Can I reinstall windows 7 on a SSD, with all my files and games on the HDD?

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alexben99

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Jun 19, 2014
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So, It's time to change mother board and I figure I need to reinstall windows, how and ever I really don't feel like downloading 400+ GB's of games, and more importantly deal with all my work. The HDD already has my 'users' folder on it as well as the majority of my programmes (inc. Steam.) The question is, can I install windows on my primary SSD and keep the data on my HDD through the installation and then expect to be able to run the programmes on there?

Thanks in advance for your answers :)
 
Solution
mjmacka
Technically it is possible, but not recommended.

You can clone your old HDD data to the SSD with a tool like "Macrium Reflect" use the clone disk. Then perform a Windows 7 repair installation. However you need a retail (non OEM) version of Windows 7.
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mjmacka

mjmacka

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Technically it is possible, but not recommended.

You can clone your old HDD data to the SSD with a tool like "Macrium Reflect" use the clone disk. Then perform a Windows 7 repair installation. However you need a retail (non OEM) version of Windows 7.
 
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Xyos

Xyos

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Oct 5, 2009
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I have mixed luck with this. Some programs will work, others will not and require a re-install. When programs are installed entries for them are written in the windows registry, since the registry will be on another drive, it causes issues for some programs.

 
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mjmacka

mjmacka

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^^^ Actually, this is not true because the contents of the drive (including registry) will be cloned to the SSD.

The only programs that will not work correctly are applications like Office. They will need to be re-installed or re-licensed depending on the version.
 
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dcell

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Apr 21, 2015
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Yeah, I screwed up my Windows first attempt.
Lucky I had that Repair disk just made.
Anyway, all you have to do is Log in as "Administrator" and COPY all of the C:/Users/MyName/AppData/Local files to your location on the D: Drive. After that, log out and re-log in as your normal account user. Now using the original steps, Move the location of the Local folder to your D: Drive WITHOUT agreeing to Move files. (You already moved them)
Now you can follow the original article's steps on all the other folders and you'll be fine.

Note, I did have an "Intel" folder in my User folder that I couldn't move, so it was probably from Driver installs.
I just left that there, it likely will never take up much space anyway.
 
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