Cloning

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I have just purchased a 1TB WD Caviar Black ready for when Windows 7 comes out.

I currently have a dual boot going:
500gb - Vista (Not used very often)
160gb - Windows 7 RC (x64) (Main OS)

Since i have been using the Windows 7 mainly, all of my programs, games, etc, are on this drive.

When i receive the new drive i will be removing the 160gb one and replacing it with the new one.
I intend to install Windows 7 onto the new one when i receive it and it will be the 64bit installation.

In the mean time, i'd like to clone my 160gb drive onto the 1tb drive, or at least transfer everything except the OS (which i can install on the new drive)

I intend to partition the drive into two parts, The OS partition and the Games/programs partition.

Now for the question...

Would i be possible to clone the 160gb drive to a 1tb drive seeing as the are different sizes without partitioning off 160gb worth.
Or could i install the RC until and copy over the files without having the touch the registry as they are the same OS (assuming i'd need to copy over the registry also).

Then, when i receive my full copy of Windows 7, would i be able to use the programs, games, etc with the new install once i format the OS partition of the new drive and install the new OS?

Sorry if some of it doesn't make much sense :p


Cheers for reading ;)
 
I may try a different approach;

I am thinking of just installing the OS from scratch on the new HDD on its own partition. And then copying the files and folders i need over onto the 2nd partition of the new hard drive.
Then, when i receive my copy of Windows 7, install that over the RC on the 1st partition.

My question is, will i be able to use the games that i copied over with the RC until i install the full OS, and then with the full OS when it's released (will x64 still)

And second question;

How much space should i set aside for the primary partition which will have Windows 7, AVG, Evga Precision, and a few other utilities on startup?

Cheers :)
 
Yep, will be exactly the same machine as in my sig.

OK then, no problems there, i will just reinstall the necessary games. So should i say maybe 30-35GB for the primary partition to be on the safe side?
 
To be fair, i do use my desktop for a lot of temporary files and downloads like yourself. What would be enough.
I have another 500GB drive too so if need be i can pretty much wipe that as that has most of the same games on it, and it is a 32bit Vista install which i only really used as contingency or for watching blu rays and HDDVDs, but my BD/HDDVD drive works on my 7 install fine now.
So yea, space isn't too much of a problem

So what would you partition yours off as?

Cheers for the tips!
 
Ah fair enough. Would be tempted to do that, but i seem to have bad luck with corrupting system files and have had to completely reinstall the OS a few times. Was easier than trying to repair the install from the CLI as i don't really have data that can't be replaced(mostly games), just an inconvenience.

Cheers for the help mate, will weigh up my options. ;)
 
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