Advice on Steps to Migrate Apps Hard drive to larger Disk

Your strategy is sound, as is keeping Apps and Data on separate partitions. One way you could approach it is:

1) Image the Apps drive (storing the image to a different drive, of course)

2) Shut the system down, remove the Apps drive.

3) Install the new drive

4) Restore the image you made to the new drive. Drive letter shouldn't be an issue in that case, but if it is, simply change the drive letter as necessary in Disk Management.

Even if you have to change the drive letter to regain the original Apss drive letter, there should be no problems with the apps being usable (once the drive letter is the same as the original).

As for imaging programs, I highly recommend Acronis True Image, but not the latest versions (2010 & 2011), as there have been many complaints regarding those versions. Instead, you can buy version 2009 on ebay for a fraction of the price. Contrary to what some may say, 2009 is compatible with both 32 & 64 bit win7.

That said, if you have a new system or a new motherboard, 2009 may (or may not) have issues with the HD controller (i.e., not see the HDs).

If you'd rather not go the 2009 route, you could always download the trial version of 2011 and see how it works on your system. Be sure and create the Acronis rescue disk if you do try 2011.

James

James Colbert said:

Your strategy is sound, as is keeping Apps and Data on separate partitions. One way you could approach it is:

1) Image the Apps drive (storing the image to a different drive, of course)

2) Shut the system down, remove the Apps drive.

3) Install the new drive

4) Restore the image you made to the new drive. Drive letter shouldn't be an issue in that case, but if it is, simply change the drive letter as necessary in Disk Management.

Even if you have to change the drive letter to regain the original Apss drive letter, there should be no problems with the apps being usable (once the drive letter is the same as the original).

Good advice there.

Depending on which imaging software you decide to use, you could also do a disk->disk, instead of disk->image. Either way, its best practise not to do a copy&paste of files, but use an imaging program.
Point 4 is probably the most important, in respect to when you install the new drive, just make sure the drive letter is D:\

By "apps" disk are you referring to installed programs?

Installed programs should never be separated from the OS partition. They write multiple keys to the Registry which intergrate them into the OS so they should be a part of it.

User files are best kept on another partition or hard drive linked to their directories using this method: User Folders - Change Default Location

Store also the compact OS/Programs System Image on the data drive so if Win7 becomes irreparable you can reimage System partition in 15 minutes and data is already in place and current.

The modern User folder for applications is called Downloads.

gregrocker said:

By "apps" disk are you referring to installed programs?

Installed programs should never be separated from the OS partition. They write multiple keys to the Registry which intergrate them into the OS so they should be a part of it.

Hi Greg,

I respectfully disagree. I have been keeping my apps on a separate partition for several years and have had no issues. Of course, I maintain partition images for all my essential partitions, including apps, so if a problem arises, I can be quickly back in business. I much prefer to keep my system drive for the OS and various 'system dedicated' apps, such as AV programs, device software, etc. As for the registry entries, those get backed up with the system partition, the apps get backed up with the app partition. Maintain the proper drive letters and no worries .

Amongst the advantages of keeping apps on a separate partition is that if a reinstall of the program is necessary, many of my programs (such as Quicken, Quickbooks and my database) retain all of their settings. I need only point the reinstall to that directory.

James

If you reinstall OS, the registry keys written by the installed programs are lost anyway and programs should/must be reinstalled.

If you reimage just the OS maybe you'll maintain the installed programs, but to be sure its easier to have programs travel with OS at all times.

i install all my games to a differant hard drive but it aint any good unless i copy the save games from the c drive, this sounds similer but the apps install stuff in many differant locations, but i dont think it will matter unless you have personal settings or files associated with these apps, cause when you start them up it wil be like a fresh install, if you dont then it should be fine unless the app needs to install registry files and such when you first install it, thus probally wont start up at all and you will need a fresh install.