Install windows 7 without wipe

Sdot said:
Is there a way to install windows 7 without deleting all of the stuff on my hard drive?
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If you're running XP, you have to do a clean install which would wipe everything on your OS partition. Anything you don't want to lose -- documents, music, movies, etc. -- you'd move to an external hard drive or other backup device. That's assuming you keep these type of files on your OS partition. I keep all my data on a separate internal hard drive.

If you're running Vista, then you do an upgrade install and would that would leave everything intact.
 
its windows 7, im just having so many problems that i want to re-install it. So my best bet is to just get another HDD and throw it in here?

btw i remember you from 2 years ago when i first built this thing, ty :)
 
Sdot said:
So my best bet is to just get another HDD and throw it in here?
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For backing up your data? Not necessarily. Depending on how much you have, you could put everything on a USB flash drive. If you have stuff above 10GB, then I would personally consider a second internal, or external box, just for data and OS backups, but there's a number of options really.

If you want to do a reinstall, you should be able to boot the 7 disk and select the upgrade option, then you don't have to worry about backups for the time being. In general, though, it's always best to keep your data off your OS partition, even if that means creating a separate partition on the same hard drive for everything besides the OS. You do that in the event of OS corruption where you may not be able to recover the data off the partition.

Sdot said:
btw i remember you from 2 years ago when i first built this thing, ty :)
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ha np.
 
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well im at 300GB of free space out of 1TB so i doubt i can partition it to back that stuff up cause there just isn't enough space.

there are like two things i want to keep. 1 is 200GB of videos from the games I have played, I do not want to lose that, oh and a lot of these useful programs. I guess the easiest way to do that would be to just take a couple screenshots of my All programs thing, just keep scrollin down and hittin screenshot. unless you know of an easier way lol.
 
For now, you can do the reinstall without worrying about backups. Select the upgrade option and you won't lose anything. If I were you, I'd get a smaller drive for your OS and programs and use that 1TB drive for all your movies, music, etc. In fact, that's what I do right now. I run my OS off a SSD and place everything else on my TB drive. You just need to determine how much space your OS and programs use.

Is everything stored on your "C" drive, or do you have a separate partition with all your non-OS data?

BTW, I believe you don't even have to boot to 7. You can put the disk in and start the reinstall right away, on the desktop. Just DO NOT select custom, choose upgrade, if that option is available.
 
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I have no partitions at all. Everything is saved to this 1tb hdd, my os and everything. Yeah it's all on the C drive Is the sad noticeably faster?

Reinstalling doesn't wipe anything?
 
Sdot said:
I have no partitions at all. Everything is saved to this 1tb hdd, my os and everything. Yeah it's all on the C drive Is the sad noticeably faster?

Reinstalling doesn't wipe anything?
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An SSD drive is a lot faster then a standard hard drive. If you go with SSD then you need to pick one that has enough space for windows and a few of your most used programs.

It's always recommended to back up your data before doing anything, after all, accidents can and will happen. However, theoretically choosing the upgrade option will keep your programs and data where they are.
 
johnb35 said:
An SSD drive is a lot faster then a standard hard drive. If you go with SSD then you need to pick one that has enough space for windows and a few of your most used programs.

It's always recommended to back up your data before doing anything, after all, accidents can and will happen. However, theoretically choosing the upgrade option will keep your programs and data where they are.
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Do you have a ssd in mind? I have read a lot of the reviews on newegg and i see a lot of them fail a lot after a few months. Whats the most stable ssd so far?

I will check and see if i see an upgrade option, but if I don't see it will it let me back out of it lol?
 
Sdot said:
I will check and see if i see an upgrade option, but if I don't see it will it let me back out of it lol?
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It will, but I'd pass on the reinstall, only because it wouldn't lead to much, if any, improvement. Normally you'd wipe the partition and run a clean install. You don't really have that option until move all your data off the C partition. Getting a new drive, or if you have the room, creating a new partition on your TB drive for your OS would allow you to do it properly.
 
