Swapping Operating Systems

[BeeyonTroy]

Hi

 

I have Windows 7 64-bit on my 120gb SSD. I want to try out Windows 8.1 (and possibly upgrade to Windows 10 later on, but I wanna experience 8.1 first).

 

But i want to preserve my Windows 7 installation. I love it. This has been my OS for 7 years now, I've just been cloning it to preserve it. It's been from a 160gb HDD then cloned to a couple 120gb SSD's since.

 

I have another spare 120gb SSD where I want to install Windows 8.1 to.

 

Can I just remove my current Win 7 SSD --- put in the other SSD --- install Windows 8.1 on it (therefore becoming my Windows 8.1 SSD) --- and if I find things are not to my liking, just remove the Windows 8.1 SSD and put back my Win 7 SSD without any problems whatsoever? Will it mess up me BIOS settings or other motherboard related stuff?

 

My motherboard is an Asus P8H61M_LX3_PLUS (1155).

It has BIOS updates for Windows 8.1 up to 10 but I don't want to update my BIOS as much as possible.

 

Thanks!

[Enderman]

15 minutes ago, BeeyonTroy said:

Can I just remove my current Win 7 SSD --- put in the other SSD --- install Windows 8.1 on it (therefore becoming my Windows 8.1 SSD) --- and if I find things are not to my liking, just remove the Windows 8.1 SSD and put back my Win 7 SSD without any problems whatsoever?

Yup.

Remember to only have the SSD plugged in when installing windows on it.

 

Also, if you have multiple drives, you might need to reorder the boot priorities list in the BIOS.

[BeeyonTroy]

Okay that sounds good. Thank you.

 

So, this is what I'll be doing:

 

1. Power down PC.

2. Remove current win7 SSD (detach power and SATA cables)

3. Attach another SSD.

4. Power on PC.

5. Install Windows 8.1.

6. Try it for a few days.

7. If not satisfied then remove the win8 SSD.

8. Attach the win7 SSD.

9. Power on PC and like nothing happened.

 

Is that about right?

[vaiwalker]

48 minutes ago, BeeyonTroy said:

Okay that sounds good. Thank you.

 

So, this is what I'll be doing:

 

1. Power down PC.

2. Remove current win7 SSD (detach power and SATA cables)

3. Attach another SSD.

4. Power on PC.

5. Install Windows 8.1.

6. Try it for a few days.

7. If not satisfied then remove the win8 SSD.

8. Attach the win7 SSD.

9. Power on PC and like nothing happened.

 

Is that about right?

indeed.

[BeeyonTroy]

All right! Thanks for the help guys