After fresh install on SSD: what to do with former C:\ partition?

[trale]

I currently have Win 7 installed on a 100GB C:\ partition of a 640GB drive. I have D:\ data partition that takes up the rest of the space.

I'm planning to to a fresh Win 7 install on a 120 GB SSD (Intel X-25M). I'm going to unplug my 640GB hdd and plug in the SSD for this install, so the installation should go without a hitch.

However, after the new OS copy is installed, what will happen when I plug back in the 640GB hdd (to another SATA port)?

Will my new OS automatically reassign new drive letters? i.e.
D:\ to the 100GB former OS partition
E:\ to the data partition?

Will the old copy of windows 7 on that 100gb partition interfere with the current copy on the SSD? Do I have to do any preparatory steps to avoid any conflict? Or will the old copy of windows 7 simply be inert?

My goal is to keep the old 100gb partition intact as a back-up, as it contains many program preferences that I could re-use. Could I do something simple like rename the "Windows" folder on the 100gb partition to "Windows Old"?

In fact, can I hide this 100gb partition drive on my new OS, so I never accidentally click on it during normal usage?

Appreciate any tips!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

As I recall, the old C won't interfere at all assuming you had it disconnected during the new install. I don't think you have to "deactivate" it in any way.

But I wouldn't keep the old C as is. I'd make an image of it and store that image on a data drive. Then I would use the C partition as some sort of a data drive--ideally combining it with the current D so you have 1 big partition on the 640. You could later repartition the 640 if you had to. But that is just personal preference.

If you choose to keep the old C around, it will end up with a different drive letter.

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

It will keep the old letters as much as possible, and rename the old C drive....that said before you install Windows it would be a good ideal to disconnect the old drive...that prevents Windows from doing something crazy....ie...installing on the wrong drive/partial installing on the wrong drive....

 

[gregrocker]

If you unplug the HD before install to the SSD, they will not be interlinked at all. Yet you can access your data on the HD or even link your SSD install's active User folders to the ones on HD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html

If there are permissions issue which arise, use this rightclick shortcut to take ownership of any uncooperative folder: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

Set the SSD to boot after DVD drive in BIOS, then if you need to boot the HD use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key:
Asus - F8
HP/Compaq - Esc
Sony - F2
Acer - F12
Gateway - F10
eMachnes - F10
Toshiba - F12
Dell - F12
IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

When you're ready to get rid of the OS on the HD we can help you surgically remove it, except for the User folders if you decide to link to them from the SSD install.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello trale.



Once everything is set and you have all the data off the 'old' Windows you want to keep; have a look at Option Three of this tutorial at the link below for an outline of how to do a partition-specific wipe (secure erase) to the partition, it will leave the partition as "Raw" space that can then be reformatted for further use.

The free Windows installable version could also be used for this if you didn't want to create a bootable disk.


Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

 

[trale]

Thanks for the responses!

I went ahead with the install, and as ignatzatsonic mentioned, plugging back in the old hdd didn't give any problems at all. I did end up with 3 extra drives though:
- a 100MB "system reserved" partition that the original OS made on the original hdd
- the 100GB partition that used to be my C:\ drive
- the 500GB data partition


What I have done is I went into Disk Management, and remove the drive letter of the 100MB partition (removing normal access to it), and I will probably do the same to the 100GB partition eventually when I have pulled all my former OS re-usable data from it. But I will keep these partitions in-tact for security (if my current OS fails), and I can re-assign them to a drive letter if I ever need access.

I figure if things ever do fail, I can simply unplug the SSD, plug back in the 640gb hdd as my master drive, and everything will simply go back to the way things were before the SSD install.

 

[gregrocker]

If you'll post back a screenshot of your full Disk management drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu, we can look it over and make suggestions. Tell us what is where.

The partition marked System Active is booting your Win7. There shouldn't be any others marked either System or Active. But let us see it first.

 

[bigmck]

Thanks for the responses!

I went ahead with the install, and as ignatzatsonic mentioned, plugging back in the old hdd didn't give any problems at all. I did end up with 3 extra drives though:
- a 100MB "system reserved" partition that the original OS made on the original hdd
- the 100GB partition that used to be my C:\ drive
- the 500GB data partition


What I have done is I went into Disk Management, and remove the drive letter of the 100MB partition (removing normal access to it), and I will probably do the same to the 100GB partition eventually when I have pulled all my former OS re-usable data from it. But I will keep these partitions in-tact for security (if my current OS fails), and I can re-assign them to a drive letter if I ever need access.

I figure if things ever do fail, I can simply unplug the SSD, plug back in the 640gb hdd as my master drive, and everything will simply go back to the way things were before the SSD install.

I am curious how this procedure played out. == When you plugged in the HD after installing Win 7 on the SSD, did the 100 GB partition remain C: or did it automatically change to something else?

 

[trale]

I am curious how this procedure played out. == When you plugged in the HD after installing Win 7 on the SSD, did the 100 GB partition remain C: or did it automatically change to something else?

It automatically got assigned to be the next available drive letter. To my current OS, the 100GB partition is simply another drive now, nothing special.

 

[bigmck]

I am curious how this procedure played out. == When you plugged in the HD after installing Win 7 on the SSD, did the 100 GB partition remain C: or did it automatically change to something else?

It automatically got assigned to be the next available drive letter. To my current OS, the 100GB partition is simply another drive now, nothing special.

Thanks for the reply. That is very good info to have.

 

[DirtyElf]

i used partition wizard to mark the drive as inactive, so that no boot issues could arise.. and then i hid it so that it could be used as an emergency backup