Sdot said:
its windows 7, im just having so many problems that i want to re-install it. So my best bet is to just get another HDD and throw it in here?

btw i remember you from 2 years ago when i first built this thing, ty :)
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This is the best course of action Sdot.

This thread has been overrun with presumptions so as to lose track of its self.

Get an external drive and transfer all your personal stuff to it, forget about windows files.

Reinstall 7, get all updates and an AV and Anti Malware program and then transfer your stuff back to the main drive or......................

Keep them on the external.

I have 3 external drives that I put/transfer things to.
 
johnb35 said:
Crucial brand is the highest rated at newegg right now. This is the one I have.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148357

However, its a sata 3 ssd and you have a motherboard that only supports sata 2. For sata 2 I would have to recommend the intel 320 series drives.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...NodeId=1&name=Intel&Order=REVIEWS&Pagesize=20

Some will probably recommend the OCZ Vertex drives.
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wow the sata 2s cost twice as much as the sata 3s lol

mep916 said:
It will, but I'd pass on the reinstall, only because it wouldn't lead to much, if any, improvement. Normally you'd wipe the partition and run a clean install. You don't really have that option until move all your data off the C partition. Getting a new drive, or if you have the room, creating a new partition on your TB drive for your OS would allow you to do it properly.
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imma go ahead and get another drive from newegg then, maybe like a 500 gb or something.

Wolfeymole said:
This is the best course of action Sdot.

This thread has been overrun with presumptions so as to lose track of its self.

Get an external drive and transfer all your personal stuff to it, forget about windows files.

Reinstall 7, get all updates and an AV and Anti Malware program and then transfer your stuff back to the main drive or......................

Keep them on the external.

I have 3 external drives that I put/transfer things to.
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You think externals are better or should i just grab another internal so i wouldn't have to worry about plugging it in over and over.
 
You think externals are better or should i just grab another internal so i wouldn't have to worry about plugging it in over and over.
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Go with either Sdot but why continually plug in an external over and over?

Hot swapping is the term and is not advisable, keep it hooked to the main box at all times.
 
do i have to check my power supply first to see if there is anothr coord to power it or do the coords come with the hdd?
 
The sata power connector comes from the power supply. You will need a sata data cable though, hopefully you have one laying around. If not, most computer repair places have cables you can buy or local electronics store will carry them.
 
If you plan on reinstalling the Windows OS, your computer will realize that there is already a copy of Windows 7 on the system and act accordingly. It moves all files from your C: into a Windows.old drive and I believe that is where you can grab up your documents, pictures, music, etc.

I helped out a friend who suffered a horrible computer virus last year and the only option I could have thought of at the time was a clean install. Thought she was going to lose everything. Turns out all the files were moved to that windows.old file and thankfully all her class notes, music, photos, etc were saved.
 
NDSUTopGun said:
If you plan on reinstalling the Windows OS, your computer will realize that there is already a copy of Windows 7 on the system and act accordingly. It moves all files from your C: into a Windows.old drive and I believe that is where you can grab up your documents, pictures, music, etc.

I helped out a friend who suffered a horrible computer virus last year and the only option I could have thought of at the time was a clean install. Thought she was going to lose everything. Turns out all the files were moved to that windows.old file and thankfully all her class notes, music, photos, etc were saved.
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very interesting, if there is no option for what your talking about then can i cancel it?
 
NDSUTopGun said:
If you plan on reinstalling the Windows OS, your computer will realize that there is already a copy of Windows 7 on the system and act accordingly. It moves all files from your C: into a Windows.old drive and I believe that is where you can grab up your documents, pictures, music, etc.

I helped out a friend who suffered a horrible computer virus last year and the only option I could have thought of at the time was a clean install. Thought she was going to lose everything. Turns out all the files were moved to that windows.old file and thankfully all her class notes, music, photos, etc were saved.
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Just did a bit of research on what you said and you are correct, now i just need to find out what exactly is saved and what isn't.
 
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