Installling Windows 7 on two hard drive system

[laurandavid]

Ok my current system is running windows xp sp3. I have a two hard drive setup as one is used strictly for storage and one is used to install the os and programs. So if I wanted to install windows 7 on the hard drive that has xp on it right now, would I need to do anything to the other hard drive or would it still act as a storage drive?

Thanks.

[laurandavid]

Both are SATA Drives as well.

[Nuclear Krusader]

As long as you don't touch it during the installation, it won't be modified in any way. Just to have peace of mind, and to prevent selecting the wrong hard drive when you are installing Windows: unplug the storage drive, then reformat the OS drive, install Windows 7 to it and set it up, with drivers, security updates and all that. Once the OS is happily up and running, you can turn off your machine, reconnect the storage drive and it'll shew up automatically in the OS.

[laurandavid]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader As long as you don't touch it during the installation, it won't be modified in any way. Just to have peace of mind, and to prevent selecting the wrong hard drive when you are installing Windows: unplug the storage drive, then reformat the OS drive, install Windows 7 to it and set it up, with drivers, security updates and all that. Once the OS is happily up and running, you can turn off your machine, reconnect the storage drive and it'll shew up automatically in the OS.

I did not look, but could I disable it in the bios and then it will not even be a choice when installing windows 7?

Thanks.

[EzyStvy]

Unplugging the second drive would simple and safe.

[laurandavid]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy Unplugging the second drive would simple and safe.

Yes but unhooking everything is a pain. I will just be careful.

[Nuclear Krusader]

You just have to unplug the data cable from either the mobo or the drive: simple. But suit yourself.

[laurandavid]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader You just have to unplug the data cable from either the mobo or the drive: simple. But suit yourself.

Right I understand that. But to do that I need to unhook everything as I will not work on a pc with anything plugged up. I have learned my lesson one too many times.

[David M]

Don't unplug everything. When you load your new OS, you want only what will become the new C: drive to be plugged in to the motherboard. Unplug all other hard drives. Just so you always remember, plug what will become your C: into the number 1 SATA port. It's not required, it just helps you remember.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Not to be confrontational Laurandavid, but I'm puzzled by what you mean when you say "everything plugged"? And what was that experience that made you wary about this?

I do what I suggested you to do on a daily basis here at the shop, but maybe you know something that I could benefit from in my job.

[laurandavid]

I am talking about my monitor, printer, usb hubs, etc. Not the internals of the PC. I tried to work on a pc with stuff plugged in with the exception of the power plug and fried a few pcs.

I can also leave everything plugged in like I have now and just install win 7 on the same drive xp is on with no issues. In reality I do not need to unplug anything correct?

Thanks.

[laurandavid]

I am just trying to make sure that when I do install win 7 over xp that all my files on my data drive only will still be able to be accessed when I am done. The data drive is a seperate drive. They are also different sizes which helps as well.

[David M]

No problem leaving the peripherals plugged in. Unplug whatever external HD you might have. As I said, leave the drive plugged in that you want to become your C: drive for Windows 7. You just don't want to have any drive plugged in that Windows may think that's where you want Windows 7 installed...except for the drive where you want Windows 7 to reside.

[strollin]

Originally Posted by laurandavid I did not look, but could I disable it in the bios and then it will not even be a choice when installing windows 7? Thanks.

Yes, you could do that. Personally, I don't even do that, just need to make sure you point the installer at the correct partition on the correct drive and
there will be no problem.

[David M]

I don't think he mentioned anything about partitioning the drive, therefore for him it's easier than that.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Originally Posted by laurandavid I can also leave everything plugged in like I have now and just install win 7 on the same drive xp is on with no issues. In reality I do not need to unplug anything correct?

Correct. It's just that I am worried that you may choose the wrong hard drive to install Windows to and lose all your data. That's all. It's just that Windows uses cryptic names for your hard drives: rather than listing the model or the label, it just says things like "drive0/partition1".

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader "drive0/partition1".

That always 'scares' me. ie. "Boy, I sure hope I got the right one!"

[laurandavid]

I am installing windows 7 as I type. When I went to select the drive I wanted to have it installed it was easy. I have given my drives names, so when it came time it showed up drive 1 partition 1 main drive. My stoarage drive said drive 2 partition 2 storage. So it was easy to select the right one. I did it twice just to make sure I got the right one.