Solved Need help with reformat without losing data

[Steverman]

Hello, I have a problem I know I will run into when I build my new computer.

Before I moved I only took my hard drives with me because I thought I could just buy a new computer and put my HDDs into that computer. But it seems like that it may not boot at all, although it depends on my luck.

So my question is if I could use the Windows 7 upgrade on top of the same OS to keep all my data while also getting a fresh OS too. The upgrade option should add '.old' at the end of every Windows folder right?

Anyone know what will happen to folders that are placed on the root directory? I installed few games there that I would like to keep.

EDIT: I guess I posted in the wrong section.

 

[whs]

1. It is very unlikely that you can boot from this HDD on a new system. Besides the inherent driver problems you would also have an activation problem.

2. If you do an upgrade install. you should get a windows.old folder. But you may be taking your chances.

3. I suggest to first save your files (maybe on a friends system with an external USB enclosure).

4. If you have less than 4 primary partitions on that HDD, you could define a new primary, active partition on the drive (if you can shrink enough space). You then could make a clean install to that partition with your upgrade disk.

To shrink space and to define a new primary active partition on this disk, use the bootable CD of Partition Wizard. It is the last entry on this webpage which you download and burn to cd (.g. with Imgburn).

But before you define the new active primary partition on the drive, make sure you deactivate the current active partition which is most likely C: or the system partition. The controls in Partition Wizard are under the Partition tab > Modify.

If there are already 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and an extended partition on the drive, post back. Then we have to do some more work.

 

[Steverman]

I'm not really familiar with the partition terms but I believe that I only have one primary partition and that is C:

I have 1 SSD (OS) and 2 HDDs (storage)

I'm not really a fan of creating logical partitions (those are the virtual partitions right?) so can I use some kind of linux live CD to transfer my files to my storage HDDs?

I'm just asking because I want to keep my options open and the upgrade option seems to be the easiest way but also very risky.

Btw, what will happen to my symlinks between my OS drive and storage drives?

 

[whs]

Hmm, I think we have to find a simple solution for you. Sorry I dragged you thru all this geeky stuff with my posting above.

It would be probably the easiest if you got yourself an external HDD enclosure. They cost just a few dollars. But in order to recommend one, we would have to know whether you have a 2.5" or 3.5" HDD and whether it is Sata or IDE.

You can then put your HDD into that enclosure and attach it via USB to any system. There you can copy your date - e.g. to a USB stick that is large enough to hold your personal files.

Once this is done, you can install a new Windows7 on that disk. Any programs you had and any settings you made have to be redone/reinstalled. There is nothing other than your own data that you can take to the new system.

 

[Steverman]

Only the SSD is 2.5" but it came with a 3.5" bracket. The rest are 3.5"

Hmm so I guess it's either that and/or use another computer to safely get my personal data.

Edit: Those are SATAs.

 

[whs]

Question: do you have a computer now where you could stick it into an empty bay.

 

[Steverman]

Yes, but the guy lives 1 hour away from me.

So Linux live CD it is? I have a laptop that can burn, but I prefer a bootable USB.

 

[whs]

Here are a few 3.5" enclosures. The last one is 3.5" and 2.5". I have one like this myself. Works well.

Newegg.com - Rosewill RX35-AT-SU SLV Aluminum 3.5" Silver USB 2.0 External Enclosure
Newegg.com - MASSCOOL UHB-360US Aluminum 3.5" USB 2.0 External Enclosure
Newegg.com - Rosewill RX-DU101 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB 2.0 Docking Station

 

[Steverman]

Yeah I guess I'll go for the old copy paste method with that usb thing.

Thanks.

 

[whs]

You are welcome. This is safer than Copy/paste: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/516-context-menu-add-copy-folder-move-folder.html

 

[alan10]

You are welcome. This is safer than Copy/paste: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/516-context-menu-add-copy-folder-move-folder.html

I recommend TeraCopy Portable as being infinitely safer than Windows native copy/move.

I used Windows Drag/Drop to copy something like 12 files totalling 30 GB from my secondary SATA HDD to a USB2 connected external HDD.

My files were Macrium Partition Image backup files, and most of the copies failed Macrium's checksum based validation immediately after copying.

Immediately, without dislodging the USB2 connections,
I used Teracopy and that did the transfer perfectly.
It retries appropriately any file that is temporarily in use,
rather than an immediate abort of the whole series of pending transfers.

Even better, after transferring it remembers the MD5 hash checksums for each source file,
and then reads back all the copies and computes checksum and compares with the original source checksum,
and if required then retries all the failures.

My files may have been corrupted by some intermittent glitch in the chosen USB2 port,
and Windows never noticed any difference between the original and the copy it made.

I am using version 2.0.1.0

I believe 2.0.5. is better, available from
TeraCopy Portable Download - Softpedia

The latest version is 2.2.7 from the developers at
Code Sector Blog » TeraCopy

CAUTION :-
I have not tried the latest.

In the past the Free Portable did not have all the bells and whistle of the Licenced and Installed version.

Both versions are now at the same version 2.2.7,
but I understand the Free Portable has cripple restrictions - just like share-ware,
and perhaps Crippled 2.2.7 has less capability than my free 2.0.1 or SoftPedia free 2.05.