Old HDD on new computer parts

[hamidd1234]

Long story short, I'm building a new budget pc only buying new mobo, cpu, ram and case. Im keeping my gpu and HDD.

My problem is that I have win 7 on my HDD and I know that I have to re-install windows but I don't know how to do that, wont my old Gigabyte motherboard sign pop up at the start so I wont be able to click f12 and goto settings so I can boot from usb? I want to install windows 7 through a usb rather than dvd and I don't know how to completely wipe out everything.

If I could get steps on how to do that would be great, thanks ^-^

 

[geofelt]

If your new motherboard chipset is similar to the old, there is a chance that you can boot from your hard drive and just run the new motherboard drivers.

Otherwise, you will need to do a clean install.
If you have your windows 7 dvd and activation code, protect what you value first, then you can wipe the hdd and install over it.
Mu suggestion is to use this as an opportunity to install a ssd. Your files on the hard drive will still be available. Programs will need to be reinstalled.

 

[hamidd1234]

If your new motherboard chipset is similar to the old, there is a chance that you can boot from your hard drive and just run the new motherboard drivers.

Otherwise, you will need to do a clean install.
If you have your windows 7 dvd and activation code, protect what you value first, then you can wipe the hdd and install over it.
Mu suggestion is to use this as an opportunity to install a ssd. Your files on the hard drive will still be available. Programs will need to be reinstalled.

So after I read this I decided to get an ssd. So with my old hdd I don't do anything to it just plug it in and with the SSD I just plug that in too and set my boot to CD and install windows 7 on that?

 

[ss202sl]

Install the OS onto the SSD with the HDD unplugged. Then after the OS is installed, plug the HDD in.

 

[geofelt]

Correct.
Do not have your HDD connected while you install windows. Otherwise, windows will install a hidden 100mb recovery partition on the HDD, complicating things if you ever need to remove it.

Your apps will need to be reinstalled on the ssd.
When done, you can delete the windows folders on the hdd.

 

[hamidd1234]

Correct.
Do not have your HDD connected while you install windows. Otherwise, windows will install a hidden 100mb recovery partition on the HDD, complicating things if you ever need to remove it.

Your apps will need to be reinstalled on the ssd.
When done, you can delete the windows folders on the hdd.

Alright you really cleared things up for me! Thank you so much, props from Canada