Can I delete JUST the operating system?

[Gundog48]

So, I have a single 500Gb HDD at the moment with Vista 32-Bit and everything else on the same partition. I want to get a small 30Gb SSD and install Win7 64-bit on it and then remove the Vista install from the other drive.

I was thinking of, from the new OS, doing the messy tactic of deleting the Windows folders on the other HDD, but I'm sure it would cause no end of problems! So is there any other way to do it?

Would duel booting be an option?

 

[twitch]

Having another operating system on another drive will make no difference.
Just make sure your pc boots from the new drive..

I have Win 7 installed on mine and also on the raid array on a small partition..
This is if the ssd fails I can boot from the other.

Or you could dual boot if required

 

[thingemajib]

surely it would be less effort in the long term just to back up and wipe the 500gig, as even if you leave it intact, and install windows on the ssd, everything will still have to be reinstalled onto the 500gig anyways