HDD => SSD & HDD Question

[PE553]

Hello guys. I have a 60GB OCZ SSD that I want to use for my OS, Windows 7 64bit. As per usual, I'll be keeping everything else on my current HDD, a Western Digital Caviar Black.

So once I install 7 on the SSD and get to the desktop screen for the first time using the fresh OS and new boot device, I'm assuming everything won't be where I left it...is this correct? (Meaning the same desktop background, the same programs under the windows program menu--and all in working condition) If so, how do I get my computer to look and function exactly as it used to before the OS was put on an SSD? Something with the registry maybe?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

 

[mpcrsc562]

Windows is already installed on the WD drive and you're cloning that drive to to the SSD?

If you truly want to have the OS on the SSD and everything else on the secondary hdd, you'll be better off with a clean install of Windows and reinstalling all of your applications. With a clean installation and with nothing installed, it will be easier for you to setup your user profile(s) to the secondary drive as well as mounting an empty folder in your Program Files folder (or Program Files x86 folder) for the purpose of installing applications on the secondary drive.

 

[Dave76]

Agree that the best way will be to do a fresh clean install.

You can use Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer To & From Computers to get all the settings the way they were before.

Best way to get the alignment right on a new SSD is to leave it unformatted and point the new Win7 installation to the SSD.
Win7 will correctly align the partitions, format and install.
Plug the SSD SATA cable into port 0, unplug all other HDDs to be sure the boot files go to the SSD.
You can plug the other HDDs in after the installation is done.

Some info on Win7 and SSDs.

Support and Q&A for Solid-State Drives

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[PE553]

I'll probably use the easy transfer method--I've used Easy Transfer in the past and it seems simple enough.

Just another thought though. I was under the impression that the registry of any given computer was like a blueprint for that computer's files, components, programs, apps etc. If I save a copy of my PC's registry the way it is now (with everything--OS and files all on my hard drive) and then load that same registry file once the new OS is installed on the new solid state drive--wouldn't that work? Wouldn't it be like telling the OS on the solid state drive that "hey, this is the way the computer used to look and function, with all of these files and apps and programs installed to the following locations"?