Windows 7: Re-installation of Windows 7/64 on SSD from Dual Boot

Hello,

I'll give the "2 cent version" of my situation.

I have a dual-boot system (XP on mechanical HDD / Win 7/64 Pro on SSD). Recently, I had a series on infections damage my XP installation irrepairably and it is now time to move everything over to 7. I've just purchased a larger SSD to accomodate all of my programs and I'll need to re-install Win 7/64 on the new SSD. BTW...by "all of my programs" I am referring to latest builds, Win 7 compatible applications, i.e. Corel X6.

First, will I be able to re-install Win 7 Pro (OEM disc) on the new SSD without issue (same PC - new SSD)?

My BIOS is set up as AHCI for the SSD, and I am given the option to select Win 7 (default) or an older operating system (XP) - this was for the dual boot set-up. For now, I will keep the dual boot configuration, as I can still log on to XP in safe mode and transfer old data to external E-sata back up.

My second question is: once I physically swap out the larger SSD, how do I prompt the system to install Windows 7 from the CD-ROM drive onto the new SSD?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!!
Movick

Hi Movick

If you're installing Windows 7 to the new SSD drive make sure only that drive is plugged in. Unplug the XP drive and the smaller SSD . What are you going to do with the smaller SSD drive that has Windows 7 Pro already? You may want to uninstall it from that drive before you could use the key on the new SSD .

Hi VistaKing - thanks for the crazy fast reply!

"What are you going to do with the smaller SSD drive that has Windows 7 Pro already?"
It is only 64GB, hence I planned upon removing it completely from the PC, replacing it with the larger SSD. I'll probably keep it as an emergency back-up volume - good idea or no?

If I physically remove the old SSD, replace it with the new one and unplug the XP drive, would I simply boot from disc? What about the BIOS dual boot config - will it default to a single boot with the absense of the 2nd drive or will I need to reconfig BIOS beforehand?

Thanks again!!
Movick

BTW..I should mention that I have an internal storage drive as well - should i unplug that as well for the re-installation?

All drive must be unplugged . Just the drive you will be installing on must be plugged in. Disable the dual boot in bios .

Thanks VK, please Forgive my redundancy in clarifying the details one last time - I'm a power user not a hardware guy.

(1) I swap the SSD and unplug the other two drives.
(2) I boot, go into BIOS and change the dual boot setting. May I ask where would I find this setting?
(3) I reboot or continue boot out of BIOS, insert Win 7 disc into ROM.
(4) Allow Win 7 to install on the new SSD.
(5) Power-off, re-plug 2 secondary drives.
(6) Reboot, BIOS set dual boot back to previous setting.

Did I miss any steps?

Thanks for the help - I hope my inexpertise isn't too annoying! :)

Movick

Please post screenshot of disk management of current situation.

So you do the dual boot now by using the win7 boot manager? So something like:

In the bios change the boot device to 1 DVD 2 SSD

Kaktussoft,

Yes, that's what I have. Need I config differently than VK suggested?

Thanks!
Movick