Partition etc for clean install of Win 7 pro

Yes , I mean change mobo and install win7 at the same time and so save another reinstallation of windows later with potential problems of losing data etc .

Generally:

Choose new mobo compatible with current RAM, video card, and processor assuming you don't want to change them.

Get all personal data backed up, preferably to a distinct hard drive such as your 1 TB. Include bookmarks and email.

Install new mobo, RAM, processor, video card

Attach hard drive. I would leave the backup location (1 TB drive??) disconnected.

Attach DVD drive.

Boot from the Win 7 disc in the DVD drive, go to custom install, go to partition screen, choose "drive options/advanced, delete all partitions, make new C, set it to active, install to new C.

Boot from Win 7 on C, get Windows updates, get antivirus, make needed partitions on that same drive as needed.

Shut down, connect the 1 TB drive, reboot. It should be seen immediately. Transfer your stuff back as needed. Reinstall programs.

That's pretty close, probably left something out without proofreading.

The best advise is to install a clean version of Windows 7 on the hardware you intend to use for a long time.

That being said, you clearly know how to keep your files in place so don't worry about it if you want to upgrade later, so do so.

And, very importantly, simply wanting to change motherboards will not likely get you a new PID when you have to call for activation, replacing a failed one should, will be noted and most likley not be allowed again with the same key at least not within a long period of time - sometimes hardware does fail is not noticeable until an OS is installed.

Changing, for example, a new HDD or PCI card or adding more hardware will not force a new activation when done one at a time, but a new mobo always does and there are legitimate reasons to change a mobo (like it died or never worked properly) and legitimately get a new PID, but simple desire is not one of them. That would allow for rampant piracy.

OK understand . I need to ask the proverbial one question :)

Drive #1....I should really make only one Primary Partition ( windows OS) and the rest extended with 2 logical logical drives ? I mean if I make all 3 primary I would not be able to see the other 2 drives if C is made active?

I assume that since I can see the 1T drive now it must be an extended partition ?

Tks

You can see the drives whichever they are formatted, but it is always best to make data drives logical so they cannot become marked active and derail your boot. Happens a lot.

Sportflyer:

What Greg says about logical partitons not being active is true, but you can use all primaries and see all partitions on all drives.

Here is mine. E is a separate drive. C, D, and E are primary.

The reason I ask is that I read in an article about differences between Primary and Logical drives is that only one primary drive can be seen by the computer at one time. ie if I make all partitions c, d , e in drive #1 primary and make c active, then the computer wont show drives d & e in Windows Explorer even thought they are shown in the disk manager . Is this true or did I misread the article .

I also understand gregrockers point.

If I understand your question, you misread the article. See the pic below. But maybe I don't understand your question. To borrow from a former president, it depends on what the definition of "see" is.

Then I must have misread the article. So really besides the point Gregrocker made above , making all partitions primary makes good sense because the drive letters will be fixed ie if adding a new drive # 3 , the drive letter will then be the next one in sequence . If using logical logical drives then those drive letters will be bumped when a new physical Drive with a primary partition is added .

My definition of "See "is that the drives show up in windows explorer and can be accessed.

Is it a convention in Windows Disk manager that all primary partitions are shown as blue and extended partitions in another color ?Tks

Disk Manager has default colors for different types, but you can control them to some degree with menu choices.