Two Drives, two Windows? Can it be done?

AirPower4ever · 19 Jan 2016

So I have my new system and I have Windows 10 on it. Specs are;
Mobo - Asus Z170 Maximus Hero VIII (latest BIOS)
SSD - In M.2 slot, Samsung 950 Pro 512GB
SATA - 1TB Western Digital (for storage only)

I have my old system that has an SSD (Crucial) and it has Windows 7 on it. I went and read in here about transferring Windows 7 to another computer and I was wondering, can I have the SSD (Win7) transfer over to my new Z170 system? Then dual boot?

Reading around it looks like it can be done, but not sure. Then there is the 1TB drive, how will both operating systems access it? Or will one only access it? or will both access it?

Basically I am asking is that my Windows 7 machine (old one) was used for work and play. Now with Windows 10 this becomes my play computer and I am trying to figure out if I can keep the Windows 7 drive; clear all the play stuff off of it and just keep Windows 7 as my work system.

My room is small so having two physical computer can happen, but it would be better if I can do the above.

If anyone can let me know and any pitfalls or problems that can occur going this route.

Thanks

P.S. - I also read something about Microsoft not updating Windows 7 if you have it on a Skylake board. Is this true?

fireberd · 19 Jan 2016

First issue. Is the Win 7 OS a full retail license or an OEM version. If its an OEM version its only legally licensed for the PC it was originally installed on (OS that comes with a new PC is an OEM Version).

AirPower4ever · 19 Jan 2016

Thanks for the reply fireberd. Forgot that small detail.

The old system is a custom build by me, not a retail store pre-made system. The Windows 7 Pro 64-bit is a retail license I bought, it is not an OEM. Double checked in the System and there is no OEM in the prod-ID

whs · 19 Jan 2016

No problem to install a system on each disk. I would make separate installation by unplugging the disk you do not need for that particular install. Then you switch via the BIOS. But if you leave disk1 with OS1 on-line whilst installing OS2, then you get a double boot. I personally prefer the first solution.

AirPower4ever · 20 Jan 2016

Thanks whs

So to do this in a nutshell?
* Windows 7 SATA SSD (Crucial) on old system - follow the instructions on how to transfer Windows 7 to another machine, shutdown and remove
* Take out the Sammy (which has Windows 10 on it) of the Z170 board
* Install the Windows 7 SSD to the Z170 and start up. Install drivers, etc
* Once done, shut down again and install the Sammy and start the system and pick which one to boot up

I will backup and image the drives before I do all this.

How about that thing about Microsoft not supporting Windows 7 on Z170 boards? Is this true?

whs · 20 Jan 2016

How about that thing about Microsoft not supporting Windows 7 on Z170 boards? Is this true?

Sorry but I know nothing about that. Maybe some other member knows what's going on.

DavidE · 20 Jan 2016

AirPower4ever said:

Then there is the 1TB drive, how will both operating systems access it? Or will one only access it? or will both access it?

Yes, both OS's can access the 1TB Storage drive/partition.
You just need to add a drive letter for that drive/partition in each OS.
I suggest using the same drive letter in each OS to reduce confusion.

You might have some permissions issues with the OS that did not create files/folders, but i've always found that was easily fixed by adding user permission when needed.

If you dual-boot i suggest creating a "Portable Apps" partition, that each OS can use.
Then each OS can use the same portable app, and that reduces "program update maintenance".

Also, disconnect the 1TB drive before installing (transferring) Win 7 to the new PC.
Then reconnect it after the install is complete.

AddRAM · 20 Jan 2016

Of course you can, but remove the Windows 10 install before you start, (just disconnect the 950) do your 7 install, hook everything backup, then use the boot menu to choose the 7 drive.

And do a clean install on 7, don`t carry over the OS from another machine.

Keep em seperated.

I gotta ask, how`s that 950 Pro M.2 doing ? Feel Any incredible speed out of it ?

I`ll get one soon enough, but this 850 Pro is awesome. :)

SSD 950 PRO NVMe 512GB

SAMSUNG 950 PRO M.2 256GB PCI-Express 3.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-V5P256BW - Newegg.com

I run 7 on a Sabertooth Z170, there are no issues :)

DavidE · 20 Jan 2016

If the new PC is UEFI and the old PC is Legacy MBR that might cause you issues.
I suggest posting screen prints of Disk Management from both systems.
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

wasnotwas · 21 Jan 2016

I recently made a dual boot 7 + 10 (non UEFI) for a friend, 2 HDDs and each OS installed separately (the other HDD unplugged). Each OS could be selected using an F key. It seemed to go OK, except when booting into Windows 7 when the other Win10 HDD was seen as 'dirty' - and starting disk check unless I was quick and 'pressed any key'.

The solution was to disable fast boot in Windows 10. I also disabled fast boot in BIOS, but not sure if that's totally necessary. If the OP starts getting chkdsk problems, fastboot is the culprit. AFAIK dual boot done in the conventional manner (install Win7 1st, then the later OS) and using the regular MS boot screen doesn't get the 'dirty bit' prob.