Windows 7: Moving my Windows 7 install to another HD

Alright, I know there is a way to do this, but I've had a few beers and can't work it out in my head.



Right now, I have my Windows 7 install on my 1TB C: drive. I also have a 300GB D: drive that I use for backup. What I want to do is format D: and install 7 on there to use as my main boot drive, and still have the files on C: accessible. However, I would like to do this without having to go through choosing an OS at boot. Any ideas?

Format D. Mark it Active.

Set it as the First HD in bios boot order.

Install 7 onto it.

Hope it helps.

Thanks man. I knew there was a way to do it, just didn't remember how.

If you keep C: drive plugged in during formatted install of Windows 7 on active D:, it will configure a dual boot of both Windows 7's.

Best to unplug the C: drive, mark D: active as SIW2 says, boot into Windows 7 installer and format D: to install Windows 7 (which will probably then take the C: letter) Later you can plug old C: back in to use as a data drive; mark it inactive. If it messes with your new C: drive's boot, move the files off of it and format it logical to be your data drive.

Or you could just use MSCONFIG afterwards and edit the boot.ini file!

Do you mean plug the old C: drive back in, then look for it in Windows 7 msconfig Boot tab and delete it from list if it appears? Does this inactivate old C? Can he continue to use it as a data drive with old Windows 7 OS on it without reformatting?

What if plugging his old C: drive back in makes new Windows 7 unbootable? Should he boot into Partition Wizard and mark it inactive to achieve same thing? Somehow move data files off and format before replacing them?

I need to get some sleep as I did this recently and can't remember how it went.