New PC, Old Hard Drive

[WILLIN0T]

So I'm in the process of building myself a new pc and its been a long project as I've been buying occasional parts as I get the funds but now its starting to come together and the remaining main parts are arriving tomorrow, In an effort to cut down costs for the moment (I'm a a student) I'm using the stock CPU cooler and the hard drive from my current PC for now, and this is where the problem lies.

 

My current hard drive still has all my files on from my current PC including of course my Windows 7 install.

 

So I know its possible to boot from a CD or a USB (I'm using the H440 with no external optical drive so it'd have to be a USB) but I'm wondering if its possible to boot either from my existing hard drive install or boot from a USB without having to reinstall windows on said hard drive.

 

Any help would be appreciated as I'd like to get the new system up and running ASAP!

 

Many Thanks

Will

 

[0x1e]

You most likely will not be able to boot from that hard drive using the current installation of Windows.

 

You may be able to make a partition and install Windows on the second partition. However don't take my word for it, hopefully someone else will be able to verify it.

I've only ever dual booted from different HDDs.

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

You most likely will not be able to boot from that hard drive using the current installation of Windows.

 

You may be able to make a partition and install Windows on the second partition. However don't take my word for it, hopefully someone else will be able to verify it.

I've only ever dual booted from different HDDs.

If he has enough room then he will be able to create another partition, however he will need/want a good 25 or 30 gigs free just to be safe, and I've had problems doinb it this way in the past where the partition the new install is on can be extended to where the old install was for some reason.

 

 

So I'm in the process of building myself a new pc and its been a long project as I've been buying occasional parts as I get the funds but now its starting to come together and the remaining main parts are arriving tomorrow, In an effort to cut down costs for the moment (I'm a a student) I'm using the stock CPU cooler and the hard drive from my current PC for now, and this is where the problem lies.

 

My current hard drive still has all my files on from my current PC including of course my Windows 7 install.

 

So I know its possible to boot from a CD or a USB (I'm using the H440 with no external optical drive so it'd have to be a USB) but I'm wondering if its possible to boot either from my existing hard drive install or boot from a USB without having to reinstall windows on said hard drive.

 

Any help would be appreciated as I'd like to get the new system up and running ASAP!

 

Many Thanks

Will

 

You can install over the old install and it should promts you that there's a current install on the drive and move it and everything on it to windows.old folder.

[WILLIN0T]

You can install over the old install and it should promts you that there's a current install on the drive and move it and everything on it to windows.old folder.

Ok I'll give that a go later and see if it works.

 

Thanks for the help guys 

[deadaccount69]

Ok I'll give that a go later and see if it works.

 

Thanks for the help guys 

Wait! Before you do that, this is a much simpler solution. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/106642-how-to-keep-your-current-windows-install-with-a-new-motherboard/

After you have done that, just install all the drivers that came with your new pc components.

[WILLIN0T]

Wait! Before you do that, this is a much simpler solution. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/106642-how-to-keep-your-current-windows-install-with-a-new-motherboard/

After you have done that, just install all the drivers that came with your new pc components.

Oh sweet, cheers, that fixes everything!