Reinstalling win7 on SSD, but old HDD has current OS on it, and i need it for new storage.

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EricPCNoob

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Apr 6, 2012
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I am currently on a computer with my OS (C Drive) installed on my HDD. I bought a SDD about 9 months ago and want to reinstall windows on the SSD, wiping my computer.

Right now, both are plugged in and fully functioning. I want to format my SSD during win7 reinstallation, but that won't touch my HDD with windows 7 also on that. How do i format both drives during installation of my new windows, but only put the OS on my SSD? The HDD will be used for storage afterword. Does it matter if windows is installed on a drive other than C? Can i format the HDD afterwords with my fresh win7 installation and change it to be 100% clean?
 
Solution
jimmysmitty
Always make the OS drive the C: drive, it helps keep other issues from arising.

The HDD when installed will be designated a different drive letter as it will load as a data drive only, the registry that controls everything will not load from the HDD but only the SSD.

So just install like normal.
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jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty

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My suggestion is to go into the BIOS and make the SSD the primary boot drive after the DVD of course. That is to avoid the next.

Windows 7 had a habit of seeing two drives that were formatted and it would install the 100MB hidden MBR onto the second drive for extra security. It was annoying as if that drive died then you lost your OS as it wont boot without the MBR.

So I suggest removing the HDD from the system, installing Windows on the SSD, reconnecting the HDD then going into Disk Management and formatting the HDD by right clicking on it and selecting format. Of course you want to format it in NTFS and then you can assign the drive letter as you please.
 
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gerr

gerr

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Pull the HDD and just install the SSD and load windows onto it, letting the install format it in the process. Once Windows is up and running on the SDD, install the HDD and copy and needed data(not programs) over and then use Windows to format it.
 
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SBMfromLA

SBMfromLA

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The quickest and easiest method would be to BOOT from your Windows DVD... and when you reach the option to install Windows.. select ADVANCED... once there you will see all of your drives.

Now, if you want to completely start all over... and don't have any data to worry about... DELETE the partition that's on your OLD mechanical hard drive then create a new one and format it.. Now you're done with that... Next, do the same with the SSD.. Delete partition... format.. and then use that one to install Windows onto.. and you're done...

Before starting, make sure you go into BIOS and change from IDE to AHCI.
 
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EricPCNoob

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okay. seems the consensus is that i need to uninstall my HDD. It is my (C) drive. If I make my my SSD the (C) drive as well would that make an issue, or should I call it like my G drive instead to prevent issues?

Thanks for the help everyone!
 
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jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty

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Always make the OS drive the C: drive, it helps keep other issues from arising.

The HDD when installed will be designated a different drive letter as it will load as a data drive only, the registry that controls everything will not load from the HDD but only the SSD.

So just install like normal.
 
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SBMfromLA

SBMfromLA

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OK... you never revealed which version of Windows you have. If you have the "upgrade" version then you can't install Windows with the hard drive disconnected... because it won't detect a previous version of Windows and won't accept your serial key.
 
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SBMfromLA

SBMfromLA

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The O/S drive is always the C drive.. For example.. if you have a dual boot... The C drive would be the O/S that's currently loaded... and if you booted into the other O/S.. that other O/S would be the new C drive..
 
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