Windows 7 clean install

Turns out I can't get a SATA cable locally in my small burg. Once again I'm seeing many online choices, both for plug configuration and (I think) transmission speed. Looks like 12" length should be good to allow a little slack. There is a second port on the motherboard that matches the cable from the original hard drive. No idea what the specs are on the existing cable.

Are these ports standardized? Any suggestions?

 

New drive is in hand, waiting for the data cable. Now I see how the drive just attaches to the case, as Tony D pointed out in post #30. Interesting that the bolts are not metric, as I expected, but 6-32 US.

I wouldn't have a prayer of pulling this off without the help from this forum.

Next question: there are some available ports on the motherboard, black or white, see photo. They look like the blue one that has the original blue data cable in it. Does it matter which port I use, as long as the plug fits?

Also- while I'm in there, what's the best way to clean the dust- should I worry about static contamination?

 

To boot the system you should use the lowest port #(and they all are numbered) but just to attach as a storage drive it should not matter.

 

So, if the lowest # port has the current hard drive in it, would I remove that cable and leave it unplugged, or plug it into another port? Also, should I try to clean up the dust?

 

Yes definitely clean up the dust but use a "can of air" and not a vacuum.

 

Yes if the plan is still to install Windows 7 on the newest hard drive and boot from both leave the current boot drive plugged as it is and then use another port for the new install. If you plan to just install Windows 7 on the new drive and boot from it then it should be plugged into where the old main drive was.

 

Plug it into another port if you still want to use it. If you are still going to dual boot then leave it where it is and install teh new drive to another port because you must have the old one installed first before the newer version of Windows if you want Windows to boot both versions of Windows. EasyBCD is a third party boot loader you can use to boot both versions and then the order of install does not matter.

 

Update- New hard drive installed, wasn't clear on which m/board port to use, original drive was in port 0, dvd drive in 1. Moved the dvd drive to port 2 and plugged the new drive into port 1. Did the whole "operation" with the case and myself both grounded as a precaution.

On bootup, everything was as usual, except that I got this message, see attached pic.



Second pic shows "Computer Management" screenshot, looks like the new drive is recognized, needs to be initialized. My intention is to keep Vista as it is and install W7 on the new drive. Haven't gone any further, awaiting advice before trying the W7 disc.

 

That's all fine now go and install Windows 7 on the new drive and Windows should boot both.

 

Do I have to be concerned with initializing, formatting, or naming the new drive?

Will the computer automatically install the new OS to the new drive, or do I need to direct it?

 

You need to install Windows from Dvd but it does lead you...

 

Well...the eagle has landed. Took a little head scratching to get the new OS to load on the new drive, but I'm using it right now. My grateful thanks to all who posted, you made it possible for this relative neophyte to get it right.

Of course, there's some "moving in" to do- programs to be installed, etc. And the slight new swagger in my step is probably due to that 3-martini lunch that prepared me for this operation (just kidding, of course).

I am one to donate to Internet sources that have helped me. Is there such on this forum?

 

No donations were never accepted here but thanks for asking.

 

Got the network and printers playing nicely together, beginning to load programs into the new W7 OS in the new drive. What's the best way to share personal folders between the two hard drives? I do have a 64 gb flash drive on hand, but haven't used it yet.

Decided it's time to show an avatar.

 

Nice avatar! The flash drive shouldn't represent permanence because they just aren't that stable. So that said I would use it to transfer between OS and other pcs. You could see partitions on the drives in both versions of Windows actually so if you store files in user files all you would have to do is move My Documents on one version of Windows to where the documents are store on the other hard drive. Sounds confusing I hope it makes sense to you.

 

Thanks- it's just to confirm that I'm usually the last one to find out anything! Don't really have a feel for what, if any, communication there is between the two hard drives. I imagine that just one or the other runs, but not both, when I select an OS at bootup. True?

Not sure if this was Kosher, but I transferred my bookmarks by exporting to a HTML file and attaching it to a draft in my Gmail, then opening the file in W7.

Re the file transfer- now that my computer has two disks, one Vista and one W7, I want to share my Vista files with the new OS. My thought is that when MS drops Vista support, I'd still be good to go. Is the flash drive the best way, or should I rerun the W7 disc and use the Easy Transfer? Didn't do any of that when I installed the OS yesterday.

 

Yes....

Yep...that's fine. Personally, I like to use Chrome Sync....this way all your bookmarks and everything else you setup is saved.
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/165139?hl=en

Not necessary to do so....Essentially your using a dual boot setup, only difference is you're using 2 HDDs. If you look at file explorer in the task bar, open it up, you should see devices and drives...in there you should see both HDD's C and what ever the new disc is labeled now. You should be able to access the, lets call it D drive, D drive and move files/folders as you please between the 2 HDDs. Just drag/drop from old drive to desktop of new drive and then move it from there to where ever you like.

 

I'm beginning to understand the principles involved here. With the two drives and two OS's, the computer actually functions as two separate machines, with the only commonality being that both systems recognize both drives. In Vista I was able to move the files to the new W7 disk using the "right-click, drag-and-drop" method, with two windows open on the screen so I could see the files in one and the drives in the other. In W7, I was able to add the destination "Pictures" to the send-to menu, and relocate the picture files to that folder with the "select all> send to" method. Of course, the "Documents" destination is already on that menu.

Currently organizing and weeding out files in both systems, quite a project, so I'll work at it piecemeal.

This whole project has been a tremendous learning experience for me, and impossible without the help I have received here. The new configuration is definitely a huge step forward. Once again, my grateful thanks to everyone who helped me.

 

Ok but remember something the way you are doing it when you change or add a document you have to do it in 2 places every time. If you simply view it from both versions of Window where it is, then changing one does all the work saving the extra step.IE most programs have a file folder in the upper left hand top line which takes to your files made in this program. It can either be set to do so in Tools, Options, settings, or now Microsoft in their "infinite wisdom" had that in versions up until 2003. Then they added the "ribbon" to "simplify"the situation and added 3 steps to what used to be one step as they do with every new thing they do. So in 2007 Word and up you open a blank Word document and go File, Computer and then scroll to your Ms Word files adding 3 steps to what used to be 1. In doing so you now understand why most of us hate Windows 8 and up because that did the same extra steps to everything you do in earlier versions of Windows to accomplish anything. (All to accommodate cell phone and tablet customers who in turn spend little or no money?)