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Need 30,000' overview of installing an SSD alongside HDD in dv7-6100
Hi, guys. I'm reading all these posts on this popular issue, and just wanted to confirm my high-level view of what it involves. This is on my HP dv7-6100.
1) Install SSD in empty 2nd slot (with special cable etc.)
2) Partition, format, and assign drive letter to SSD (is this necessary?)
3) Temporarily remove HDD (is this necessary?)
4) Perform fresh install of Win7HP64 on SSD (I hear this is preferable to copying/cloning the install from the HDD because Windows7 installs differently on a SSD than on an HDD... is that right?)
4a) validate Windows with information I copied from previous legit OEM install (call MS? use ABR?)
5) Put HDD back in, reboot, and... here it gets vague:
6) Back up the My Doc folder (and all other personal data if it's not in that folder)
7) REFORMAT the HDD, REINSTALL all programs
Or, 7b) do not reformat HDD, but somehow delete the Win7 install that's on it (or should I leave it on, just in case the SSD fails?)
8) Tell Windows that the MyDoc folder should be on the HDD, then restore all personal data to the HDD's My Documents folder...
Or 8b) Point Windows to the MyDoc folder on the HDD
9) Enjoy.
Have I got that all right?
I have another question: the HDD in this laptop has a total of three partitions - the main one (683gb), a RECOVERY partition (14.4gb) and an HP_TOOLS partition (98.8mb). HP_TOOLS seems to have something to do with updating the BIOS, and RECOVERY has this big, secret folder on it. I suppose it's invoked when you reboot and hit Fxx (where xx is whichever function key it is - I can't remember and I'm not going to reboot to check).
So my long winded question is this - when I turn the HDD into my "data" disc, should I just format the main partition and leave those others alone? Will they even work right when I install the SSD?
Anyone who answers... I'll be grateful for any insights, especially from more clueful owners of this same machine.
Thanks.