Moving windows 7 from hard drive to new ssd help.

fishy116 · May 3, 2015

I am upgrading my pc and I'd like to put my os on an ssd for faster boot times. I have no idea how to transfer the windows installation from my hard drive to my new ssd. Also, would a 120 GB ssd be enough to hold both windows 7 and linux? I'd like to have both. Additionally, is it possible to have 2 operating systems on the same drive to dual boot? If so how would I boot up to the one I want to use at that moment?

Would someone be kind enough to answer these questions for me?
Thanks.

Jonathan Sifleet · May 3, 2015

Use macrium reflect to clone your OS from one drive to another, other software would suffice. You cannot dual boot on the same drive, Linux would need to be on another. And it may be enough to hold both but it depends how much space you use up. I personally made a partition on my hard drive and get transferring data and shrinking my OS partition until it was 120 GBs.

USAFRet · May 3, 2015

fishy116 :

1. Transfer the OS. Couple of considerations here:
A. How much used space does your current install consume?
B. How large is the new SSD? 120GB
C. How 'old' is the current OS install?
D. Does the current install work well?

2. Is a 120GB large enough for a dualboot Windows and Linux? Yes, just barely.
A 250GB would be much better.

3. Is it possible to have to OS's on one drive? Certainly

4. How to choose? When you boot up, choose which one to boot into

Generally, you would install the Windows OS first, then the Linux. Installing the Linux OS will also install the GRUB boot manager. On booting up, you'll get a menu of which OS to boot into.

USAFRet · May 3, 2015

Jonathan Sifleet :

Sure you can. Just on different partitions.
My secondary laptop currently has Win 7 and Win 10, in different partitions on the same physical 250GB drive. Could just as easily be Win 7 and Linux.

fishy116 · May 3, 2015

USAFRet :

fishy116 :

1. Transfer the OS. Couple of considerations here:
A. How much used space does your current install consume?
B. How large is the new SSD? 120GB
C. How 'old' is the current OS install?
D. Does the current install work well?

2. Is a 120GB large enough for a dualboot Windows and Linux? Yes, just barely.
A 250GB would be much better.

3. Is it possible to have to OS's on one drive? Certainly

4. How to choose? When you boot up, choose which one to boot into

Generally, you would install the Windows OS first, then the Linux. Installing the Linux OS will also install the GRUB boot manager. On booting up, you'll get a menu of which OS to boot into.

Great answer. I looked up what my windows folder size is and it says roughly 30GB. So Based off of that, I think that a 120GB ssd will be plenty for both os.

USAFRet · May 3, 2015

fishy116 :

Your current install is more than 30GB. Trust me.
The "Windows folder" is by no means all of what will be transferred. You have to look at EVERYTHING on your existing drive.
There is only one application I know of that purports to be able to transfer 'only' the OS, and success is spotty.
Paragon Migrate - http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/

I would not recommend trying that.
All the other migration tools move the entire thing to the new drive.

A clean Win 7 x64 Home Premium installed today ends up at around 40GB after all the updates are done. Then install some of your most used applications.

But for price vs size, a 250GB SSD is a far better deal.
Crucial MX200 - $110
Samsung 850 EVO - $120

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