Solved Reinstallation on SSD, how much GB needed for clean install?

[Nyarlathotep]

I have a 256GB SSD; which has 117GB of FREE space available.

It ONLY has my Windows installation on it, and a few other key applications, while the bulk of my other apps and games are on a HDD via Steam Mover.

I now also have, a brand new ASRock Z97 Extreme6 Motherboard, and an Intel Core i5-4690K, and a new computer Case and I'll be using the rest of the parts from my current PC.

Essentially it will be the exact same computer, just with a new motherboard and a new CPU.

I am debating either (Option 1) using this...
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/292068-make-windows-7-bootable-after-motherboard-swap.html

Or (Option 2) partition the SSD and put a fresh clean installation of my Windows on the new partition, then gradually migrate data (ie My Docs, Etc) from the old to the new, and then just reinstall a few essential applications... the only catch being my Steam installation has a number of junctions created to the HDD using Steam Mover; so I'll presume that after reinstalling Steam, I'll probably have to copy the original from the old partition, over onto the new.

Then just gradually change size of the partition as things are moved over, and the old windows is no longer needed... until the SSD is just a single 256GB drive again...

But I am unsure as to whether or not I should attempt option 2 cause well I forgot just how much space a fresh and clean installation of Win 7 Ultimate 64bit will need; and what would I need to do to get it "reactivated" with Microsoft without having to go buy another copy that I can't afford?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm personally I think you are for the sake of the cost of a new OEM going to have a lot of messing around to do like that tutorial lays out .

If it were me I would clone that drive to a spinner just to save my data (if it is only data you want to save) and then install the OEM onto that SSD after wiping it then just install my applications - it would not take so long and seems a simpler way to make the SSD your C: drive, and like I said just for the cost of an OEM.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I dont have an OEM...

Its a boxed retail copy of Win XP Ultimate 64bit...

 

[DavidE]

I dont have an OEM...

Its a boxed retail copy of Win XP Ultimate 64bit...

Are you asking about Win XP or Win 7 ?

I use apx. 42 GB on a Win 7 64 Bit OS installed over 5 years ago.
No gaming, CAD, CAM, PhotoShop, ... etc.
I have over 100 programs installed, my DATA is stored on a spinner as the [D] drive.

Try WinDirStat and/or TreeSize free to see where your space is being used.
https://windirstat.info/
JAM Software - Windows Freeware

MS Win 7 requirements:
Windows 7 system requirements - Windows Help

Min space is 20 GB, I wouldn't use less than 60 GB

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Gah!

Sorry, it's Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit!

 

[gregrocker]

You can migrate Win7 retail to any other hardware you want for life. Why would you need to buy another copy?

I would try doing the adaptive restore to see how it performs, then if not to your liking you can reinstall.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Ok, I had no idea that the retail version could do that.

How do I try an adaptive restore?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

This is what I've got, and I'm presuming its a retail copy...

There is nothing on it that says anything about it being an OEM.... and I've got another copy of Home Edition that IS, an OEM which I bought for another PC... and it actually does state that it is OEM...

But this Ultimate version, is in a plastic box that opens like a book, which in turn is slipped down inside this black cardboard sleeve.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

OH!

The Paragon Adaptive Restore!

I'm an idiot! lol

I've been really freaked out about this new PC rebuild, and in fact I was preparing to do the Paragon Adaptive Restore when I missed on on prepping my USB Drive for it... and accidently deleted the volume on my Data Storage HDD...

http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...did-not-format-need-recovery.html#post3009966

I've pretty much been in a tailspin panic ever since trying to do two things at once... finishing the new PC build, and trying to recover that lost partition... so, my head wasn't thinking right when you suggested trying the adaptive restore first for my Windows installation.

I will try that...

After I figure out what to do about my hdd accident...

 

[AddRAM]

Put all your data on the hard drive, make your hardware changes. Create an install partition on the ssd (use the entire drive) align it and mark it active, and do a clean install on the ssd, do all rounds of windows updates, install your programs. Add your hard drive to the new system.

Done

Why are you storing data on the ssd ?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I'm not storing data on an SSD; thats my OS drive.

I'm not TOUCHING the HDD, period, until it's accidentally deleted volume is recovered...

 

[AddRAM]

Then what are you talking about by saying migrating the old to the new ?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Then what are you talking about by saying migrating the old to the new ?

Or (Option 2) partition the SSD and put a fresh clean installation of my Windows on the new partition, then gradually migrate data (ie My Docs, Etc) from the old to the new, and then just reinstall a few essential applications... the only catch being my Steam installation has a number of junctions created to the HDD using Steam Mover; so I'll presume that after reinstalling Steam, I'll probably have to copy the original from the old partition, over onto the new.

Lets see....

My Documents
My Pictures
My Music
My Videos

Basically, everything in the My Docs folder.

But thats old news.

Read the rest of the thread please, that was before I was told that with my Retail copy of Win 7... It can be simply transfered to a new computer without reinstalling anything.

You can migrate Win7 retail to any other hardware you want for life. Why would you need to buy another copy?

I would try doing the adaptive restore to see how it performs, then if not to your liking you can reinstall.

The problem that I have now is...

While prepping my USB drive for that Paragon software to do the adaptive restore, I accidentally wiped out the volume on my 932GB WD Hard Drive... instead of the 934MB USB drive... I got the numbers mixed up cause I was too tired to pay attention to what I was doing last night... 850+ GB of data and applications, accidentally wiped out...

Now I am trying to recover that volume on that HDD, cause thats where all the rest of the important data is stored, including the latest Back Up of my SSD, that was made last night.

See this thread > click < for those details...

I'm in complete panic mode atm until I figure out how to recover that accidentally deleted volume...

 

[AddRAM]

Lets see....

My Documents
My Pictures
My Music
My Videos

Basically, everything in the My Docs folder.

Once again, you should not be storing any data on the ssd, so you should not have to transfer anything.

This will help you recover the partitions.

Free Partition Manager for Window PC | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition

How to Make Partition Recovery | MiniTool Partition Wizard Tutorial

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Well thats where Windows put it.

But I don't care about that right now...

I'm more concerned about recovering the lost volume on my HDD...

I cant do anything else until thats recovered.

 

[AddRAM]

But then you copy and paste it to your hard drive.

So you never loose it. Then delete it off the ssd.

 

[Layback Bear]

I wondering where one would buy Windows 7 Ultimate and not have SP-1 included on the DVD.

Picture in post #8

 

[AddRAM]

When it first came out, it didn`t have SP1.

Just as Vista didn`t etc.

I`m wondering why it says "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade" on it ????

Thought that would only come with lesser versions.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Its an older copy of Win 7 Ultimate.

I bought it 5 years ago; March of 2011....

SP1 was released in February of 2011; so I obviously got one of the older copies that did not include it yet.

 

[AddRAM]

Hold on to that packaging like Gold, you are one of the fortunate ones who can put in your retail Ultimate key and download the latest iso file with Service Pack 1 to do your future installs.

That is of course if Ultimate is still on the server.

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life