Uninstall and Install Windows - current and new HD

[k3wt]

Ive got a new hard disk on its way to me thanks to OCUK however im not too sure the best way of going about installing Windows 7 on it.

Currently ive got one large hard disk which has got 4 partitions (2 OS and 2 data). Vista is the one i primarily use and Windows 7 just so that i could try it and see if i wanted to gradually migrate onto. As im sure you are aware it asks me which partition to boot from at startup ie. Vista or 7.

Now.....im sure theres a perfectly simple answer or solution to this but basically the Windows 7 partition i currently have i would like to get rid of because it was only a tester and i wont be needing to boot from it again. So - how do i get rid of it and probably the 'data' partition i created to go with it? Is it a simple case of formatting that partition from My Computer?

Then.... how do i install Windows 7 on my NEW hard disk? A mate has told me to simply unplug the current hard disk, plug the new one in from where the current one was plugged in and just perform an install as i would on a new system. Then switch it off plug the old one back on the next available SATA socket and i should still be able to get the same option on boot up ie. select Windows 7 or Vista.

Is that right? or have i made a really simple task complicated for myself?

 

[k3wt]

Hi

Thanks for that. Im sure it makes complete sense but im confused

So if 'repair/recover' my Vista install will i lose data? The at which point do i delete Win 7 on my current drive?

OR

do i put the new disk in and install Win 7 straight off. then go and delete the old Win 7 which i wil no longer use?

Am i along the right lines in thinking that?

cheers

 

[k3wt]

Yes thanks thats well written. In your experience would you use that freeware program or just simply delete it from msconfig?

i intend to follow option 2 by removing the disk so i can boot via BIOS

oh and also how much do you think is necessary to keep 'free' on c:just so i know how much to allocate/format. would u say 25% is a good amount?

Thanks in advance

 

[k3wt]

Personally, i would think it's easier to boot up vista ob your old hard drive and delete the patition with windows 7 on it then turn off the PC and unplug that HDD. Then install windows 7 on your new HDD and once there, if you want to format the old HDD then do that, or you could keep vista on one HDD and windows 7 on another.

isnt that whats been mentioned?

 

[k3wt]

Cheers ChileanLlama u da man!

I used the link you posted above and re-wrote the bootfiles for Vista with it. Formatted, removed the partition and extended it back to Vista

Just waiting on my new caviar black to arrive 2moro but i wont be in... He'll probably leave it in the bin or something

 

[k3wt]

oops i spoke to soon. i cant seem to 'delete' the partition Windows 7 was on. tried a reboot and wont seem to do it.

so at the moment this is how my drive looks

b: Win 7 (which ive formatted)

c: Win Vista (current boot partition)

d: DVD drive (yes its annoying)

e: Vista Data partition

Its just given me a notification....

The partion b: simple colume is currently in use. to force the deletion of this partition click YES

warning: forcing deletion might cause unexpected errors in the application that is using this partition. do u want to continue?

......... what do i do?!