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New Hard Drive

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fbg40 | 14:17 Mon 22nd Nov 2010 | Computers
4 Answers
Good Afternoon ABers
Have a query on a new hard drive.
My PC needs updating and was wondering if the following would be possible :
Install a new HD and install onto that HD Windows 7 and nothing else. Keep the old HD (160Gb), uninstall XP from that HD but keep everything else.Would this work ? Please don't think me daft, I often get these "senior moments !!"
Many thanks
FBG40
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You need to think about the other components that W7 will need to work properly. Have a look at the minimum system requirements. http://windows.micros.../system-requirements.
What you are suggesting will not work.

If the XP disk is still in the PC when you install W7 you will finsih up with Dual Boot (being able to boot XP OR W7). This Dual Boot information will be held on the XP disk.

If you then uninstall Windows XP the dual boot information will go, but the PC wont know to boot into W7.

In fact thinking about, there is no mechanism to "uninstall" Windows anyway, so you could not uninstall XP and leave everything else.

I will suggest an option or two in the next append.
So I assume this is a desktop PC (and not a laptop). I also assume it has a 160Gb disk, and you want to buy another larger disk, say 500Gb (or whatever).

First as TTG says, I would check your PC can RUN Windows 7 as an older PC may not be able to. I would run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

http://www.microsoft....bd9-9e51-2497c146af15

Now you need to decide if you want one or two hard disks in your PC.

If you want one just take the 160Gb out (saving all the personal files first) then put the 500Gb in, and then install W7 (and all the programs you need).

If you want two hard disks in the PC then personally I would use the smaller 160Gb for Windows and the larger one for all your personal files. There are some advantages in having Windows on one hard disk and all your personal data on another.

So save all your personal files from the 160Gb, then install W7 in place of XP (you cant upgrade it has to be a clean install so will wipe everything).

Then put the 500Gb in the case and use that as the drive for your personal files.

Then if ever you need to reinstall Windows you just need to do it on the 160Gb drive, leaving the 500Gb drive untouched.
Question Author
Many thanks for the replies men.
Thought there might be some probs but needed to check just in case.
Thanks again
FBG40

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