What to do with HDD after installing SSD

[Enigma1]

Im going to install windows 7 on my new SSD. After that is done can I reconnect my old HDD and use it as a secondary drive without having to format it because I have files left on it. What do i do with the OS that is installed on the HDD then?

My HDD is 1TB and the SSD is 250gb

 

[bistwo]

As long as the boot drive is set as the SSD then you can save whatever you want to the old drive, as well as access your old files.

 

[jsmithepa]

You don't have to reformat the old drive but 50% of the folks here would tell you do it in order to rid of all that old OS stuff that's just sitting here taking up space. This "cleaning" process though, you don't have to do it right away, clean when ur ready to do so.

 

[Enigma1]

You don't have to reformat the old drive but 50% of the folks here would tell you do it in order to rid of all that old OS stuff that's just sitting here taking up space. This "cleaning" process though, you don't have to do it right away, clean when ur ready to do so.

How do i get rid of the old OS safely? Do I have to install a program to do that?

 

[jsmithepa]

How do i get rid of the old OS safely?

It's not unsafe to leave it there. The old OS doesn't suddenly "wake up" and ring havoc!

You are over thinking, the old OS is just JUNK that's taking up space, so as long as you don't care about the garbage u can just leave it there. 2 options.

1. Move your data to "somewhere else" off this HD, then do a FORMAT HD (completely obliterate it clean), then move the data back from "somewhere else." This is the CLEAN way of doing it, but of course you need that "somewhere else" to assist.

2. Leave it alone, or just delete the WINDOWS and the PROGRAM FILES directories will rid of 90% of the stuff. The USER directory, you *may* have stuff here that you want to save, this directory, you may want to think about, and/or scan it, and/or burn it to a BR just in case some days u ask, do I have a copy of...?

Do I have to install a program to do that?

No. Just use Windows built-in tools.

 

[Mdbdoc]

Once the data is moved to the ssd, format and start fresh and use as a back up storage. Keep your files neat and clean, and backed up. Just my option.