Transfering Windows 7 to SSD from HDD on new laptop?

DellXPS14 said:

I just purchased a Dell XPS 14 laptop that has two hard drives, a 500 GB standard hard drive and a secondary 120 GB SSD. From device manager I found that the standard HDD is in the 0 spot and the secondary SSD is in the 1 position.

Currently everything is on the standard drive, my SSD is completely empty.

What I want to do is make the SSD my primary drive so my computer boots quicker, runs windows smoother, etc. I will then use the 500GB drive to store media.

I do have a reinstallation DVD for windows 7 but the problem is I don't have an optical drive on the laptop.

Any suggestions? Thanks again

See if this tutorial gets you on the right track. USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

DellXPS14 said:

Thanks, I will make a USB bootable key. (if for some reason the bootable key doesn't work can I use a USB optical drive to run the original windows 7 reinstallation CD?)

How do I go about doing everything else? Sorry for my ignorance when it comes to windows.

I need to do the following:

-learn how to wipe my laptop
-make the SSD my primary drive
-reinstall windows 7 to the SSD

Thanks again

I am not familiar with a USB Optical Drive. == You can wipe your hard disk by using this tutorial Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods I am not sure why you want to do this. This will erase everything from the HDD. Is that what you want to do? ==
When you are installing Win 7 to the SSD, unplug all other drives from the motherboard. The SSD will automatically become drive C:. You would install win 7 from your USB using this tutorial. Clean Install Windows 7 == If you have any other questions, just ask away.

DellXPS14 said:

Is it absolutely nesseary to remove the HDD in slot 0 prior to installing windows 7 on the SDD?

On a side note, why do you say you're not sure why I should wipe the current 500 GB hdd?

You don't need to remove the HDD, just unplug it from the motherboard. If you don't files will get installed on it and you will have a mess. If you are referring to having your SSD in slot 0 or slot 1, it is not that big a deal. If it is in slot zero, it is preferred, but I just switched mine this morning and I can't tell any difference. == If you have files on the HDD that you want to erase then you can do that. I was just curious why you wanted to erase all of your files from the 500 GB.

DellXPS14 said:

I thought I would have to wipe the HDD because it currently has windows 7 on it. If I unplug it, install windows 7 on the SSD won't windows 7 be on both HDDS when I plug the traditional HDD back in? Thats why I thought i'd have to wipe it (the computer is brand new so I don't have anything important on it).

As of now I understand the will try the following:

1: unplug the 500 HDD and turn the laptop on.
2: once I turn the computer on there will no OS found so it will prompt me to install windows with the USB key I made. I will then install the OS onto the SSD.
3: once i'm back into the computer i'll turn it off, connect the traditional HDD back in and boot the laptop back up

At this point, wouldn't windows be on both HDDs? (this is the reason I thought I should wipe the traditional HDD before connecting it back to the motherboard)

You should have the Flash Drive in the USB when you boot so the PC can find it and boot. It won't prompt you, it will just stop because no OS is installed. Be sure you have set you bios so the USB boots first, then yous SSD. == Leave the HDD unplugged for all of the installation. This is important. == Yes, Windows will be on both the SSD and the HDD, but it will boot from the SSD because the SSD will be your C: drive automatically. Your HDD will become something else. You want to leave your files on the HDD until the SSD is working OK. We can talk about getting the Win 7 off the HDD later.

To Recap. Only have the SSD connected to the motherboard. Boot the PC with the Flash Drive in the USB port. Windows should start loading on the SSD. Stay in front of the computer the whole time, don't leave. When it gets to the part where it asks if you want to put in your Product Key and activate online, don't do it. There will be a box checked so you will need to uncheck the box. When Win 7 is installed to your satisfaction, you can put in the Product Key and activate. If you have any questions before you start, please ask. Good luck