Come to think of it, may I ask if there is any good software, free or otherwise, that can just move "naked" Windows to another drive without my having to move my personal files from the drive, then move them back to the drive, and all the 800gig hustle that comes with it?
Paragon has an app to move from HD to SSD which will allow you to uncheck User folders, etc. until it is sized down correctly. See Step 2 under Transfer the OS here: SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System
The best way to link your User folders is to browse afterwards to your storage drive, rightclick on each one to add to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. This lessens the chance of permissioning issues that come with moving the User shell folders.
Last edited by gregrocker; 16 May 2012 at 05:26.
Bobka:
You are a prime example of why it can be helpful to have Windows and personal data on separate partitions.
If you originally had a C partition of 100 GB and a data partition covering the remainder of the drive, you could have easily cloned or imaged C alone to the SSD and left your data right where it is.
Looks like with all my little programs that I had for years and now have moved to my new computer with Windows 7 move feature, it looks like moving naked Windows to SSD and then putting back all my staff on HDD will be a major pain. So, I was thinking about clean Windows install on SSD. If I do that, can I then uninstall JUST Windows on SSD? Also, will I be able to move registry without Windows crashing? What do you think?
I don't follow you either.
I have no idea what you mean by "Windows move feature".
If you "move" your entire C partition from HDD to SSD via cloning or imaging, you would not have to put anything back on C.
If you clean install to the SSD, you will have to reinstall all programs by definition.
If you clean install to the SSD, that would install "just Windows. So, why would you then want to uninstall "just Windows"?
I don't get it with the "move registry". If you clean install, you get a new registry. If you clone or image from the HDD to the SDD, you get the existing registry. No need to "move registry" in either case.
You can clone only certain portions of C from HDD to SSD via Paragon Adaptive Restore program, but that is typically unnecessary if you have shrunk C on the HDD to the point where it is small enough to fit on the SSD.
An ordinary clone or image from HDD to SSD would include the ENTIRE C partition, including Windows, the existing registry, existing progams, existing data, et al.
I'm not clear on "naked Windows" either. If you do a clean install, that is as "naked" as Windows gets. A "clean install" is "just Windows" or "naked Windows" or however you want to put it.
Late posts spell disaster. Sorry about that. I meant clean install on SSD, and then uninstall my current Windows 7 from HDD. Also, moving registry so that all the programs that were installed, where registry was updated would still work. Essentially importing registry only to SSD from HDD. But typing this makes me think that it will probably not work either. I do get the concept of what is written with Windows installation, while I have a good familiarity with XP, Windows 7 is new for me. I am also looking at that $20 program from Paragon. The questions is will I be able to move just Windows with it?
You can't just move the registry.
Your programs will need to be installed after you install Windows on your SSD.
Have a look here: SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System
Ok. If I may ask, is there a program Like Paragon merge, but free or low cost?
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