Two HDD with Windows 7 at the same time?

[Mike99]

I just installed an SSD & put Windows 7 on it. I’d like to use the old HDD as a secondary drive because it contains all the data & some small downloaded programs. That way I can copy & install some of the small programs as I see fit. And of course use the HDD as a data drive. But the HDD has Windows 7 on it & I thought about deleting or renaming Windows so it doesn’t interfere with the SSD Windows. But I can’t do that unless it’s connected, which means both drives will be active when I boot up. Is there anyway to accomplish what I want to do?

 

[margrave]

If you boot from the SSD, the HDD will just be an idle D: drive. It will be ignored during boot.

 

[Mike99]

How does the PC know to boot from the SSD? Does it somehow detect the SSD & give it priority?

I've read that some people change the boot order if they have two HDDs. But my CMOS doesn't allow for that. However it does have settings to choose the order of the device type such as HDD, CD/DVD, etc.

 

[samuria]

You can set the old drive partition as inactive some BIOS do get confused if it finds more than one active partition

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Easiest way is to put the hdd in an enclosure and not connected internally until you get your personal files off of it,
Programs would be best reinstalled to the ssd not an attempted transfer.

 

[DavidE]

When you installed Win 7 on the SSD did you have the Win 7 HD connected ?
It would be best if post a maximized/resized screen print of Disk Management with the SSD and HD connected using these instructions before making any changes:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[Mike99]

Hi,
Easiest way is to put the hdd in an enclosure and not connected internally until you get your personal files off of it,
Programs would be best reinstalled to the ssd not an attempted transfer.

I thought about getting an enclosure but was thinking why not just leave the original HDD in place, presuming that was a workable scenario.

Programs would be reinstalled not transferred. But I have quite a few small ones that I downloaded such as CPUID CPU-Z where I still have the downloaded files on the HDD. I figured I'd just click on these & install the program on the SSD.

 

[Mike99]

When you installed Win 7 on the SSD did you have the Win 7 HD connected ?
It would be best if post a maximized/resized screen print of Disk Management with the SSD and HD connected using these instructions before making any changes:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

I only had the SSD connected.

 

[Eric3742]

How does the PC know to boot from the SSD? Does it somehow detect the SSD & give it priority?

I've read that some people change the boot order if they have two HDDs. But my CMOS doesn't allow for that. However it does have settings to choose the order of the device type such as HDD, CD/DVD, etc.

We need to see the pictures then can answer you.



Btw, i put all the tools (small/old exe files) in the SSD partition at the end.
My SSD is 250GB more than enough for OS to run.
Even another Windows 7 Home is inside the SSD occupy between the Windows 7 Pro OS and Tools.
But i close this Win7 Home partition by removing the drive letter.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Everyone needs an inexpensive enclosure
Amazon.com: Sabrent ECS-STU35K USB 2.0 to 3.5-inch IDE/SATA or Serial ATA Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure Case (BLACK): Electronics

 

[Mike99]

I know you want pictures but so far I've had only one drive at a time connected. I'm just a little leery about connecting two OS drives at the same time & having one of them scramble the data or registry on the other.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The chance of a problem with both drives connected are near zero, but suit yourself and post the screen shot of Windows Disk Management with ONLY the SSD connected.

If the PC will not boot with just the SSD connected, for whatever reason, then yes, you do have a problem to overcome.

 

[DavidE]

I agree with ignatzatsonic.

But the HDD has Windows 7 on it & I thought about deleting or renaming Windows so it doesn’t interfere with the SSD Windows. But I can’t do that unless it’s connected, which means both drives will be active when I boot up. Is there anyway to accomplish what I want to do?

If you don't want to start Windows with both drives connected, and you want to set the HD Active partition to Inactive:

Burn a MiniTool Partition Wizard bootable cd
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

Disconnect the SSD, connect the HD
Boot up with the Partition Wizard bootable cd
Select the Active partition and click on Set Inactive