Windows 7: Installing windows 7 with a new HD & an old one ?

I curently have one sata HD (C) with Vista on it. I want to install a second sata hard drive and make it the drive I install Windows 7 on.


I also want to format the old drive before I install Windows 7 on the new drive. I want the new drive to be C and the old drive whatever letter (?). Current have a CD/DVD writer that is D and DVD reader that is E.

Assuming I have everything backed on on C how do I proceed to format the old drive and make the new drive the install drive for Windows 7 (I assume C ? )

Please provide the steps I need to take and any utilitiies (free?) that I need.

Thanks in advance for your help.

1. Shutdown.
2. Unplug the current drive, plug in new drive.
3. Install Windows 7

I didn't really understand anything beyond your first sentence, sorry. I got lost in trying to figure out what you're trying to do about backups.

Hi Hawkeyelom!

Welcome to Seven Fourms!

Unfortunately you're not going to be able to format your old drive before installing Windows 7 on your new one...
Proceed as Sup3rsprt has said... once your installation is completed, your new drive will be C ... your CD/DVD player should be D. Plug your old drive back in ... This should now be E. Now you can format the old drive E by opening up the My Computer window, right click on the E drive and select the format option...

Hope this answers your question..

Tom

Isn't there a way to format the old drive without unpluging etc? Bascially I want to format both drives and install on the new one.

Try this:

1. Make sure the new HD you want to install 7 on is the FIRST HD in the Bios boot order ( after the cdrom drive , if you like - but before the old HD.)

2. Start to install 7 - when you get to the screen asking where you want to install - click Drive Options (advanced) .

You can delete, create, format there.

3. When done, click on the partition you wish to install 7 on and click Next.

I assume you have backed up onto a partition on your new HD ? Preferably not the first partition on that drive.

Couldn't understand what you meant there. Or do you mean you will have backed up everything from your current Vista installation somewhere safe before proceeding?

With this part of your post, you mean after you installed Windows 7, you will backup your files from the old drive to the new drive, right?

Follow part 1., 2., and 3. of SIW2's post.


Then I recommend making two partitions on your new drive.

One 40 or 50 gb partition for your OS and programs, and the rest for a second partition to accommodate your files and backups.

After Windows 7 install those partitions will be C: and D:
CDrom / DVD drives will be E: and F:,
but you can easily change drive letters afterwards, to make your old drive E: and your CD/DVd drives F: and G:


I would make another recommendation.
From what you tell us, I have the feeling you are not very experienced at this.

I would strongly recommend inviting a more experienced friend to assist and guide you, because a lot can go wrong.

Our ability to help you is limited by the fact we can not watch what you're doing.

Good luck.

[QUOTE=squonksc;242700]With this part of your post, you mean after you installed Windows 7, you will backup your files from the old drive to the new drive, right?

Follow part 1., 2., and 3. of SIW2's post.
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Can't understand why you guys are having so much trouble understajnding me

Np : I want to completely format the old drive--no extra partitions- just one big drive. Then from the install DVD I want to select the new drive to install Windows 7 on --again nor extra partitions --othger than the 100mb recovery partition that will automatically install with Windows 7.

By backup I meant that i wll have everything on cds and DVDs before I format the old drive and then install Windows 7.

What in affect I will have is two blank drives and choose one drive, the new one for Windows 7.

Sounds like I could leave the old edrive-Vista ultimate as is and install windows 7 on the neww drive--then copy over any files i need from the old drive--then format it--but this options seems like it might be problematic.

Doinjg a clean install and instaaling my programs and then copying any files I need from the bacups is the best way to go.

BTW-- I will have expert help to physically install the new drive and avaiable for install help if neded, and BTW I am VERY experience with Windows OS and have instaled many times.

I may skip the new drive altogether--have not fully decided yet--then this is a piece of cake

Again thanks for your help

Part 1. 2. & 3 of my previous post.

It was the backing up part that wasn't clear to anyone.