Installing Win 7 Upgrade Onto New Hard Drive

[lazarus]

I intend to get a new internal hd as the current system disc 250gb is not quite enough for my needs. I currently run Win 7 64 bit. I should add that I already have a 2nd physical HD 1tb but I want to keep that separate for storing photos/movies etc

Originally I had Vista then bought the Win 7 upgrade when it was released. If I install system onto new HD will I need to install Vista first then install the Win 7 Upgrade? Lastly do I need to deactivate Win 7 before starting.

 

[gregrocker]

An SSD is the best upgrade one can get for Win7, lightning fast with 10-20 second boot.

If you are satsified with our present install and it meets the standard of the perfect Win7 install compiled in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 - which is always instantaneous and never hangs - then you could install Macrium Imaging to clone or save a Backup Image of your OS to apply to the new drive. This works quite well.

Otherwise follow the steps in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to achieve the one great OS install which can be preserved in a backup image to recover if needed in 20 minutes.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I install system onto new HD will I need to install Vista first then install the Win 7 Upgrade? Lastly do I need to deactivate Win 7 before starting.

No and no.

 

[gregrocker]

In addition if you install Win7 Upgrade version to a blank drive where no other OS is seen by the installer when it is booted, you'll need to leave the key blank during install, then afterwards do the quick Option 3 workaround in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Win7 on a blank hard drive. This is made available as a convenience by MS.

 

[lazarus]

Thanks Greg, the workaround worked a treat