Need help with an idea for my current situation (Windows 7 Install).

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  1. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #11

    Anesthetize said:
    The DiskPart command, thats the one I was thinking of. But I'm a little on edge about doing it now, as mentioned, I don't have anything from the HDD backed up so I'm a little worried about messing that data up.

    Hmm. So if I use the DiskPart command, create a new partition (how big? 30GB?), then I need to format that partition correct? then assign a letter to that partition? (all in that order?) and then during Windows 7 installation, it asks which partition to install to doesn't it?

    Also, if I manage to install it, having activated Windows 7 on the SSD already, it'll ask me to activate it again correct? But as stated, there's a trial period, and I only expect to be out of an SSD for a week or two (easily within the trial period) so I shouldn't need to activate it. And when I'm not in need of the HDD Win 7 installation anymore, how do I delete the partition? and deleting the partition should essentially set my HDD to the state it's in now, right? (one big partition, folders containing installed games and other software).

    Thanks for the help so far.
    Your best bet is to do as Bill suggested and backup your data.
    When you boot to a command prompt using the Win 7 DVd, then you can use the List Disk command of diskpart to make sure you have the correct drive letters to copy from the existing drive to an external.

    If you don't have an external usb drive, then the time has come to get one.
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  2. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Oh, actually, I might have a simpler solution, but I'll still require a little help. I found an old 300GB HDD from an older computer. I could simply install Windows 7 on that for now, and have that as the main boot drive.

    So, first I need to completely format the drive so it's ready to install Windows on. How do I go about doing that? via the BIOS? or a command promt?

    Also, if I take that HDD out of the system with the Windows 7 installation (that hasn't been activated) on it to replace it with the SSD when it gets here, will Windows 7 install just fine onto the SSD without me needing to rid of the installation off the HDD?

    Thanks again for the help, sorry to be a pain in the arse :)
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  3. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #13

    You can plugin the hard disk, boot from the install dvd (change boot order in the bios to CD first or press F12 at boot till you see a boot menu), then in the format drive options just delete whatever volume currently exists on that disk and let windows use the entire unallocated space. It'll create a 100mb partition called "system reserved" and install win7 on the other partition (remaining space), you dont need to do anything special. Best to unplug any hard disk other than the one on which windows is being installed (otherwise boot files can get placed on the other disk creating confusion).

    The ssd install will be independent of the hdd install, the install dvd doesnt know how many disks its been used on. Its the activation part that takes care of the licensing aspect.

    This should help.

    Clean Install Windows 7
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  4. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Excellent, that sounds like a much simpler solution to my problem. Cheers :)

    On a side note, my current SSD did have Windows activated on it. When I install to the new SSD, will I need to contact Microsoft to sort out a new activation?
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  5. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #15

    May or may not, its hard to predict. But even if you have to, its a breeze, you just need to tell them your original disk died.
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  6. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #16

    +1 Bill2
    This thread has be a pleasure to watch, with no crap being posted.
    Last edited by theog; 13 Sep 2011 at 10:02.
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  7. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Got it. But I do have one more thing to ask, and I'm not really sure how I dealt with this before. When I do a clean install of Windows, my computer doesn't recognize the ethernet cable I have connected, so no internet access. I got this working myself last time, not sure how. But I can't seem to the the computer to recognize it this time. Says something about a network adapter driver? I've tried going directly from the modem to the PC, nothing. I've reset the modem, nothing. I've reset the router, nothing. I always seem to get this right after a clean install of Windows.

    Any ideas? Thanks again!
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  8. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #18

    Do you have the ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Driver CD? If yes.

    Pop it in to DVD Drive, & run set up.
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  9. Posts : 72
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
    Thread Starter
       #19

    theog said:
    Do you have the ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Driver CD? If yes.

    Pop it in to DVD Drive, & run set up.
    OH MY GOD! What an idiot I am. Ofcourse! :P

    Excuse me while I run out in front of a bus! Hopefully it'll knock some sense into me!

    Cheers buddy :)
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  10. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #20

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