Question re Installing SSD

[george1979]

Hi all,

So I have a question regarding installing an SSD as my new Crucial M4 128Gb arrived today

I am reinstalling windows 7 to it.

I have read guides so I know I should disconnect the HDD, set SATA to ACHI, install windows to SSD, install drivers and so on.

My question centers on what to do when I reconnect the HDD? Obviously the previous install of windows was on that disk and it was giving me problems. Should I just back stuff up and format it or can I just delete the windows install on it? Also as it will now no longer be listed as the C drive will it cause issues when trying to access files or games on it? Sorry if these are noob questions...

Confused... any help greatly appreciated...

[marshalex]

Providing that you're all configured and ready to go with the new SSD and you've set that as the primary HDD to boot from you shouldn't have any problems and can plug it straight in to access all the files etc. Then you can delete program files, windows folders etc as you wish.

[Phage]

I installed windows and some apps to the new drive, then turned it off. Connected the old HDD backup and turned it on.
The BIOS booted from the new SSD (C:\) no problems and the old HDD appeared as E:\ .

[Pob255]

You want to disconnect all old hard drives, when doing the new install to minimise the chance of conflict and other issues, I've accidentally formatted and installed to the wrong drive before.

As long as the SSD comes before the hard drive in the boot up list in the BIOS it will be fine, it'll find the ssd first and boot from that.
Programs and such on the old hard drive, will probably stop working, two reasons, they'll not be installed on this clean copy on widows, so you'd have to reinstall.
It will depend on the software, most stuff these days has a big chunk of data set in the registry (which will not exist unless reinstalled) and need it to run.
Older software and some other bits of software will happily run from anywhere.
eg I still use photoshop 5.5 (we're talking long before CS) one of the reasons I do is that it just runs from a folder, it I want to copy it onto a new system all I do is stick a copy of it onto a usb stick, then onto the new pc, just make a couple of shortcuts to the .exe and it's working.

For reinstalling stuff you have two options, install back over the old files in their new location (they will normally be moved from c: to d: or e: )
Or wipe the disc and just reinstall stuff to HDD or SSD as you see fit (this is often a good way to get rid of stuff you don't use much.

[F022Y]

I found this guide a chap wrote on another forum. Really in depth with some useful tips. My Win7 install went from 30GB to 7GB just by removing some unused bits.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1156654/s...-for-ssds-hdds

[markdaven]

Giving that you're all arranged and prepared to run with the new SSD and you've set that as the essential HDD to boot from you shouldn't have any issues and can connect it straight to get to all the records and so forth. At that point you can erase program documents, windows organizers and so forth as you wish.

[peterb]

Giving that you're all arranged and prepared to run with the new SSD and you've set that as the essential HDD to boot from you shouldn't have any issues and can connect it straight to get to all the records and so forth. At that point you can erase program documents, windows organizers and so forth as you wish.

I hope after nearly four years, the OP has found a solution.