How to do a fresh Win7 install on SSD

[fr16th]

It's been years since I built a PC or installed Windows so I want to make sure I get this right.

I'm currently running 64-bit Windows 7 home premium on a HDD. I want to do a fresh Windows 7 install on a SSD and use the HDD for storage. I have the OEM Windows 7 disc.

What are the steps here?

As far as I can tell I just need to plug in my SSD, unplug my current boot drive, set Chip Sata type to AHCI in BIOS, boot from the Window 7 install disc and install to the SSD. Anything I'm missing?

 

[BadActor]

That's really about it. You might want to go to Microsoft and get the Convenience roll up after the install rather than messing with repeated downloads and installs of the updates.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3125574

 

[fr16th]

Thanks. Installing IE to get it now.

 

[mojorisin23]

I asked a similar question a little bit ago... when you (and i just did as well) do that, you will have a fresh win7. however, the games and programs (chrome, adobe, vlc player.... what have you) will not work even though its on the old HDD that is still connected (and shows up as a slave drive)?

how do you rectify this? download all these programs again?

 

[kenrivers]

I asked a similar question a little bit ago... when you (and i just did as well) do that, you will have a fresh win7. however, the games and programs (chrome, adobe, vlc player.... what have you) will not work even though its on the old HDD that is still connected (and shows up as a slave drive)?

how do you rectify this? download all these programs again?

Yes, you will need to reinstall the programs and games. As you stated they will not work off the old hard drive and the reason is, in this case, is that you haven't booted into the OS of the old drive. There is nothing in the new install of Windows 7 that links to any of the programs you mentioned.

 

[mojorisin23]

however things like installed games on the old drive still work.

 

[kenrivers]

however things like installed games on the old drive still work.

It is quite simple. You reinstall the programs and games that do not start/work. You asked about the ones that didn't work.

 

[mojorisin23]

yes but i was wondering why some work and some don't.

just curious.... because it seems like a lot of work to reinstall dozens of programs just to get a small speed bump via the SSD.

 

[kenrivers]

yes but i was wondering why some work and some don't.

just curious.... because it seems like a lot of work to reinstall dozens of programs just to get a small speed bump via the SSD.

Because some work more or less independently and others have installers that install files into the Windows directory without which they will not work.

 

[mojorisin23]

yes but i was wondering why some work and some don't.

just curious.... because it seems like a lot of work to reinstall dozens of programs just to get a small speed bump via the SSD.

Because some work more or less independently and others have installers that install files into the Windows directory without which they will not work.

Ahh... i see. that helps

 

[fr16th]

Follow-up question: if goes wrong with the fresh Win7 install to the new SSD, can I just plug my HDD that's already running Win7 back in as if nothing ever happened, or will the new install deactivate the old one?

 

[mojorisin23]

Follow-up question: if goes wrong with the fresh Win7 install to the new SSD, can I just plug my HDD that's already running Win7 back in as if nothing ever happened, or will the new install deactivate the old one?

when youre installing the OS on the new SSD, you have to unplug the old HDD. So it will be there. If someothing goes wrong, you can unplug the SSD and plug in the old HDD and it will function as before.

 

[kenrivers]

If the install fails it should not affect the activation. However, make sure the SSD is the only drive attached when you install Windows 7.

 

[fr16th]

Got it. Thanks.

 

[mojorisin23]

Is there a rhyme or reason to the lettering of the drives? Can i change them so that my new SSD is C and the old HDDs are E and F?