Have 1 HDD with Win 7 and files, want to install Win 7 on another HDD and transfer files from the old one

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crate59

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Apr 9, 2015
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Hey, so i have an HDD with Win 7 and files (music, films etc.) and another HDD. I want to install Win 7 on the other HDD and then transfer the files from the old HDD to this new one, and after that format the old one and transfer the files back (use it as as mass storage), while the new one is just for Win 7 and programs.

-Should i just unplug the old HDD (from the motherboard and power supply) and install Win 7 on the new one and then plug the old HDD back in and copy paste the files to the new one and then format the old one or is it more complicated than that?
 
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Boogieman_WD
Hey crate59.
Yup, just disconnect the old drive and install Windows as usual on the new HDD. After that go ahead and reconnect the old drive. Here's the tricky part, since both drives have Windows on them, it should ask you, which OS you want to boot. Make sure that you boot from the new drive (and set it up in the BIOS as primary booting device before that). Another option is to connect the old HDD externally via a SATA to USB cable (or external enclosure) and transfer the data so that you don't have to deal with the booting stuff.
After everything's transferred go ahead and wipe the drive in order to use it as secondary storage HDD.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Hey crate59.
Yup, just disconnect the old drive and install Windows as usual on the new HDD. After that go ahead and reconnect the old drive. Here's the tricky part, since both drives have Windows on them, it should ask you, which OS you want to boot. Make sure that you boot from the new drive (and set it up in the BIOS as primary booting device before that). Another option is to connect the old HDD externally via a SATA to USB cable (or external enclosure) and transfer the data so that you don't have to deal with the booting stuff.
After everything's transferred go ahead and wipe the drive in order to use it as secondary storage HDD.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
 
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ArtPog

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Sep 17, 2014
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Here's another option you may want to consider...

This assumes that you're perfectly satisfied with the functioning of your present Win 7 OS on the "old" HDD, i.e., the system boots & functions without any problems. If that is NOT the case you need not read any further...

I'm assuming you're working with a desktop PC so that you can internally connect your two HDDs.

Clone the contents of your old HDD to the "new" one. Temporarily disconnect that drive from the system. After determining that the new system functions without any problems you can reconnect the old HDD & format it; then copy & paste whatever files you want from the cloned new HDD back to the old HDD.

I assume you're aware that there are quite a few freely available disk-cloning programs available on the net. One of them that we've used and found reasonably effective is the Macrium Reflect Free program. It's available from...
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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You're most welcome, mate.
Just for future reference, if you have the same dilemma again, @ArtPog's suggestion should have worked as well. Cloning is not recommended when there's new hardware, e.g. cloning the OS from an old computer to a new one, because there would probably be too much conflicts because of the drivers mismatch for the new parts. But in cases like this one, everything should be OK.

Take care! :)
 
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ArtPog

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Sep 17, 2014
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Boogieman...
I really don't think there's an inherent problem in undertaking the data migration (disk-cloning) process when it involves either a new PC or an upgraded PC.

Presumably when a user upgrades his or her PC - installing new hardware, e.g., a graphics card, different memory, different storage capability, etc.,- the user will install whatever drivers are necessary to create a fully functioning system.

As far as we're concerned as long as certain critical conditions are present with a user's system, I see no problem in undertaking the data migration (disk-cloning) route...
1. Does the user's present system function without any problems in that the system boots without incident and thereafter functions trouble-free?
2. Is the user sufficiently comfortable with his/her current system that they would have no qualms in creating a bit-for-bit copy of that system transferred to their new drive?
3. Is the disk-capacity of the new drive sufficient to contain the total contents of the drive that they would like to transfer?

If all the users' answers to the above are "yes" I would see no reason why they should not utilize a data-migration (disk-cloning) program to effect the transfer of data.

I would only add that we have undertaken (or helped to perform) dozens of disk-cloning operations relevant to this issue and have experienced no problems in doing so.
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Hey @ArtPog.

I agree with you. I just mentioned it, so that @crate59 might keep in mind your solution if he/she gets in the same predicament in the future. :)
I'm not saying it wouldn't work, I mentioned that it's always recommended to make a fresh install instead of cloning if possible. Not with those exact same words, but still this is it.
This might not affect changes like GPU, RAM, Sound Card or even CPU, but with new motherboards, I always recommend a fresh install if possible. I guess this is somewhat a matter of personal preference. :)

Cheers!
Boogieman_WD


 
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