First ssd install. Some questions

[Kalmado]

Today I received all the components I need to do my first ssd. I plan on doing a fresh install of the ssd first and then plugging my hdd back in. My question is, once I plug my hdd back in will it be all set to go? Will I need to do anything to find all of my files? Or should I do a complete wipe of the hdd as well and literally start from scratch?

 

[USAFRet]

Today I received all the components I need to do my first ssd. I plan on doing a fresh install of the ssd first and then plugging my hdd back in. My question is, once I plug my hdd back in will it be all set to go? Will I need to do anything to find all of my files? Or should I do a complete wipe of the hdd as well and literally start from scratch?

Depends on what you mean by 'files' Your document/music/images/etc are almost certainly OK
Your applications? They need to be reinstalled with the new OS.

 

[SchizTech]

You'll be able to see what's on the HDD. If there was an installation of Windows on that HDD and not just data, there will be a lot of space taken up by (now useless) Windows files and program files though.

 

[Kalmado]

Today I received all the components I need to do my first ssd. I plan on doing a fresh install of the ssd first and then plugging my hdd back in. My question is, once I plug my hdd back in will it be all set to go? Will I need to do anything to find all of my files? Or should I do a complete wipe of the hdd as well and literally start from scratch?

Depends on what you mean by 'files' Your document/music/images/etc are almost certainly OK
Your applications? They need to be reinstalled with the new OS.

Applications I'm not concerned about. Although downloading steam stuff again will be kind of a pain! So it's as simple as starting with ssd and loading windows, shutdown, hook up hdd, and go from there?

 

[Kalmado]

You'll be able to see what's on the HDD. If there was an installation of Windows on that HDD and not just data, there will be a lot of space taken up by (now useless) Windows files and program files though.

Yeah I figure I'll need to delete all windows items once the ssd has windows running on it.

 

[SchizTech]

Was there a password on that Windows? The files will be under "Users" and your username ob the HDD but a new copy of Windows will need to authorize you to gain access to what it sees as a different users files. If there was a password that will block that. In that case, best to back up the files elsewhere or remove the p/w before installing on the SSD

 

[GetCrazeh]

You should have no problem reading these files on the hard drive if you plug it in after installing the os on your ssd. Although you dont need to remove the hdd while installing your os on your ssd. Do you already have windows install on your Hdd?

 

[SchizTech]

You should have no problem reading these files on the hard drive if you plug it in after installing the os on your ssd. Although you dont need to remove the hdd while installing your os on your ssd. Do you already have windows install on your Hdd?

There could be a complication if he leaves the HDD in, since Windows may re-use an existing "System Reserved" partition (which stores the bootloader). In that case, the bootloader could end up remaining on the HDD though the actual Windows install is on the SSD.

 

[spooky2th]

It is simple enough to take ownership of the old drive folders with the OS still on it. Just open the files with an administrative account.

Load windows on the ssd in the same port that the hdd was installed and with the old hdd uninstalled. After loading windows and installing MB drivers and making sure that everything is running right, go ahead and install the hdd and boot up. You should be able to access the hdd files and folders too.

 

[Kalmado]

You should have no problem reading these files on the hard drive if you plug it in after installing the os on your ssd. Although you dont need to remove the hdd while installing your os on your ssd. Do you already have windows install on your Hdd?

There could be a complication if he leaves the HDD in, since Windows may re-use an existing "System Reserved" partition (which stores the bootloader). In that case, the bootloader could end up remaining on the HDD though the actual Windows install is on the SSD.

I had read this before and that was my reasoning for unplugging the hdd during install because yes there is W7 on the hdd.