Can I mount an Windows 7 as an iso file and install it from there while running Windows 7 on my HDD?

Asulia

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May 31, 2014
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Hello,

I got a new SSD and I wish to make that my boot drive, currently my boot drive is a 5 year old 500GB WD HDD with Windows 7 on it.

I want to keep using Windows 7 and wish to install it on my SSD.

Can I just mount the Windows 7 iso to a virtual drive and install it from there on my SSD while running Windows 7 on my HDD?

I do not wish to image or clone it for different reasons.

Thanks.
 

Asulia

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I will not be using my HDD after the install though.
 


then you still want to do it this way

or when you remove the hard drive the ssd boot record will be looking for the hard drive that isnt there


 

USAFRet

Titan
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Depending on how you do this, the boot partition may end up on the HDD anyway. Whether you want to use it or not.

Create a bootable USB, disconnect all other drives, and install on the SSD.


The way you are trying:
Run it in a VM, with both drives connected....will almost certainly not give you the results you desire.
 

Asulia

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Alright, thank you.
 

Asulia

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Alright, I'll do it via a bootable USB then, how big should it be?
 

Asulia

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Yeah, alright. If I recall correctly I have to make it NTFS aswell right?
 

Asulia

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Not sure honestly.

http://www.sandisk.nl/products/usb/drives/extreme/

 

Asulia

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I ticked the box to let Yumi format it but apparently the files are still there.
 


it will look the same--as after formatting it its putting the same files back

try booting from it