Is it possible to move Windows 7 OEM from SSD to HDD?

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  1. Posts : 477
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
       #11

    whs said:
    Sure, that's easy. Make an image of all partitions of the SSD and restore it on the HDD.

    Imaging with free Macrium
    Here's a slight twist on the same thing more or less...after about 3 years I want to do a clean reinstall of Win 7 Pro 64bit on/into the same box it's now in...won't be changing any cards...etc...in the box. What I want to do is put the new install...along with some basic always installed stuff...AV software...etc...on to a small ide hdd I have empty. My thinking is that way I can have a clean install backup of the basic system if I ever want again to 'clean install' for any reason

    Here's the plan:
    1) insert the smaller ide hdd into the current box with current full Windows presently on an ssd
    2) disconnect the ssd
    3) connect the empty ide (backup drive) to the PC
    4) install from my licensed Win 7 Pro 64bit installation disk to the connected ide drive
    5) add critical software...ie...av/firewall, Acronis True Image backup, MS Office, MS Outlook...etc
    6) clone a copy of the smaller ide disk via Acronis
    7) Disconnect the new installation on the small ide drive...reconnect and format the original ssd drive...and
    re-install Win 7 basic installation via the Acronis True Image Basic Windows System tib backup saved on
    a third sata HDD already in the system/box

    This way...if I ever want to 'clean install" again...I have the basic windows installation plus basic programs pre-installed on a spare but disconnected ide drive and also an Acronis system tib file for backup.

    Please comment on the plan to both re-clean-install Win 7 Pro...and create a clean install backup copy of the basics for a future Win 7 clean installation

    Thanks...TiminAz
      My Computer


  2. BJB
    Posts : 188
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #12

    gregrocker said:
    Store the image on an external hard drive, make the Boot DIsk, boot it and apply the image to the SSD.
    There is no need to involve using an external drive. The OP has the image file on hdd and can restore to ssd directly from there, as I recommended above.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #13

    trinaz said:
    whs said:
    Sure, that's easy. Make an image of all partitions of the SSD and restore it on the HDD.

    Imaging with free Macrium
    Here's a slight twist on the same thing more or less...after about 3 years I want to do a clean reinstall of Win 7 Pro 64bit on/into the same box it's now in...won't be changing any cards...etc...in the box. What I want to do is put the new install...along with some basic always installed stuff...AV software...etc...on to a small ide hdd I have empty. My thinking is that way I can have a clean install backup of the basic system if I ever want again to 'clean install' for any reason

    Here's the plan:
    1) insert the smaller ide hdd into the current box with current full Windows presently on an ssd
    2) disconnect the ssd
    3) connect the empty ide (backup drive) to the PC
    4) install from my licensed Win 7 Pro 64bit installation disk to the connected ide drive
    5) add critical software...ie...av/firewall, Acronis True Image backup, MS Office, MS Outlook...etc
    6) clone a copy of the smaller ide disk via Acronis
    7) Disconnect the new installation on the small ide drive...reconnect and format the original ssd drive...and
    re-install Win 7 basic installation via the Acronis True Image Basic Windows System tib backup saved on
    a third sata HDD already in the system/box

    This way...if I ever want to 'clean install" again...I have the basic windows installation plus basic programs pre-installed on a spare but disconnected ide drive and also an Acronis system tib file for backup.

    Please comment on the plan to both re-clean-install Win 7 Pro...and create a clean install backup copy of the basics for a future Win 7 clean installation.
    Nothing radically wrong with the idea, but I don't know that I'd go to the trouble. And the need to use the cloned drive might never arise---you'd have wasted the time.

    Let's say it takes X hours to do steps 1 through 6 and you do that tomorrow.

    Suppose you then have a major failure or need to reinstall three months from now.

    Why not instead just use those X hours to do a clean install when that need arises in 3 months, directly onto the drive of your choice? No cloning. At that time, make an image of the new Win 7 installation and basic programs if you want. And then make periodic images over time as the new system evolves.

    You would avoid the possibility of wasting X hours, you'd avoid any issues related to cloning, you would not be tying up a cloned drive that you might be able to use for some other purpose, and you'd avoid having a 3 month old cloned Windows/applications drive that would not be updated, to some extent or other.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #14

    I am performing a clean install atm, just ran into a problem that NTLDR is missing, so trying to make a boot disk atm.
      My Computer

  5.    #15

    I would wipe the HD first with Clean Command from Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command as NTLDR is left over boot code from an XP install interfering. Access the Command line by choosing Repair My Computer on installers second screen.

    If you'll follow the other steps in Reinstall tutorial below, you will keep a perfect install for as long as you do.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #16

    I used the guide to clean install on OEM that was first linked here, and it worked perfectly. I now have a clean install on my HDD, and my ssd is kinda disposable right now. Thank you to all who helped!
      My Computer


 
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