- Jul 24, 2015
- 36
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- 18,530
Hey everyone. Sorry for the long post. I have a computer I built a couple of years ago with a single SATA HD with Windows 7 installed with multiple users using the computer. Basically, I want to start using an SSD drive to help performance and also to start fresh in regards the OS.
However, what I would like to do is load my Windows 7 (same product key) onto the SSD, while still keeping the old SATA HD untouched until I get the SSD the way I want it (i.e. communicating with my network, getting all the programs loaded, getting all the users added an configured).
My questions are…
1. Can I just change the boot order in the BIOS and switch to and from each drive as needed (i.e. when I have time to install some programs onto the SSD that I can boot to it, but when someone needs the computer, just restart the computer and change the BIOS boot order and make the original SATA HD in front of the the SSD and let them work on what they need as if nothing has changed) or could this effect the OS/MBR in any way on either drive?
2. Would this setup possibly lead to a problem with using the same Windows 7 product key on each hard drive and Microsoft not allowing me to make the SSD drive “Genuine” or some other nonsense? (Note: I am not changing the MOBO, CPU, etc)
I know some of you may ask “Why would you want to do this? Just load Windows 7 onto your SSD and then just reformat your old SATA HD and be done with it”. Well, like I said, there are other users on the computer and I would like to be able to switch back and forth until the SSD is completely ready, then backup the data on the SATA HD and reformat and make it a slave with partitions for each user to use for mass storage. Another reason is that with Windows 10 on the horizon, I was thinking of first upgrading the SSD drive Windows 7 OS and have time to figure it out while keeping the original Windows 7 SATA HD available for everyone else to use in the meantime.
I hope that all makes sense and I appreciate any thoughts/suggestions on the matter. Thanks.
However, what I would like to do is load my Windows 7 (same product key) onto the SSD, while still keeping the old SATA HD untouched until I get the SSD the way I want it (i.e. communicating with my network, getting all the programs loaded, getting all the users added an configured).
My questions are…
1. Can I just change the boot order in the BIOS and switch to and from each drive as needed (i.e. when I have time to install some programs onto the SSD that I can boot to it, but when someone needs the computer, just restart the computer and change the BIOS boot order and make the original SATA HD in front of the the SSD and let them work on what they need as if nothing has changed) or could this effect the OS/MBR in any way on either drive?
2. Would this setup possibly lead to a problem with using the same Windows 7 product key on each hard drive and Microsoft not allowing me to make the SSD drive “Genuine” or some other nonsense? (Note: I am not changing the MOBO, CPU, etc)
I know some of you may ask “Why would you want to do this? Just load Windows 7 onto your SSD and then just reformat your old SATA HD and be done with it”. Well, like I said, there are other users on the computer and I would like to be able to switch back and forth until the SSD is completely ready, then backup the data on the SATA HD and reformat and make it a slave with partitions for each user to use for mass storage. Another reason is that with Windows 10 on the horizon, I was thinking of first upgrading the SSD drive Windows 7 OS and have time to figure it out while keeping the original Windows 7 SATA HD available for everyone else to use in the meantime.
I hope that all makes sense and I appreciate any thoughts/suggestions on the matter. Thanks.
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