How to delete an OS off a hard drive but keep the data?

[Guest]

Okay I'm in a weird situation. So I have a 60GB SSD and a 1TB Hard Drive. I have Windows 8.1 on the hdd. I just got the ssd and I wanted to put Windows 7 on it, so I did (because if I don't like 7, I can always go back to 8.1) but the issue is. How do I delete my OS off the HDD but keep my user files and stuff (alot of stuff)

Why would I want to remove the OS but not the data? I have tons of games from Steam, my personal data, stuff I can't store on the ssd because of its low size. Also, I cant boot into Windows 7 and delete the Windows folder on the hdd because it will auto boot into Windows 8.1 no matter what I do. I can go to boot menu and select boot to SSD, nope. Boot SSD first, nope. Both OS's don't show up in msconfig. EasyBCD didn't help. Tried a bit of Visual BCD. I need to delete the Windows folder so I can use the 1TB for data only...but I can't have them both connected at the same time because of the auto boot to 8.1 thing.

Hopefully I find a solution.
Thanks in advance ;-;

 

[HEXiT]

use the ssd's migration tool. this will copy your current file setup to the ssd (assuming its less than 60 gig total to be transfered)
you just delete the old windows folders off the hdd 1s done and then use disk cleanup to catch any left overs.

 

[USAFRet]

1. There is no 'autoboot'. In the BIOS settings, you can select what drive(s) to boot from in which order.

2. For the Win 7 install, disconnect all other drives. Install on the SSD.
2a. Verify the SSD is the only drive in the boot order.

3. Once it is all up and working, then reconnect the old HDD

4. Create a top level folder on the HDD, completely outside Users/Rafi/
4a. Copy any data you wish to keep to that folder structure.
4b. Wipe out the Windows stuff on that HDD. /Windows /users, etc.

5. For all other applications, reinstall.

6. For Steam games, you can designate that new location, and not have to 'reinstall' them.

 

[mnineseven]

How about you buy an external 1TB hard drive? they cost around 50-60$
Then copy all the data over and format the desktop drive.

That is the simplest solution I can think of.
You could also borrow one from a friend?

 

[Guest]

use the ssd's migration tool. this will copy your current file setup to the ssd (assuming its less than 60 gig total to be transfered)
you just delete the old windows folders off the hdd 1s done and then use disk cleanup to catch any left overs.

My SSD didn't come with a migration tool nor do I know one for it (Corsair SSD?)

 

[Guest]

1. There is no 'autoboot'. In the BIOS settings, you can select what drive(s) to boot from in which order.

2. For the Win 7 install, disconnect all other drives. Install on the SSD.
2a. Verify the SSD is the only drive in the boot order.

3. Once it is all up and working, then reconnect the old HDD

4. Create a top level folder on the HDD, completely outside Users/Rafi/
4a. Copy any data you wish to keep to that folder structure.
4b. Wipe out the Windows stuff on that HDD. /Windows /users, etc.

5. For all other applications, reinstall.

6. For Steam games, you can designate that new location, and not have to 'reinstall' them.

I will try this but will take a while as I have a lot of take moving to that folder.

 

[Guest]

How about you buy an external 1TB hard drive? they cost around 50-60$
Then copy all the data over and format the desktop drive.

That is the simplest solution I can think of.
You could also borrow one from a friend?

Not exactly an option.

 

[Guest]

1. There is no 'autoboot'. In the BIOS settings, you can select what drive(s) to boot from in which order.

2. For the Win 7 install, disconnect all other drives. Install on the SSD.
2a. Verify the SSD is the only drive in the boot order.

3. Once it is all up and working, then reconnect the old HDD

4. Create a top level folder on the HDD, completely outside Users/Rafi/
4a. Copy any data you wish to keep to that folder structure.
4b. Wipe out the Windows stuff on that HDD. /Windows /users, etc.

5. For all other applications, reinstall.

6. For Steam games, you can designate that new location, and not have to 'reinstall' them.

Also for boot, I know what you mean but I have Windows 7 on the SSD. Windows 8.1 on the HDD. Even if I put the SSD to boot first in the BIOS, it will still boot Windows 8.1.

 

[USAFRet]

1. There is no 'autoboot'. In the BIOS settings, you can select what drive(s) to boot from in which order.

2. For the Win 7 install, disconnect all other drives. Install on the SSD.
2a. Verify the SSD is the only drive in the boot order.

3. Once it is all up and working, then reconnect the old HDD

4. Create a top level folder on the HDD, completely outside Users/Rafi/
4a. Copy any data you wish to keep to that folder structure.
4b. Wipe out the Windows stuff on that HDD. /Windows /users, etc.

5. For all other applications, reinstall.

6. For Steam games, you can designate that new location, and not have to 'reinstall' them.

Also for boot, I know what you mean but I have Windows 7 on the SSD. Windows 8.1 on the HDD. Even if I put the SSD to boot first in the BIOS, it will still boot Windows 8.1.

