Uninstall 1 of 2 O/S

[FTPtoPokerStars]

I currently have W8.1 and W7 installed on a 60GB SSD. Windows 8.1 was the initial OS installed, then added W7. I would like to remove 8.1 from my SSD and just have Windows 7 as my OS.

Additionally, assuming I remove W8.1 from my SSD, how should I go about configuring my system with W7 on a SSD and have a 1TB HDD for storage.

Thank you in advance.

Here is a screenshot of what my storage currently looks like.

screenshot windows 7

 

[ian77ex]

I see that your Disk 1 is the ssd, and disk2 is the 1TB.

Since the boot is found in the 350MB system reserved partition, your solution should be as follows.

While running Win 7 (the latest installation) from Control Panel Go to system > advance settings tab> StartUp and Recovery settings. Select the default OS ( The one you want to keep ) and uncheck the option to show the list of Operating systems for a certain amount of time. Reboot and this time you shouldn't see the OS list and Win7 should boot directly.
If everything is OK, then you can preceed to delete the win8 partition and use some utility to merge it to the win 7 partition and use the whole disk for system, NEVER DELETE the 350 megs partition or you will have to start installing from scratch.

 

[ian77ex]

I would also advice disconnecting the 1TB drive while doing all this to avoid mistakes. Recconect it when everything is done.

 

[FTPtoPokerStars]

Thanks guys, going to give it a go now.

While on this topic, I'd like to add, when I go to access a file on disk2 (1TB), my PC seems to hang for a few seconds. Could something in the settings be wrong?

Thanks again

edit: Assuming I should be installing all programs on the 1TB disk (Program Files/Program Files (x86) etc etc), how can I setup my computer to automatically install to that disk?

 

[ian77ex]

To install in the 1 TB drive I would advice to do it on a per program basis, it is secure that way. Create a Folder called "Programs" or something like that in the 1 TB drive and every time you install something just dont hit next continously, stop when the installer ask you where you want to install and route it to your "not default" location.

But... Why would you install your programs on the 1TB Drive? What is the purpose of the ssd then? Your computer wont speed up very much if you do this. I see your ssd is small but try to install the most used software in the ssd. I have a fully loaded of software Win7 and it wheights 27 GB. To make some room for your programs:

1 - Set virtual memory to a fixed size: Control panel>System>advance settings> Performance> advanced> Virtual Memory-Change> Personalized size> Minimum 100MB, maximum would be 1 GB if your RAM is 4 Gb or more and 2GB if your RAM is less. Restart.

2 - Disable Hybernation in Control Panel> Power (energy) Options. Disable System restore Control panel>System>System protection. This two options can use up to 10% of your disk EACH one. Restart.

3 - Dont let the installers uncompress temporary installation files in C: Some of them ask you (like AMD installer) just rout it elsewhere.

4 - Install CCleaner (free, google it) and wipe unnecesary data frequently

5 - Install Revo Uninstaller (free, google it) to uninstall unneeded software and remove all traces.

6 - Last but not least. Dont put your sensitive data nor your media files in the ssd. Create a folder in the 1TB drive and reroute My documents, My videos, My music etc to the new location in the 1TB drive. Just right click on them and remove the default locations and add the new location.


And dont forget to empty the recycle Bin.

 

[Y0GI]

See this post for directions on how to redirect your Program Files installations, automatically: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1792156/secondary-harddrive-question.html

To move "MY Docs", etc save location: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html

Good luck!

Yogi