Software and Applications

[kyecoo]

Hey,

I am upgrading to a 2500k next week, and figuring out if I need to back up data or not.

I have one HDD with a partition, C: which has windows and a few odd bits and D: which has most of my software and games installed. I think I created this partition after I installed windows 7.

Once I install the new motherboard and re-install windows 7, will it recognize the software partition and save all my data from D:?

[dolynick]

The data will be there but most modern software needs to have entries in the registry and system files put into Windows for it to work properly. The software may work anyways but you will, at a minimum, have to manually create the shortcuts, etc in the Start Menu.

Data, like pictures, music and documents will be just fine. You may just have to move them to Documents folder or remapped the folder to the existing location if you want Windows to give you more automatic access.

-dolynick

[kyecoo]

Toying with the Idea of buying a small 50gb hard drive and installing windows on that, and plug the old HDD after and use it for my data. Should keep things alot easier and once I have two drives this kind of thing would be easier.

Doing this the lazy way

[dolynick]

That will basically work the same as having two partitions but has the advantage of actually increasing overall speed rather than lowering it. It is a much better way of doing it.

-dolynick

[kyecoo]

Thanks for telling me what I want to hear Dolynick

[kyecoo]

If I add the new drive and install windows on it and then add the old HDD with the old windows, would that cause a problem? Will I have to make it boot from the "clean" drive before the old one?

Kye.

[dolynick]

No. If you set it up with the new drive as the primary boot device then the boot manager will be on that drive. It should have no references in it for the old install on the old drive. I would do it just as you suggest, install Windows with only the new drive in the system first, then add the old drive the install is completed. It's the easiest way to keep things clean and simple.

-dolynick