Solved Is it possible to move Windows 7 OEM from SSD to HDD?

[HenrikT]

Hello, I have had some freezing problems that I've located to be my SSD, that is pulling it's last breaths.
My PC freezes after an hour after starting up, that repeats all the time. I browsed the internet and found out some people had the same problem, and the cause of that was an aging SSD.

I have bought this PC from a store, with Windows installed on it. I read about this and I am thinking it is an OEM version of it, since I have no install disk or anything for it. I read about reinstalling with OEM that I might not be able to reactivate it or something.

My question is, is it possible to move the installation of Windows 7 OEM from my SSD to my HDD in the same computer?

 

[whs]

Sure, that's easy. Make an image of all partitions of the SSD and restore it on the HDD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[HenrikT]

So after imaging everything from where windows is installed and I have created a virtual disk from the files, can I just disable, and deattach my SSD from my PC which has the original files in?

 

[whs]

An image with Macrium is not a virtual disk. The image has to be restored to the disk where you want it. The image itself does not function as an operational system.

I suggest you carefully read the tutorial and all the links so that you understand how this works.

 

[HenrikT]

I read everything and restored the image on the disk.

Those tutorials just tell me how to backup images, I don't want to backup my windows, I want to completely move my windows to my HDD and have it operate from there so I can disable and throw away my SSD

 

[whs]

The tutorial tells you how to backup and restore. It even give you a link for the .iso of the restore program.

But if you have already restored the image(s) to the HDD, then you only need to change the BIOS boot order and set the HDD as first boot device.

 

[HenrikT]

I noticed a problem, if I put the image(s) writable, they will disappear on computer restart, how do I make them permanent while being writable. I tried to search for the info but couldn't find.

 

[whs]

Sorry, I really do not understand what you are trying to tell us.

 

[BJB]

You have mounted your image, i.e. given it a drive letter and made it accessible in Explorer. Why? This isn't necessary or helpful in any way at all in moving your system to hdd as there is no way to make a mounted image permanent. It dies when you shut down.

You will need first to create a new partition at the start of your hdd similar in size to your ssd in order to accommodate your system when you write it to the hdd. Otherwise restoring the image to your hdd would cause you to lose everything else on it, including your image file. So you would first have to use a partition management tool such as MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition to shrink and move to the end of the drive your existing partition. Once that is done you would use the Macrium Reflect bootable CD to boot the computer and find and restore the image file to your new partition. You would also need to set the BIOS to boot from hdd rather than from ssd.

Far preferable imo would be simply to replace the ssd and write the image to that.

 

[gregrocker]

Store the image on an external hard drive, make the Boot DIsk, boot it and apply the image to the SSD.

Or you can http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 with everything provided in the blue link. If you researched this on the web then you should have seen this tutorial which comes up first in all web searches for reinstalling OEM, and it easily dispels the rumours you heard.

 

[trinaz]

Sure, that's easy. Make an image of all partitions of the SSD and restore it on the HDD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

Here's a slight twist on the same thing more or less...after about 3 years I want to do a clean reinstall of Win 7 Pro 64bit on/into the same box it's now in...won't be changing any cards...etc...in the box. What I want to do is put the new install...along with some basic always installed stuff...AV software...etc...on to a small ide hdd I have empty. My thinking is that way I can have a clean install backup of the basic system if I ever want again to 'clean install' for any reason

Here's the plan:
1) insert the smaller ide hdd into the current box with current full Windows presently on an ssd
2) disconnect the ssd
3) connect the empty ide (backup drive) to the PC
4) install from my licensed Win 7 Pro 64bit installation disk to the connected ide drive
5) add critical software...ie...av/firewall, Acronis True Image backup, MS Office, MS Outlook...etc
6) clone a copy of the smaller ide disk via Acronis
7) Disconnect the new installation on the small ide drive...reconnect and format the original ssd drive...and
re-install Win 7 basic installation via the Acronis True Image Basic Windows System tib backup saved on
a third sata HDD already in the system/box

This way...if I ever want to 'clean install" again...I have the basic windows installation plus basic programs pre-installed on a spare but disconnected ide drive and also an Acronis system tib file for backup.

Please comment on the plan to both re-clean-install Win 7 Pro...and create a clean install backup copy of the basics for a future Win 7 clean installation

Thanks...TiminAz

 

[BJB]

Store the image on an external hard drive, make the Boot DIsk, boot it and apply the image to the SSD.

There is no need to involve using an external drive. The OP has the image file on hdd and can restore to ssd directly from there, as I recommended above.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Sure, that's easy. Make an image of all partitions of the SSD and restore it on the HDD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

Here's a slight twist on the same thing more or less...after about 3 years I want to do a clean reinstall of Win 7 Pro 64bit on/into the same box it's now in...won't be changing any cards...etc...in the box. What I want to do is put the new install...along with some basic always installed stuff...AV software...etc...on to a small ide hdd I have empty. My thinking is that way I can have a clean install backup of the basic system if I ever want again to 'clean install' for any reason

Here's the plan:
1) insert the smaller ide hdd into the current box with current full Windows presently on an ssd
2) disconnect the ssd
3) connect the empty ide (backup drive) to the PC
4) install from my licensed Win 7 Pro 64bit installation disk to the connected ide drive
5) add critical software...ie...av/firewall, Acronis True Image backup, MS Office, MS Outlook...etc
6) clone a copy of the smaller ide disk via Acronis
7) Disconnect the new installation on the small ide drive...reconnect and format the original ssd drive...and
re-install Win 7 basic installation via the Acronis True Image Basic Windows System tib backup saved on
a third sata HDD already in the system/box

This way...if I ever want to 'clean install" again...I have the basic windows installation plus basic programs pre-installed on a spare but disconnected ide drive and also an Acronis system tib file for backup.

Please comment on the plan to both re-clean-install Win 7 Pro...and create a clean install backup copy of the basics for a future Win 7 clean installation.

Nothing radically wrong with the idea, but I don't know that I'd go to the trouble. And the need to use the cloned drive might never arise---you'd have wasted the time.

Let's say it takes X hours to do steps 1 through 6 and you do that tomorrow.

Suppose you then have a major failure or need to reinstall three months from now.

Why not instead just use those X hours to do a clean install when that need arises in 3 months, directly onto the drive of your choice? No cloning. At that time, make an image of the new Win 7 installation and basic programs if you want. And then make periodic images over time as the new system evolves.

You would avoid the possibility of wasting X hours, you'd avoid any issues related to cloning, you would not be tying up a cloned drive that you might be able to use for some other purpose, and you'd avoid having a 3 month old cloned Windows/applications drive that would not be updated, to some extent or other.

 

[HenrikT]

I am performing a clean install atm, just ran into a problem that NTLDR is missing, so trying to make a boot disk atm.

 

[gregrocker]

I would wipe the HD first with Clean Command from http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html as NTLDR is left over boot code from an XP install interfering. Access the Command line by choosing Repair My Computer on installers second screen.

If you'll follow the other steps in Reinstall tutorial below, you will keep a perfect install for as long as you do.

 

[HenrikT]

I used the guide to clean install on OEM that was first linked here, and it worked perfectly. I now have a clean install on my HDD, and my ssd is kinda disposable right now. Thank you to all who helped!