[jermmd]

I posted this question on Anandtech but thought someone here might know the answer.
I have my Windows 7 64 bit OS on a slow 2Tb drive and want to make my new 64 Gb SSD drive the primary OS drive. I can't just clone the bigger drive because it has more than 64GB of data on it. Can I just load Windows 7 onto the new drive? Can I use the same activation code? I don't want to lose the data on my 2 Tb drive (except for Windows). What should I do?

Thanks,

Joe M.

[mhconley]

You'll need to reinstall Windows 7 on your new SSD drive and will be required to reactivate Windows 7 within 30 days.  You will be able to use the same key.  I've made significant hardware changes on several Windows 7 PCs and never had an issue reusing the same key.  See the Microsoft Windows 7 activation FAQ for more.

Martin

[jermmd]

thanks Martin. I'll try it today. Will I still be able to use the programs on the old drive (Picasa, Office, Media Player) in the same manner?

[Levi]

Hi Joe,  I have been experimenting with disaster recovery and creating images for Mac, PC and Server OS.  There exist many software that allows you to boot before the Windows OS and image the OS partition or HDD.  Mac OSX can be cloned on the fly while the OS is running.

Several months ago, I have successfully imaged a Windows 7 OS using Acronis Pro and was able to transfer the OS from a SCSI drive to SATA and back.  It was a disaster recovery testing experiment and I find it truly a time saver if done properly. 

Lately, I have been playing around with Mac OSX disaster recovery testing and have been very successful with or without Boot Camp partition installed. 

Reinstalling the OS always works but I find it time restrictive.  There are several Software out there that will help saves time.  Acronis seems to work well with Windows.  It won't hurt to experiment so your mileage may vary.  Good luck! 

[jermmd]

Levi,

Acronis lets you copy just the OS without the other files? And the computer will be able to boot from the new drive?

[adydula]

Hi,

I would install the SSD and install WIN 7 on it for your boot OS. Nice and clean etc.

Then when thats done and boots ok.

Shut down and install the 2 TB drive into the syste, make sure the bios sees it.

Then boot up via the SSD to Win7 and then you can look at the drive and see what data u want ot save and keep an delete the other stuff. You can leave the Win7 part their or remove it, or save your data from the 2 tb to and external drive and reformat the 2 tb clean and bring back what you want from the ext drive ( ie a usb or esate external).

If you leave the win7 files on the 2tb drive u can actually boot to either one, but i would reccoment deleting the win7 on the 2 tb...

Activation on the SSD should be painless if you have your key.

All the best
Alex
 

[boead]

Ive done it recently. Just use Win7 "backup and restore." Choose (from the left hand side menu) “Create a system image” and there are a few other ways to do this with other options if you know your way around Windows. It was easy!

Remember you can change partition sizes of any drive on the fly in Win7 now, no longer need 3rd party apps like Partition Magic.

Also the “backup and restore” features for Vista and Win7 are ONLY included in the Professional and Ultimate versions.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare


BTW: Ive been using WinXP Mode (virtual PC) and its great!

[Levi]

He is correct, Win 7 has a backup and restore built-in.  You can create an image of Windows 7 then boot into the install DVD and restore the image. 

If you don't have the Win7 installation DVD, Acronis images the partition but not the OS.

Cheers!

[kyrill]

The back up and restore is unexplored knowledge to me as I have never used it before.
I have the same queation, moving windows 7 ultimate to a SSD disk.
However  it is difficult to re-install win 7 on the SSD with the original DVD as i have 5 comp in the house each of them with win7. I have no idea which of the 5 ( two kids wife and laptop ) genuine dvd is the one I installed...

IS there a way to find out?

[Levi]

If you know the installation key you used, then you can borrow a genuine install DVD for that version of Win 7.

Microsoft will sort out your Win7 install DVD question.

[kyrill]

installation key, is that on the yellow sticker? No way i have remembered that Would you?

[Levi]

installation key, is that on the yellow sticker? No way i have remembered that Would you?

Yes.  I know which installation key I have used for every computer(s). 

Good luck with that guy.

[boead]

Yes.  I know which installation key I have used for every computer(s). 

Good luck with that guy.

  Yeah, me to. Its the law. 1 key per PC 

[adydula]

There are utilities on the web that can tell you the key your using on each pc. You can compare to the key you got with your pc, if from Dell or HP there should be a EULA sticker on it somewhere with the key printed on it. You can tell if your genuine by clicking on the lower left side Windows icon and clicking on Computer right mouse button select properties and u will see a windows pop entitled "View basic information about you computer" on the bottom you should see the activation status ..Genuine or not!!

Alex

Note the Win 7 backup and restore works great and is a very simple way to do what you want..just make your image on an external usb drive etc...EASY.