How do I move Windows 7 to another drive

[bobka]

Come to think of it, may I ask if there is any good software, free or otherwise, that can just move "naked" Windows to another drive without my having to move my personal files from the drive, then move them back to the drive, and all the 800gig hustle that comes with it?

 

[gregrocker]

Paragon has an app to move from HD to SSD which will allow you to uncheck User folders, etc. until it is sized down correctly. See Step 2 under Transfer the OS here: SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System

The best way to link your User folders is to browse afterwards to your storage drive, rightclick on each one to add to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. This lessens the chance of permissioning issues that come with moving the User shell folders.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Come to think of it, may I ask if there is any good software, free or otherwise, that can just move "naked" Windows to another drive without my having to move my personal files from the drive, then move them back to the drive, and all the 800gig hustle that comes with it?

Bobka:

You are a prime example of why it can be helpful to have Windows and personal data on separate partitions.

If you originally had a C partition of 100 GB and a data partition covering the remainder of the drive, you could have easily cloned or imaged C alone to the SSD and left your data right where it is.

 

[bobka]

Come to think of it, may I ask if there is any good software, free or otherwise, that can just move "naked" Windows to another drive without my having to move my personal files from the drive, then move them back to the drive, and all the 800gig hustle that comes with it?

Bobka:

You are a prime example of why it can be helpful to have Windows and personal data on separate partitions.

If you originally had a C partition of 100 GB and a data partition covering the remainder of the drive, you could have easily cloned or imaged C alone to the SSD and left your data right where it is.

I agree. Next time I'll know.

 

[bobka]

Looks like with all my little programs that I had for years and now have moved to my new computer with Windows 7 move feature, it looks like moving naked Windows to SSD and then putting back all my staff on HDD will be a major pain. So, I was thinking about clean Windows install on SSD. If I do that, can I then uninstall JUST Windows on SSD? Also, will I be able to move registry without Windows crashing? What do you think?

 

[seavixen32]

Looks like with all my little programs that I had for years and now have moved to my new computer with Windows 7 move feature, it looks like moving naked Windows to SSD and then putting back all my staff on HDD will be a major pain. So, I was thinking about clean Windows install on SSD. If I do that, can I then uninstall JUST Windows on SSD? Also, will I be able to move registry without Windows crashing? What do you think?

I don't follow your thinking.

Why would you want to clean install Windows on your SSD then uninstall as stated above?

What do mean by 'moving the registry'? What for and where to?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Looks like with all my little programs that I had for years and now have moved to my new computer with Windows 7 move feature, it looks like moving naked Windows to SSD and then putting back all my staff on HDD will be a major pain. So, I was thinking about clean Windows install on SSD. If I do that, can I then uninstall JUST Windows on SSD? Also, will I be able to move registry without Windows crashing? What do you think?

I don't follow you either.

I have no idea what you mean by "Windows move feature".

If you "move" your entire C partition from HDD to SSD via cloning or imaging, you would not have to put anything back on C.

If you clean install to the SSD, you will have to reinstall all programs by definition.

If you clean install to the SSD, that would install "just Windows. So, why would you then want to uninstall "just Windows"?

I don't get it with the "move registry". If you clean install, you get a new registry. If you clone or image from the HDD to the SDD, you get the existing registry. No need to "move registry" in either case.

You can clone only certain portions of C from HDD to SSD via Paragon Adaptive Restore program, but that is typically unnecessary if you have shrunk C on the HDD to the point where it is small enough to fit on the SSD.

An ordinary clone or image from HDD to SSD would include the ENTIRE C partition, including Windows, the existing registry, existing progams, existing data, et al.

I'm not clear on "naked Windows" either. If you do a clean install, that is as "naked" as Windows gets. A "clean install" is "just Windows" or "naked Windows" or however you want to put it.

 

[bobka]

Late posts spell disaster. Sorry about that. I meant clean install on SSD, and then uninstall my current Windows 7 from HDD. Also, moving registry so that all the programs that were installed, where registry was updated would still work. Essentially importing registry only to SSD from HDD. But typing this makes me think that it will probably not work either. I do get the concept of what is written with Windows installation, while I have a good familiarity with XP, Windows 7 is new for me. I am also looking at that $20 program from Paragon. The questions is will I be able to move just Windows with it?

 

[seavixen32]

You can't just move the registry.

Your programs will need to be installed after you install Windows on your SSD.

Have a look here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

 

[bobka]

Ok. If I may ask, is there a program Like Paragon merge, but free or low cost?

 

[gregrocker]

What exactly is it you want to merge? It usually isn't necessary and can be accomplished more easily using Disk mgmt or free Partition Wizard.

 

[bobka]

Well as per suggestion on this board and link here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html the step 2 takes me to Paragon Migrate OS to SSD - System migration to Solid State Drives (SSD) - Overview In their description it shows that I can choose only Operating system to move and leave all my stuff on the disk. By doing it manual I have to find all my media, move it elsewhere, then image windows, them move image, then uninstall windows, then move everything back to HDD. I am trying to find easier and safer solution to this.

 

[gregrocker]

Merging it isn't what you want.

The Paragon program has an excellent option to select only what you want to image over to the SSD, leaving behind your user folders, paging and hibernation file. Hopefully this will then be the right size for the SSD. If not you'll need to uninstall some lesser-used programs first to reinstall later to the HD.

The easiest method then is to move your User folders off to an external while you delete the old Win7 on HD. If you don't have an external then shrink the OS partition on the HD to move the User folders into a new Data partition.

Once Win7 on the SSD is up and running and you're sure you have everything moved into the data partition, delete the old Win7 partition in Disk Mgmt, then create a new storage partition there or resize the data partition into its space using Disk Management to Extend to the right, or if it's to the left using Partition Wizard to Resize Partition - Video Help.

The easiest way to link to the User folders and any other data on your storage HD is to rightclick the folder to add to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

 

[bobka]

Thank you.