How do I remove windows 7 from harddrive and questions about SSD

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  1. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #21

    @ gregrocker repairs? like what I haven't touched my seagate 1.5tb but I did format it recently as stated b4 and if it helps I did do a system restore with a system image on my 1tb western digital

    @ bbearren No I have not what you have on a quote right there is me saying I want to get windows on my ssd and keep games on hard drive the western digital which is my system disk or C:/ and if there is away I can assure you I will take any amount of steps to make it possible.

    And thanks so much for trying to help.
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  2. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #22

    As you wish :
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How do I remove windows 7 from harddrive and questions about SSD-untitled.jpg  
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  3.    #23

    How did you get the System boot files for Win7 on C onto the SSD? You say there is no OS installed upon the SSD yet so you must have formatted and marked it Active then run repairs with it plugged in for it to have the System boot files on it without ever having an install to it.

    What needs to be done is to recover the System boot files into C, by marking it Active then unplugging all other HD's, set it first to boot in BIOS setup, then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until it again holds the System flag and boots on its own. Partition - Mark as Active

    Then you can unplug all but the SSD, set it first to boot in BIOS, clean install Win7 to it following these illustrated steps: Clean Install Windows 7. You've already been informed that there is no possible way to reimage such a large Win7 installation to the SSD, unless you can shrink it first to a size smaller than the SSD.

    Once you have the SSD installed or reimaged and it starts on its own, you can plug back in the 1tb to boot Win7 on it using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen.

    As for the other install of Win7 you say is on the larger HD, just delete it's partition after backing up any files you need. Then use the larger HD as storage for your backup images. You can also place your User folders from the SSD on one of the HD's then link them to the related Win7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums
    Last edited by gregrocker; 23 Apr 2012 at 10:13.
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  4. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #24

    @ gregrocker

    I see what your saying but I'm quite sure the only thing I have ever done is switch the sata port from what it was to 0 as was your suggestion in your earlier comments at first I tried booting it then it failed to boot from the ssd and displayed a error message saying no operating system installed so I switched the boot device back to the system disk, the only thing I saw that had changed was that the intel SRT began detecting the ssd. like I said I recently restored my system image from the 1.5 tb but that hard drive is formatted now I had used the system repair disk to start the restore process and yes I think my ssd was plugged in. So your saying it's not possible to copy my windows to the ssd and keeping my games on the bigger hard drive? I am guessing I would have to purchase a 512gb ssd or a bigger ssd in order for that to be possible?
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  5. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #25

    You can install or transfer your OS to a small SSD (e.g. 60GB) but you first have to delete your games and then reinstall them. During the reinstallation you can direct them to a program folder of your own on the HDD.

    But moving the OS and leaving the games on the HDD behind will not work - at least not for the games.
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  6.    #26

    Or you can uninstall all but the amount of programs/games that will fit on the SSD, plus move the User data folders to HD to link via libraries. Then reimage the smaller OS/games partition to the SSD, reinstall the other programs while directing them to the HD data partition.

    Easiest is to link a copy of your User folders which you've copied to data HD to each related Win7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

    Or you can move User Folders - Change Default Location
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  7. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #27

    @ whs I had already thought about it but as luck would have it product keys are all used up but I am thankful for the help. prefer to mess with my registry I would rather lose my entire system to my stupidity than risk losing all those games I payed for. I worked like hell to get them put yourself in my shoes 49 games all gone and if I had to name them for you you would probably agree that any other route would be better. besides the illegal route I will not "crack" my games that's the other reason I would like to avoid even tampering with my game files I have had terrible experiences in the past with that not that you where going to suggest it just putting it out there I will never crack my games.

    @gregrocker thanks again your comments are as helpful as ever so in this scenario I manage to save a few games without losing my product keys and other information. hell it's better than nothing but still seriously people give me your most technical routes to do this I can do it Ive made backups of everything so I don't even risk lost data or corrupted or damaged data give me your best shot I believe there must be a way I have recently come across a guy who knows how this works and said he had this problem a while back to he even has the same ssd but now hes on a trip to Australia for god knows what but I definitely witnessed this first hand all his games where still on his hard drive while the windows was on the ssd I asked him how and he told me people on this site would provide a better way than he did it. just how did he do it?
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  8.    #28

    What your friend is likely referring to is that some games will run from their Program File .exe when located on another HD, however this is not recommended as the Best Practice is to have Programs installed to the existing OS. However you can try this if you want.

    Why do you not have Product Keys for your games? Did you not realize you'd need to reinstall at some point? Have you run Belarc Advisor to see how many of the Product Keys it will provide when it audits all of your hardware and software, including keys? You may be able to find most of the installers you're missing on the web, too.
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  9. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #29

    @gregrocker lol no what im saying is I met him recently he showed me his pc I checked to see if the games where installed after the ssd was installed incase it was a trick but no the games where installed long before the ssd was installed none of this was told to me I just asked how he did it and he recommended this site for info he has the same system drive as mine also weirdly enough. I do have the product keys except I have more than three computers and have used up the amount of times one can register the game. I would have noticed if he was using a batch file to do all this but no he has only 1 hard drive and 1 ssd thats exactly the same as my current ssd and system disk but he has more games than me newer and older in a mix theres about 600gb of games on his hard drive.
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  10.    #30

    Like I said you can often run a game like Steam from it's installed Program .exe on another HD but it is not correct even if it can be done.

    When you buy a software license with 3 Installs it means you can install it on 3 current installations, not only 3 times. You only need to delete it on the old HD first before installing to the SSD, making it three installs max.

    Verify this with several of your most important games' Tech Support who will assure you how it's done.
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