Keep both OS

[LeeBarton]

I'm currently using Windows Vista 64 Ultimate, but it's time for an upgrade, so I have got myself 8.1 Pro. I have a Western Digital Velociraptor HDD which Vista is installed on, but it's around six years old, and although it's still healthy, I don't want to put a brand new OS onto a six year old HDD, so I have purchased a new SSD.

My question is, if I load 8.1 Pro onto the SSD and use that as my boot drive, but keep the HDD plugged in, will they conflict, or will the HDD simply act as a storage drive, or will I need to format the drive in order to use it with my new OS?

I want to keep my old OS just as a back up, and extra storage is always handy.

Thank you for your help.

 

[basroil]

As long as your boot order has the SSD first, you should have no problems.

 

[Andrei N]

Best way to be sure is to install Windows 8.1 with only the SSD plugged in.
Set it in the first SATA connector, S0 and after Windows is installed plug in your old HDD in the next SATA connector. Windows 8.1 should be your main now and it will always boot first.

 

[LeeBarton]

I thought as much, but I wanted to get confirmation from the experts.

Thank you very much guys, much appreciated.