Windows 7: Change Boot Drive

[hknight]

I recently purchased a new computer with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit pre-installed. The manufacture did not provide me with the operating system on disk. The computer has two hard drives. I wanted the OS installed on the smaller hard drive but they installed it on the larger hard drive.

I used Norton/Symantec Ghost to mirror the OS from the larger drive to the smaller drive. Please look at the attached image. I want to change Drive C: to Drive T: and I want to change Drive F: to drive C:. Also, I want to make Drive C: contain "Boot" and "Page File" and "Crash Dump" like Drive F: does.

Ultimately, I want my computer to boot from the smaller drive and I want the letter of that drive to be C:

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

I'm no expert, but I'm thinking on these lines:

1. Swap the leads for drive 0 and drive 1 on your motherboard, so that drive 1 will become drive 0 in disk management and drive 0 will become drive 1.

2. Format the old drive 0 (the new drive 1).

3. Change the drive lettering on the smaller, new drive 0 (the old drive 1) so that Windows is on the C drive.

4. Boot into your Windows DVD and carry out a Startup Repair to repair the master boot record. You may have to do this three times.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

If my advice is not correct, someone will soon be along to correct it.

 

[hknight]

The current Drive C: is actually two drives in a hardware RAID. Should I move the SATA connection on the motherboard for both RAD disks?

 

[seavixen32]

The current Drive C: is actually two drives in a hardware RAID. Should I move the SATA connection on the motherboard for both RAD disks?

That I'm not sure of, but I'm sure someone better able to advise than me will be along shortly.

 

[theog]

So you have three HD?

Is 74gb HD a SSD?

 

[theog]

1) Make your OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks from the recovery app.

2) Delete all partitions on the 74gb HD & reformat.

3) Physically disconnect the 931 HD.

4) Reinstall the OS to the 74gb HD,using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery disks you have just made.

What version of Norton Ghost are you using?

 

[gregrocker]

In addition you can also clean reinstall to the smaller HD using any retail Win7 installer for your version, with the Product Key on the COA sticker. Here's how: Reinstalling Windows 7

You could also shrink and then clone or image C to the smaller HD choosing the same C drive letter, then once it's up and running delete C from the other HD. Set the target HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

I am not familar with Norton Ghost, but if you have WD or Seagate HD's in the mix you can use Acronis's free premium cloning/imaging app which allow selective cloning or imaging. You can also use free Macrium Reflect or Paragon 11.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello hknight, welcome to Seven Forums!


Have a look through the information presented in the tutorials linked below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Clean Install using Factory COA Activation Key

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information





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