Switch boot drive?

[rainvie1]

if you built a pc and put the OS on a hard drive or ssd, would it be possible, down the road, to get a better ssd and transfer the OS without losing everything?

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Windows7 makes a drive image when you backup, so at least on that os, yes you can, not sure about vista or xp though sorry
Moto

 

[rainvie1]

im trying to decide whether i want to add an ssd to my upcoming build, or save $$ and buy a larger one later. for hdd im thinking spinpoint f3. and id be running win7

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Depending on how picky you want to get on the current build,
I'd say make a shiny build now and put money into the Mobo,chip and gfx that are going to be upgrade-friendly for a while, then add ssd later, but you dont have to take my opinion hehe
Moto

 

[rainvie1]

my build:
cm 690 II advanced
corsair hx850
P6X58D-E
i7 950
XFX HD-587X-ZNDC Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) XXX Edition
mushkin redline 6GB 1600 RAM
spinpoint f3 1TB
lite on x24 dvd writer
asus PCE-N13 wireless adapter

windows 7 professional

the ssd im looking at now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393

do i add this now, or can i get a larger one in the future and move the OS from the f3?

 

[coldsleep]

Don't get that SSD now. I'd suggest waiting until you can afford a larger & better SSD.

 

[rainvie1]

ok, so i could move the OS when I got the new drive?

 

[Motopsychojdn]

hehe I went for a smoke and Cold beat me to a response
this link might help you a bit, you would just install windows using the recovery disk you create,
http://www.intowindows.com/using-windows-7-image-backup-tool/
Moto

 

[rainvie1]

And I wont lose all my files, right?

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Nope, thats the whole idea of a backup, the only drive you cannot backup is the one you are backing up to, no problem though as you just create the backup on a external or spare drive, then creat your bootable cd and keep it safe
Moto

 

[rainvie1]

Best answer selected by rainvie1.

 

[rainvie1]

thanks! think ill spend some of the cash on an aftermarket cooler...

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Thank you for B.a. man,
Cooler is a good plan if your going to be clocking,
shout up if you get any problems with the build and we'll do what we can
Moto