Solved Moving files between two hard drives with same OS installed

[Linconclusive]

Sorry for what's perhaps an obvious question, but I couldn't find any answers elsewhere. I've just bought my first SSD (coming late to the game) and I want to do a clean install of Win7 and programs and weed out anything superfluous that's accumulated on my old drive over the past few years. Previously I've just had everything backed up on my external hard drive and transferred it to the new one/ones when my old ones died, not had two drives plugged in both with an OS.

If I boot from the SSD, will I still be able to transfer files from the old drive to the new drive, or will both drives having an OS installed get in the way?

Thanks in advance,
Linc

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Disconnect the old drive before you even attempt to install to the SSD.

Install, then boot the SSD. It should be C.

If all appears well, shut down and reconnect the old drive and reboot.

The old drive should appear as D or E or F or something other than C.

You can then drag and drop any data files you want from the old drive to the new.

Then delete all partitions on the old drive if you have no further need for anything on it.

You might consider using the old drive as your data drive and leave the SSD for Windows and applications only. That has some advantages.

Or at least use the old drive in some capacity---perhaps as an internal backup of your data if you intend to keep data on the SSD.

I wouldn't try to copy installed applications from the old drive to the SSD.

 

[GokAy]

Ignatz, would this work for an Enterprise edition as well? Would it change anything? As OP seems to have an Enterprise edition, if of course it is the same PC.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ignatz, would this work for an Enterprise edition as well? Would it change anything? As OP seems to have an Enterprise edition, if of course it is the same PC.

I have no idea if Enterprise would make a difference.

 

[Linconclusive]

Ignatzatsonic, apologies for the late reply, and thank you for your help.