Clean install W7 onto SSD which already contains bootable W7

[IcarusII]

Hi

Its been a while since I last posted here as everything has been going very well thanks to all your help over the years.

I have a 128 Gb SSD with W7 booting from it just fine. However it is seriously bloating up - started life at about 18-22 Gb as i recall and it is now occupying 54Gb.

Ideally I would like to create some clever partition on the SSD to allow me to clean install into the partition, setting the new W7 install up at my leisure over the next week. Once its set up and Im happy i would then remove the old W7 install. That way, if I need to work (proper work) then i can return to the existing OS which is working great but bloaty.

Is this process possible and if so how would I best go about it? If someone has a better suggestion for same outcome please do shout.

thanks

Matt

 

[Ranger4]

It is normal for your Operating System to get larger over time as you add more software programs & files increase in size. Often we don't realise that there could be a lot of programs that we no longer need or use that could be uninstalled.
Also Browsers gather a lot of history that needs clearing every now & then & can take a lot of space on your hard drive.
You can also run Disk Cleanup. Click the Start Button & in the Search slot type Disk Cleanup, this will show it for you, click on it & it will open. I have actually put a Short Cut for it on my Desktop & I run it about once a week. If you want it on your Desktop as well, do as instructed for finding Disk Cleanup & when you see it listed above the Start Button, Right Click on it & select Send To & then select Desktop (Create Short cut)
If you Right Click on Disk Cleanup & select Run as Administrator it will remove old Windows Update stuff that is no longer required.

 

[IcarusII]

Hi Ranger

Thanks for the reply. I ran disk cleaner and got rid of temp files etc....that deleted 250mb in all (i do generally delete this stuff on a regular basis). Cleaning system files was better removing 2-3 Gb of windows update copy files which was a bonus.

however I still want to know if i can install w7 again in a separate partition on my SSD, and once set up effectively delete the old one at my leisure.

Thanks

 

[theog]

Why do you not use the three HDD's (300gb,1tb, & 1tb) for Data you need to keep? Than wipe the SSD & reinstall.

 

[IcarusII]

Only because when you do a full wipe / reinstall you often discover you dont have half the programs you wished you did to hand.

I work on my PC a lot and given its sunday - dont want to a clean install tonight only to discover i cant do meaningful work on my PC until wednesday.

I want to have the new build of the OS as a "hobby" which i will build up over the next week at me leisure, meanwhile i can dual boot back to my current fully working and configured OS to actually do the day job.

Matt

 

[gregrocker]

I would move your User folders to a data partition on another HD. This keeps the backup image smaller so when WIn7 becomes irreparable or bloated again you can reimage C while the data remains safe and current in its data partition. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html You could even do this now to put off reinstall.

Otherwise see if you can shrink C by enough to get started installing your needed programs - at least 20-30 gb depending on what you must have before deleting the old OS.

Then install Win7 to the shrink space, following the steps, tools and methods in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 which will assure you get and keep a perfect install this time.

Once ready we will help you move the Active flag to the new Win7, reboot into Win7 disk to run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html to move the System flag to new Win7. You can then delete the old Win7 using Partition Wizard CD, rightclick C to Resize, drag left border all the way to left of HD, then move the right border to where you want it.