Solved Install 64bit HomeP on SSD

[eduede]

I'm planning to re-install window's home premium on my desktop. I want to replace the HDD that the OS is currently installed on with a SSD. My plan is to have the SSD hold the OS and maybe 1 or 2 key programs and then add a large HDD for all documents, pictures, videos, etc.

My question is, how big of a SSD is recommended for my plan to succeed? That is, how much space does the OS need initially and, as updates for the system come in, how much space should be available for the future?

 

[Golden]

Hi Eduede,

I have a 60GB OCZ Vertex 2 and it holds the following:

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (plus very latest updates)
MSOffice Professional (everything)
Several other applications incl. anti-malware and virtualisation software

and I still have 22GB free. What make and size of SSD were you considering?

Regards,
Golden

 

[Arc]

If you go for a 50 GB one, it would be enough according to your plan .

EDIT : Golde posted it much faster

 

[eduede]

Thanks! I was looking at anywhere from 60-128GB. I really didn't know, though. As for make of SSD, I'm not sure who to go with. I was thinking that reliable RAM manufacturers might be a good bet: Corsair, Crucial, Kingston or Samsung. How are you liking OCZ? I'm seeing great prices on OCZ SSDs on Pricewatch at the moment.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

I'm no expert, but Intel, Crucial and Samsung are by far the most popular here and recommended by our hardware experts - I only got the OCZ because I didn't know better, but it has been very reliable for me. I'm getting the 128GB Samsung H830 around Christmas if all goes well.

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/memory-storage/MZ-7PC128N/AM

Regards,
Golden

 

[eduede]

Here's a side question: when I go to install the OS on the new drive using the same product Key, how will MS know to allow the install? I'm obviously going to wiping the drive that currently has the OS on it but how does MS know that?

 

[gregrocker]

Follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

I would buy a large enough SSD to install all of your programs and contain your paging and hibernation file.

Back up your User folders by dragging them to a special data partition on the HD, then after install rightclick on each to add it to the related Win7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums or create your own. This is the easiest way to link data to Win7.

If SSD fills up edit your Programs or uninstall and reinstall the least used ones to HD data partition.

The correct way to uninstall Win7 is to delete its partition in Disk Mgmt after marking it Inactive: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums. Even cleaner method is to wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command if you can move your data off to do so.

 

[windude99]

Here's a side question: when I go to install the OS on the new drive using the same product Key, how will MS know to allow the install? I'm obviously going to wiping the drive that currently has the OS on it but how does MS know that?

I think it works like this: The Windows Activation servers will see if any computers are online with the product key that you have and since yours will be wiped withpout Windows, it won't seee the old Windows 7 installation and it will allow your product key to be used in a new installation.

 

[gregrocker]

If there is a previous activation of the Product Key then you will be prompted to use phone activation, which will ask how many computers this copy of Win7 is installed upon. The only answer for this is one. It will then take this as authorization to change to the new hardware signature for that Key.

When Win7 connects to the internet it periodically queries MS activations servers to see that it is installed on the same hardware signature. So the next time the overwritten install connects to the net it would be deactivated.

I believe the old hardware signature remains in MS Activation servers until it is overwritten thusly.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

My question is, how big of a SSD is recommended for my plan to succeed? That is, how much space does the OS need initially and, as updates for the system come in, how much space should be available for the future?

Windows 7 per se takes maybe 20 GB with SP1 and updates.

I have 50 applications installed--total occupied space of 29 GB on an 80 GB SSD. I have no intention of buying a larger one until I can get at least a 1 TB SSD (for data) very cheaply or until 80 GB proves to be too small for whatever Windows version Microsoft may offer down the road.

Many people operate successfully with SSDs of 60 GB--or even less.

Put all possible apps on the SSD. You may as well take advantage of its speed. Games can go on a spinning drive if necessary.

You can save a lot of SSD space by turning off hibernation and restricting the size devoted to the page file and System Restore.

 

[eduede]

Back up your User folders by dragging them to a special data partition on the HD, then after install rightclick on each to add it to the related Win7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums or create your own. This is the easiest way to link data to Win7.

If SSD fills up edit your Programs or uninstall and reinstall the least used ones to HD data partition.

Ok. Thanks. Here's another question, when you install Windows, it will automatically create My Documents, Music, Pictures etc on the drive that the OS is on. What if I want all of those folders on a different drive? Since I want to have the OS and key programs on the SSD but want all of my documents, music and pictures (and related media) on a HDD, how do I go about this? Is it that I simply create a folder for each type of user file on the HDD and then "include it" in the appropriate library? If so, then you've already answered my question!

Finally, I have Office 2010 Pro installed on this machine. Is there a procedure that I need to follow to deactivate this Office installation so that I can reinstall it after the clean OS install?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. Sort your data into User folders, back them up during install, then move them onto the data drive, rightclick each to add to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums . You will have to create a Downloads library.

No, just make sure you have the Office Product Key or audit it using Belarc Advisor

 

[eduede]

Thanks!

 

[strollin]

Since the prices for ssds have been going down and becoming more reasonable, I personally wouldn't install anything smaller than a 120G even though a 60G would suffice, I 'd rather have a little more "elbow room".

 

[gregrocker]

With a larger SSD I think I would keep the user files onboard until space requires moving them to a HD - if that was your plan.

 

[essenbe]

I like moving them anyway. It provides a little bit of security. The drive most likely to go out or get messed up is the OS drive. If that happens, your personal files are on a seperate drive. But, that's just me. But, I still do a lot of backups.

 

[essenbe]

There is no performance difference really, unless you are transfering large files. As far as normal performance, you click my documents and your documents are there. If you didn't know, you couldn't tell (unless your data drive goes to sleep, but I have mine to never sleep)

 

[eduede]

Ok, so I just did the Windows install and, when I try to activate windows, it says that the product key that I have is only for "Upgrades, not for clean installations"!! What am I supposed to do? Is there a number I can call? My other drive was failing, it doesn't seem fair to me that I am not allowed to install windows on a replacement drive given that I have a key for "upgrades"...

HELP!

 

[essenbe]

See if this tutorial helps http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html See option 3, that may be your issue.

 

[eduede]

Ok, so I just did the Windows install and, when I try to activate windows, it says that the product key that I have is only for "Upgrades, not for clean installations"!! What am I supposed to do? Is there a number I can call? My other drive was failing, it doesn't seem fair to me that I am not allowed to install windows on a replacement drive given that I have a key for "upgrades"...

HELP!

I should add that I do own own a valid qualifying previous version of Windows!