New installation of Win 7 64-bit

[tankslapper]

I am intending to add an SSD to my system, and also upgrade the RAM. I intend to therefore reinstall with 64-bit to take full advantage.

There are a couple of different users on this PC, whose data I need to retain and preferably keep their profiles the same.

I was thinking the best way to do this would be to use the file and settings transfer wizard to backup the existing accounts and data, reinstalling with 64-bit, and then using the wizard to set up the accounts again.

I also want to have the system set up to store user data on the standard HDD and have the OS installed on the SSD.

What I am unsure of, is whether the file and settings transfer wizard will play nicely if I manually relocate the user profiles.

Is there a better way?

It seems that this type of upgrade is going to be increasingly common as SSD prices lower, but it appears that there is no easy way to do it.

 

[gregrocker]

Best backup method I've found is to drag the active User folders (e.g. User/Greg) to an external. You really don't want to reimport hidden User AppData settings as they are a corruption path into a fresh-start Reinstall.

Then after install link User folders to HD using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location.html

Tips for getting a perfect reinstall - use the ones which apply: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[biggles1000]

Linux is fine with things like this. However, Windows and windows programs aren't. For example, Steam seems to demand to only put games in C and iTunes only backs up iDevices to C.
It's probably most Windows users dream to get a relatively small capacity SSD to boot off for the sheer speed but store all their data on a larger standard HDD.
Gregrocker's dragging and dropping method would probably be your best shot.