently the SSD's boot files reside on the HD as shown by it holding the System label. To correct this mark C Active: Partition - Mark as Active

Then power down to unplug the HD, boot into BIOS setup to set the SSD first to boot. Then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Windows 7 starts and C holds the System Active boot flags.

You can then plug back in the HD to access it's data or even boot it using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key. If a Dual Boot menu persists, delete D listing in msconfig>Boot.

Your post is way confusing. If you have successfully installed 7 on the ssd and you can see the hdd drive after you`ve booted into the ssd, get all your files off the hdd onto your new ssd then format the C: partition on your hdd. Don`t format the recovery partition you might need it someday. You can then start using the partition you`ve formatted on the hdd for storage or whatever. You should make a partition on your hdd for keeping disk images.

Follow Gregs instructions to get the ssd booting on its own first.

I think I am starting to understand that formatting the drive with the unwanted windows installation is the only way to really get rid of it. Is this correct?

To clarify -
My ultimate goal is to run Windows 7 and some core, frequently used apps from SSD alone. Since this is a small SSD drive ( 60GB ), I cannot place all my applications on the SSD. So, as I am in Windows 7 on my SSD, when installing less frequently used applications that take up huge amount of space like labelmakers and video editors and games, I am changing the installation directory to a folder on the HDD.
That's why I do not want to format the HDD. That's why AddRAM's and gregrocker's solutions won't work.

So, as I am installing the new programs, I am now unable to uninstall them from the HDD as I am unable to boot into that instance of Windows 7.

WOW, perhaps there is a flaw in my reasoning?

Perhaps my logic is poor and I need some educating on how Windows 7 runs programs, etc.. Please let me know where this does or does not make sense.

I like edwar's solution, but it appears this is not a clean way to remove Windows 7 from the HDD?