Windows 7 and HD question

[LeroyHarr]

Hello all.

My "problem" is this. I have a plain old HD in my computer at the moment that has Windows 7 installed on it. I have just purchased an SSD and would like to have Windows 7 on that.

Instead of me formatting my current HD, can I just install windows on the SSD and make it my primary drive or will I have to format my current drive?

So will Windows have a problem with me having 2 copies on 2 different Drives?

Thanks!

 

[ashfaak]

Yes, you can just install Windows on the SSD, and leave the HDD as is.

If you are uneasy about the location of the installation you can physically disconnect the HDD to make sure Windows installs to the SSD, then reconnect it when the installation is complete.

 

[CntrlAltDel]

Instead of me formatting my current HD, can I just install windows on the SSD and make it my primary drive or will I have to format my current drive?

You don't need to format any drive. You could install Windows 7 fresh on your Solid State Drive and still be able to boot to your old Windows 7 from the boot menu when you start up your PC. I suggest you backup your OS from your old Windows and if your Solid State Drive is big enough, store restore your OS onto that drive. Then it will be like nothing has even been changed (except the speed).

So will Windows have a problem with me having 2 copies on 2 different Drives?

Windows will boot up with an option to boot from the previous Windows 7 or the newly installed Windows 7.
If you intend on keeping both Windows and prefer booting up and choosing which Windows you want to boot from, then I suggest you get EasyBCD http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/EasyBCD.shtml which basically allows you to rename the previous and newly installed Windows 7. You'll find it confusing to have to choose between Windows 7 and Windows 7 without knowing which is the previously installed one and the newly installed one.

 

[howardb]

At OP
You can also consider using something like Paragon's Migrate OS to SDD if you want to transfer your current Win7 installation to the new SSD; I did this a few weeks back and it did the job brilliantly - 20-30 mins and the migration was done. Unplugged the old HDD, plugged in the SSD as the boot drive, checked that the BIOS was booting from the SSD and everything worked exactly as before, just much faster!
The software isn't free, but it certainly works...