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Windows 7: Moving Windows 7 to another drive

03 Jan 2010  
shinysuitman

Windows 7 Ultimate 64
5 posts
Toronto
 
 
Moving Windows 7 to another drive

Tomorrow I'm gonna pick up a new SSD and I want to transfer my Windows 7 installation and my FSX installation onto the SSD. My FSX folder is 60 GB so it should fit. Is there a way to move just the operating system files over? I installed in October so a reinstall wouldnt kill me, but I feel I was just getting settled in this new system.
Thanks for your help.

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03 Jan 2010  
Minotar

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
958 posts
Meath Ireland
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by shinysuitman View Post
Tomorrow I'm gonna pick up a new SSD and I want to transfer my Windows 7 installation and my FSX installation onto the SSD. My FSX folder is 60 GB so it should fit. Is there a way to move just the operating system files over? I installed in October so a reinstall wouldnt kill me, but I feel I was just getting settled in this new system.
Thanks for your help.
A back up disc,the likes of paragon would suit i think.
Then boot using the boot disc and "restore" your files to your new hard drive.
Essentially its the same system,so i cant see why it wouldnt work.

But id advise waiting until someone else confrims it.

Dan
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03 Jan 2010  
gregrocker

Win7 x 6 PC's
36,545 posts
California, Florida, Boston
 
 

Save a WIndows 7 backup image of your HD to primary partition or external, then boot into Windows 7 DVD Repair console>Recover Using an Image to the plugged SSD.

If it won't work, Acronis True Image is worth a try. You can clone or backup image.
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03 Jan 2010  
shinysuitman

Windows 7 Ultimate 64
5 posts
Toronto
 
 

But I've used 356 GB on my main drive and the SSD is only 80 GB. Will Paragon backup only the Windows files?

Thanks
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2010  
gregrocker

Win7 x 6 PC's
36,545 posts
California, Florida, Boston
 
 

If you only want to back up your Windows 7 partition, then you'll need to use Acronis or free Macrium Reflect which allow selection off single partition, or use bootable Partition Wizard CD and copy just the Windows 7 partition over.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2010  
shinysuitman

Windows 7 Ultimate 64
5 posts
Toronto
 
 

Windows 7 is on the same partition as the rest of the operating system though. Should I copy C:/Windows over?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2010  
Minotar

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
958 posts
Meath Ireland
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker View Post
Save a WIndows 7 backup image of your HD to primary partition or external, then boot into Windows 7 DVD Repair console>Recover Using an Image to the plugged SSD.

If it won't work, Acronis True Image is worth a try. You can clone or backup image.
Just to be a bit clearer as i had to read it a few times,(hope im right) **HD1-original HardDrive, HD2- Second New HardDrive
Save a back up image of your entire OS partiton on the HD1 (and any other partitions if you need them) and place it in a partiton on HD2.
Make sure the partiton on the new HD is Formated as NTFS-Primary and Active

Turn off PC,then remove the HD1 leaving HD2 the only hard drive on your pc.Boot up using the Windows 7 disc and enter the Repair Console>Recover Using an Image>select the Image that you just saved onto your new HD.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2010  
SIW2

Vista x64 / 7 X64
7,916 posts
 
 

You can't copy a partition with 356gb of used space onto an 80gb SSD - neither can you clone it , or restore an image.

You are going to have to reinstall.

Copying across C:\windows won't do it , I'm afraid.

Another reason why it is good idea to have separate partitions for o/s and data.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2010  
Minotar

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
958 posts
Meath Ireland
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by shinysuitman View Post
Windows 7 is on the same partition as the rest of the operating system though. Should I copy C:/Windows over?
You could move files out of C: partiton (programs etc) and place them in another partiton,then shrink C: to fit onto the SSID
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2010  
gregrocker

Win7 x 6 PC's
36,545 posts
California, Florida, Boston
 
 

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map. Use Snipping Tool in Start menu attaching file using paper clip in reply box.

It might be able to be done by transferring data out so that only programs remain on your two OS partitions. It is better to have data on a separate drive anyway.

We need to know what size the two OS would be then. How much data is in those two OS partitions, or is it on a separate data partition on same HD?
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