A sticky situation involving Windows on a SSD and HDD

[Zamaj]

I am currently building a new PC, and I am reusing my hard drive from my old one with Windows 7 on it. I have bought a new copy of Windows 7 and an SSD and I want to install and boot Windows from the SSD. My question is, how will this work with the old copy of Windows on the hard drive? I think it might have been better to wipe the old HDD while it was still in the old PC, but I've dismantled it now so that isn't really an option. I'm unsure as to exactly what steps I should take to get everything working properly. If anyone could provide some guidance, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Anshad Edavana]

Hi

I would recommend ;

1. Connect only SSD and install Windows as usual. Make sure to connect it to the first SATA port to avoid boot issues later (usually SATA port numbers will be printed near to it ).

Some systems may have SATA 3gb/s and SATA 6gb/s ports. In that case finding SATA 6gb/s port and connecting SSD to it is recommended. However HP documentation doesn't seems to provide any details about the motherboard used. So i would recommend stick with port one.

2. Once Windows install finished, connect the old HDD to one of the secondary SATA port and boot to Windows. Then open "Disk Management" ( diskmgmt.msc in RUN dialogue ) and delete all partitions on the slave hard drive. You can then partition it to one or two volumes which are exclusive for data storage.

How to delete partitions : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2668-partition-volume-delete.html

How to create new partition : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

 

[gregrocker]

If you kept the same motherboard then you can move any Win7 license to another hard drive whether you reimage it or do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

Follow Lady's suggestions for plugging in your SSD, boot the Win7 disk for your licensed version provided if needed in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 and follow those steps to get and keep a perfect install.

After install, plug back in the Hard drive making sure the SSD remains primary hard drive set first to boot in BIOS setup. Then I would transfer any data needed and go the extra step to wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command to get it cleanest, repartition and format in Disk Management.

If you have a specific partition scheme you can ask back and we'll give you the exact steps.

 

[Zamaj]

Thanks; that makes sense and seems pretty simple.

@ gregrocker: I had the OEM version of Windows that came on my machine. I looked into transfer, decided it was not viable, and decided to buy an new copy.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

decided it was not viable

Not viable based on what reasoning?

 

[whs]

One little addition - before you boot make sure the SSD is #2 in the BIOS boot sequence. #1 should be the CD/DVD drive.

 

[whs]

decided it was not viable

Not viable based on what reasoning?

It's an OEM that you cannot transfer and activate.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

decided it was not viable

Not viable based on what reasoning?

It's an OEM that you cannot transfer and activate.

Could be.

But do we know a new motherboard is involved?

 

[whs]

Not viable based on what reasoning?

It's an OEM that you cannot transfer and activate.

Could be.

But do we know a new motherboard is involved?

I would think so if he builds the new system from scratch.

 

[gregrocker]

If you are using the same motherboard then you could replace everything else and still use the same license which lives and dies only with the motherboard.

In addition there are reports recently that MS is increasingly allowing transfer of OEM licenses to new mobo, so that might be worth a try using Activate Windows 7 by Phone - Windows 7 Help Forums
before wasting another key. Previously a really good excuse needed to be given, but the relaxing of these rules may be due to Win7 only being available now in OEM version.

 

[Layback Bear]

Okay I will be the one to ask.

Zamaj did you or did you not replace the motherboard?
If you replaced the motherboard what motherboard did you install?

This information will help these good folks in their guidance.

Building a new PC means different things to different people.
To me a new PC always means a new motherboard is included.

 

[Zamaj]

I am most definitely using a different motherboard; everything is new except for the HDD, RAM, and optical drive, which I am reusing.

I was using the Pegatron mobo that came with my old HP, for my new build I'm using the a Gigabyte Z97x board.

 

[tinmann]

I am currently building a new PC, and I am reusing my hard drive from my old one with Windows 7 on it. I have bought a new copy of Windows 7 and an SSD and I want to install and boot Windows from the SSD. My question is, how will this work with the old copy of Windows on the hard drive? I think it might have been better to wipe the old HDD while it was still in the old PC, but I've dismantled it now so that isn't really an option. I'm unsure as to exactly what steps I should take to get everything working properly. If anyone could provide some guidance, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I built a new PC about six months ago and ran into similar issues.

I bought a new SSD to use as drive C, and used two old SATA drives for D and E. On the first attempt at installing Windows 7, it installed to drive D. Then I remembered, this old drive had been used as a boot drive.

Rebooting from the Windows CD, I deleted the partitions on all three drives, repartitioned each one, and continued the installation. To my surprise, Windows installed to drive D once again! (Now I'm really confused.)

To make a long story short: I had to unplug drive D and E and then install Windows 7 to the SSD. The installation went fine, and once completed, I powered down, reconnected drive D and E and rebooted.

Being a "permanent student of the school of hard knocks", I had forgotten to repartitioned drive D and had a boot up conflict because of two drives having active partitions. I then powered down, booted from the CD, repartitioned drive D, thus deleting the unwanted active partition.

We all live and learn , I hope this helped.

Tinmann