A few questions on making the primary drive the secondary drive in new OS install

sally_91

Distinguished
Dec 22, 2012
82
0
18,630
I'm getting a new case and I also bought 2 SSDs when they were on sale this year.

I currently have a 60GB SSD with Windows 7.

I want to make one of the other SSDs as my primary drive but keep the old primary drive as a secondary drive.

I don't want to format it just yet as my files are scattered throughout the drive.

Questions:
If I install Windows on the new drive, and then attach the 60GB with Windows also installed on it, what happens when I boot up the computer?
Will the old drive be ignored?

I'd like to uninstall Windows on the old drive. From what I've read, do you just delete "Windows" and "Program Files"?

Thanks
 
When you installed windows on 60 GB SSD, was the new SSD also attached during installation?
I am asking this because if that is the case, then it may have happened that windows wrote MBR (Master boot record) on the new SSD. What you want to do is very much doable and the following is worth a try: (HOWEVER, for now, only read through it, dont actually do it before giving me the answer. We would like to eliminate step 8 before it happens

1) Detach the 60GB SSD. Lets call it old
2) Attach the new SSD
3) Install windows
4) When you reach windows desktop, reboot
5) When you reach windows desktop after this reboot, shut down you PC
6) Attach the old SSD to a different SATA port than earlier
7) If the MBR was not written on the new SSD during the old installation of windows, you will again reach windows desktop with the new install
8) If the MBR was written on the new SSD during the old installation of windows, you will either be asked after BIOS which windows to start or you will be automatically taken to the old windows install

And, no you dont just delete windows and program files, you also need to clear out any boot priorities in msconfig
 
You are good then.

Just follow the above steps and you are golden. After booting into new windows, just run msconfig from run. Go to the tab "boot" and see if you have only one line with OS details. If there are 2, then you have to delete the old one and make the new one default.

Once that is done, just delete "windows" in the old SSD. Program files will also be useless and should be deleted, but keep a note of apps installed in it, if you dont already have a list. I think you already know what to install.

Go to "old drive OS partition> users" and this is where you will find all your documents, pictures, videos if you have saved them here. Just copy paste what you need.

Then format this old SSD via disk management or my computer and you are all set. This is not strictly necessary but will take care of any hidden temp folders that you cannot delete but a format function can. Good luck, man!

EDIT: After doing all of the above, you may have to change the boot device priority in BIOS to the new SSD. So, please keep that information handy.
 
1. First of all, when you pose a query such as the one you have it's ALWAYS good practice to provide some background along these lines...
A. What is the PC system you're working with? Is it an OEM machine? Laptop/notebook or Desktop?

B. If a non-OEM machine provide the make/model of the motherboard.

C. Since you've indicated you're getting a new case I guess it's safe to assume you're working with a desktop PC that's either self-built or custom-built with non-OEM components. Would I be right about that?

D. So you probably know the make/model of the motherboard.

E. Re the two SSDs you earlier purchased. What are their sizes? Both the same? Or is one of them the drive you intend to use Win 7 for your OS on the motherboard.

F. While you mentioned a new case you haven't said anything about upgrading your system (aside from the new SSDs), so I assume you're planning to retain the same motherboard, right?

2. I'm posing the above questions because it seems to me that if...
A. Your present 60 GB SSD boots & functions without problems and you're basically satisfied with its performance other than its rather small disk-space capacity and probably inferior performance (speed-wise) as compared with the new SSD you will be installing as your new boot drive, you might want to consider CLONING the contents of the current 60 GB boot SSD to the new SSD.

B. The advantages are somewhat obvious, are they not? Your new larger (and presumably faster) SSD would contain ALL your data presently on the current 60 GB boot drive. It would avoid the necessity of your fresh-installing the OS onto the new SSD and further, installing all your programs & data that presently reside on the 60 GB drive. I assume that would be an advantage to you, would it not?

So perhaps you might want to consider that option.

(After the disk-cloning operation and the new larger SSD boots & functions without problems you could then simply format the 60 GB SSD if you desired and use that drive for whatever other purposes (storage, backup, etc.) you desire.)
 
A. It's a CyberPowerPC Desktop. Not sure if it's OEM or not. Sorry.

B. The motherboard is a Gigabyte B75M-D3H

C. I bought it from CyberPowerPC.

D. I believe they're your standard 2.5”.
F. Yes I'd like to keep my old motherboard

I'd like to do a fresh install and start off with a clean slate. My current Windows installation is sort of a mess. Files everywhere and I've used registry cleaners and what not in the past, which I hear isn't necessary and may even be harmful. I believe IObit is the culptrit as I've gotten blue screens every month or so. I recently uninstalled it.
 


When I go into MSConfig, how do I know which version of Windows belongs to which SSD? I wouldn't want to delete the wrong one.

 
I'm trying to copy my Windows User folder to an external Hard drive but it won't do a clean copy.

It's asking me to merge folders and telling me that I can't copy some .dat files unless I close them. Does anyone know a no hassle way to just copy the User Folder? Would Safe Mode work?
 


You can't copy the /User/ folder and have it be usable for anything else.

Install the OS on the new SSD (60GB is TooSmall, but since you already have it...)
Later, reconnect the other drives and access your data.
 


It copied just fine. Some things that I won't be needing such as the ntuser.dat couldn't as it was currently in use.
But I can access my files on the external just like I can access it on the original drive.

I had better luck when in safe mode.

I wasn't planning on interchanging the user folder with the new OS install's user folder.