Deleting Windows 7 from hdd but keeping other files?

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mavsynchroid

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Feb 9, 2014
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Hey guys. I'm building a new pc. The CPU unforunately doesn't work with windows 7, so i have to upgrade to windows 10. My current windows 7 is on a normal hard drive, so i plan on installing my new windows 10 on my new SSD that's coming today.

Unfortunately, while my old normal hard drive is 1tb, my new solid state drive is only 250gb. If it were the same size, then I'd just upgrade my windows 7 to windows 10, then copy the entire thing over to the new hard drive.

Since I can't, what I want to do is try to delete windows 7, but keep all my games, programs, etc on on the drive. I'd obviously access them through windows 10 on my solid state drive.

Is this possible at all?

 
Solution
USAFRet


Not gonna work.
The Programs, as they exist on the HDD...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Not gonna work.
The Programs, as they exist on the HDD, can't be used with the new OS on the SSD. The Registry and all the other settings of the new OS will know nothing about them.
Steam games, maybe, probably. You'd have to tell the new Steam client where they live.

Generally, the best way to get to the end state you wish is to have a whole other drive.
Copy all your personal data off to theis other drive.
Doc/pic/video....the whole SteamApps folder

Wipe that drive completely. OS and everything.
Then, you copy stuff back to that drive.
Removing 'only the OS' is near impossible.
 
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Solution
SBMfromLA

SBMfromLA

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Nov 11, 2011
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IT IS POSSIBLE AND VERY EASY... give me a few sec. to explain...

Here's what you do.. When you get your SSD... unplug your older HDD and plug in your SSD and install Windows and then shutdown after everything is done... Now plug back in your older HDD and turn computer back on.

The next step is easy. Did you want to keep your games on the older HDD or on the new SSD? In either case.. I would create a temp Folder on the SSD and copy the program files from the games onto it... say you have 5 games... then C... program files ... gamefolder..

Next you need to copy the hidden folders for each of the games.. Go to Folder Options and uncheck Hide Files and Folders.. go to tthree locations: C-ProgramData... and C-Appdata Local & Appdata Roaming. So for instance... say you want to copy Firefox.. you would look for the folder called Mozilla in those three locations... and copy.. Not all programs will have stuff here... Game saves could be in your Documents.

After you backed up and copied everything you wanted to save or move... just format your old HDD to clean it out... and then create a folder called PROGRAMS FILES or Games or any name you want and put each of those game folders inside it.. and then copy back the hidden folders from programdata and appdata onto the NEW C DRIVE in it's respected location....

The last step you need to do is create a shortcut of the EXE from your old HDD where you moved your games onto... so you can launch your titles... You can easily Add to Start Menu..

This may sound complicated... but it's really easy... I've done this hundreds of times and it works for about 95% of all programs... If you have any questions... just ask.
 
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