Upgrading to new OS and SSD questions

[rmg22893]

So I'm going to be installing a new SSD into my laptop fairly soon (replacing the current HDD and putting the HDD in my optical drive). I am also upgrading from 7 Professional to 7 Enterprise, and with this comes many, many questions.

First of all, how would I go about installing an OS onto a completely blank drive? I have experience with system partitioning and installing a second OS, but never onto a clean slate. Would I use a SATA-USB cable and install the OS through that, or would I have to burn the ISO onto a CD and install through my optical drive once I installed the SSD?

Secondly, would I be able to use a system backup of my Professional system to restore my programs and files to the Enterprise filesystem? Or would I have to install everything from scratch?

Thanks for any help!

 

[gregrocker]

How do you plan to activate Enterprise as it's Volume Licensed and not intended for use by consumers, only large organizations and businesses?

There is no upgrade path from Professional to Enterprise that I know of.

 

[rmg22893]

How do you plan to activate Enterprise as it's Volume Licensed and not intended for use by consumers, only large organizations and businesses?

There is no upgrade path from Professional to Enterprise that I know of.

My university provides a "free" (read "20,000 a year") download of Microsoft software (including an Enterprise ISO) to all enrolled students.

 

[whs]

if your Enterprise is an installation disc, disconnect all HDDs and leave the SSD. Then install as usual from the installation DVD. When done, change the BIOS to boot from the SSD second (always leave the CD/DVD reader as first). Then you cn reattach your HDDs.

Edit: Just saw it is a laptop. Skip my remarks regarding HDDs. Just install as usual.

 

[gregrocker]

Just boot the installer to clean install Enterprise to the new SSD, adapting these steps to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

As it should be full version rather than Upgrade, you won't need to do the workaround to clean install Upgrade version to a new HD.