Unless you have a very weird BIOS, it cannot do that.
What happens if you disconnect the HDD with 8.1 on it?

 

[Guest]

1. There is no 'autoboot'. In the BIOS settings, you can select what drive(s) to boot from in which order.

2. For the Win 7 install, disconnect all other drives. Install on the SSD.
2a. Verify the SSD is the only drive in the boot order.

3. Once it is all up and working, then reconnect the old HDD

4. Create a top level folder on the HDD, completely outside Users/Rafi/
4a. Copy any data you wish to keep to that folder structure.
4b. Wipe out the Windows stuff on that HDD. /Windows /users, etc.

5. For all other applications, reinstall.

6. For Steam games, you can designate that new location, and not have to 'reinstall' them.

Also for boot, I know what you mean but I have Windows 7 on the SSD. Windows 8.1 on the HDD. Even if I put the SSD to boot first in the BIOS, it will still boot Windows 8.1.

Unless you have a very weird BIOS, it cannot do that.
What happens if you disconnect the HDD with 8.1 on it?

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

 

[USAFRet]

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

Even if you take that Win 8 HDD completely out of the BIOS boot order?
If so, that is very, very odd.

 

[Guest]

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

Even if you take that Win 8 HDD completely out of the BIOS boot order?
If so, that is very, very odd.

I have a MSi z79-g45 I believe, so in the Bios I have the list of like 10 items or so to boot in order, and theres a spot for my hard drive or my main boot drive. When I click on that, I get 2 drives. My HDD and Corsair SSD. I have the SSD set to #1 and HDD set to #2.

 

[USAFRet]

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

Even if you take that Win 8 HDD completely out of the BIOS boot order?
If so, that is very, very odd.

I have a MSi z79-g45 I believe, so in the Bios I have the list of like 10 items or so to boot in order, and theres a spot for my hard drive or my main boot drive. When I click on that, I get 2 drives. My HDD and Corsair SSD. I have the SSD set to #1 and HDD set to #2.

Remove the HDD completely.

 

[Guest]

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

Even if you take that Win 8 HDD completely out of the BIOS boot order?
If so, that is very, very odd.

I have a MSi z79-g45 I believe, so in the Bios I have the list of like 10 items or so to boot in order, and theres a spot for my hard drive or my main boot drive. When I click on that, I get 2 drives. My HDD and Corsair SSD. I have the SSD set to #1 and HDD set to #2.

Remove the HDD completely.

I will try to do that. I am on 8.1 writing this so I'l reply in a while with success or not.

 

[michaelhall]

install both of them but unplug the data cable from the HDD install win7 onto your SSD then when all done leaving the pc on (wont harm anything) plug data cable back into HDD then delete what you want to delete ,,, bobs your uncle

 

[michaelhall]

also plug the ssd into sata port 0 and the hdd into sata port 1 also set ssd as primary boot in bios

 

[Guest]

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

Even if you take that Win 8 HDD completely out of the BIOS boot order?
If so, that is very, very odd.

I have a MSi z79-g45 I believe, so in the Bios I have the list of like 10 items or so to boot in order, and theres a spot for my hard drive or my main boot drive. When I click on that, I get 2 drives. My HDD and Corsair SSD. I have the SSD set to #1 and HDD set to #2.

Remove the HDD completely.

install both of them but unplug the data cable from the HDD install win7 onto your SSD then when all done leaving the pc on (wont harm anything) plug data cable back into HDD then delete what you want to delete ,,, bobs your uncle

I found that if I could remove the HDD by clicking on it and disabling it. Now it boots to my SSD and my HDD is just used as another drive. Thank you so much for helping and also, others as well. Gotta love this site

 

[SKTT1Knight]

If I disconnect the HDD, and leave only the SSD. It works fine. Windows 7 boots up and works. If I connect the HDD, Windows 8.1 boots even though my SSD is set to boot first.

Even if you take that Win 8 HDD completely out of the BIOS boot order?
If so, that is very, very odd.

I have a MSi z79-g45 I believe, so in the Bios I have the list of like 10 items or so to boot in order, and theres a spot for my hard drive or my main boot drive. When I click on that, I get 2 drives. My HDD and Corsair SSD. I have the SSD set to #1 and HDD set to #2.

Remove the HDD completely.

install both of them but unplug the data cable from the HDD install win7 onto your SSD then when all done leaving the pc on (wont harm anything) plug data cable back into HDD then delete what you want to delete ,,, bobs your uncle

I found that if I could remove the HDD by clicking on it and disabling it. Now it boots to my SSD and my HDD is just used as another drive. Thank you so much for helping and also, others as well. Gotta love this site

This forum was last active like 6 years ago but does anyone know how he disabled the HDD?

 

[USAFRet]

This forum was last active like 6 years ago but does anyone know how he disabled the HDD?

What are you actually wanting to do?

Please start new thread for your particular situation.