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Win 7/10 Dual Boot program/app/registry questions
I apologize if the format of these questions is terrible, I'm better at putting parts together than I am fiddling with software.
I currently run Win7-64 off of a 60gb SSD (which is almost full) and have been considering doing a fresh install. If I were to bother, I would have to burn a win7 ISO to a flash drive and boot from that as I cannot find my CD ( I did manage to use something from another forum to find my key however so I can still legally activate the new install). I figured that, since my current SSD is a few years old and has 0 extra space on average anyway, I may just buy a 500Gb or even a 1Tb drive since they're currently on sale at my local Microcenter. I also figure this would be a good time to try upgrading to Win10, but I want the option of switching between 7 and 10 to try and smooth out the adjustment.
The plan was to partition the SSD into 3 sections;
Win7 partition
Win10 partition
Program/game install partition
I would like to use as little space as possible for each version of windows, and had hoped to install ONLY windows/drivers in their respective partitions.
To this end, I had hoped to install programs (Steam, winrar, firefox, etc) to the program partition. I currently have MOST programs installed on a separate drive, and have found that when I have had to reinstall win7 to the SSD in the past the system does not automatically recognize or find programs installed on a separate drive. For the sake of convenience, I would like to be able to simply search seldom-used programs, or games, in the search bar (which in the past it would not do after a fresh install when trying to find programs on my current install drive).
Is there a way to have win7/10 recognize installations not done under that specific OS? Would I have to install duplicates of each program to each OS separately? Is there a way I can have the registry auto-recognize programs on the install drive? will I just need to run the installer on each OS and point them to the install drive and do a repair-install so that both recognize the location? Is there another option I have yet to consider?
And as a followup question, should I decide to eventually forgo Win7 and stick with 10, can I create a backup of my Win10 files, format the drives so that Win10 can use Win7's space, and then reapply Win10 to the new space? Can I just wipe the 7 drive and extend the 10?
Again I apologize, I'm not much good with software and really am better at just building rigs.
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