Installing Windows 7 from SSD to same SSD

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XTF

Gawd
Joined
Oct 11, 2011
Messages
591
I've got a new SSD and I'd like to install a fresh copy of Windows 7 on it. Is it possible to do this without DVD or USB stick? Ideally I'd copy the installer onto a partition on the SSD (from an existing install), reboot and install.
 
Not possible as far as I know. You'd need something like a DVD or USB drive to boot the installer from.
 
Why can't the installer be booted from a partition on the SSD?
I've got a USB stick, but it's just 256 mb. I guess installing from the network isn't an option either.
 
XTF said:
Why can't the installer be booted from a partition on the SSD?
I've got a USB stick, but it's just 256 mb. I guess installing from the network isn't an option either.
Click to expand...

should be able to. Although I did it on my macbook with OSX, should be capable on windows too I'd assume. Made a partition, installed the iso on it, booted from that partition to install onto the original partition.
 
I don't see why you couldn't make an SSD a bootable installer. You just couldn't do it from the computer while you are using the OS installed on it.
 
You can PXE install and USB install just like any most other OSes. I don't know about installing from an SSD onto the same SSD, even with the SSD being partitioned out... I've never tried that.
 
smiley22432 said:
Best way is a fresh install unfortunately
Click to expand...

I keep reading this, but has anyone come out with numbers that fresh install really makes a difference?

I have visual studio, sql server, office and many other utils installed. Those are in addition to God knows what customizations I made to make windows just the way I like it. I hate to do a fresh install of that if I can help it.

Four months ago, I used true image 2011 to migrate win7 from hd to m4. Re-ran WEI to make sure win7 knows it is now running on ssd. Still running great to this day.
 
preiius said:
I keep reading this, but has anyone come out with numbers that fresh install really makes a difference?

I have visual studio, sql server, office and many other utils installed. Those are in addition to God knows what customizations I made to make windows just the way I like it. I hate to do a fresh install of that if I can help it.

Four months ago, I used true image 2011 to migrate win7 from hd to m4. Re-ran WEI to make sure win7 knows it is now running on ssd. Still running great to this day.
Click to expand...
I don't see how it'll be difficult to reinstall any of those things really. Visual Studio is a breeze. SQL, just have an export of your DB ready to go. Office, meh, again a breeze to reinstall. I don't know that a fresh install will make a difference, but it is what you explicitly asked for in your OP. If you don't want to do that now, you need to tell us what it IS that you want to do.
You have these well-known, easy options to install Win 7:
PXE
DVD
USB
Otherwise you're venturing into uncommon if not impossible territory.

From your OP, you said you got a new SSD and you want to install Win 7 on it. So, go get it installed. I'm not sure I see the problem...
 
XTF said:
Why can't the installer be booted from a partition on the SSD?
I've got a USB stick, but it's just 256 mb. I guess installing from the network isn't an option either.
Click to expand...

When Staples has deals like 8gb flash drives for $5.99, there's no excuse!
 
If your goal is to freshen up the drivers or something you could do a Sysprep (part of windows) which will uninstall all the drivers so that the OS is just like when you first install it. And the next time it boots it will reinstall all the drivers.

It won't uninstall programs or clear cache if that is what your are trying to accomplish though.
 
preiius said:
I have visual studio, sql server, office and many other utils installed. Those are in addition to God knows what customizations I made to make windows just the way I like it. I hate to do a fresh install of that if I can help it.

Four months ago, I used true image 2011 to migrate win7 from hd to m4. Re-ran WEI to make sure win7 knows it is now running on ssd. Still running great to this day.
Click to expand...

Actually, I've kinda got the same problem. Reinstalling all apps and resetting all settings is a nightmare.

I now bought a USB stick to install Windows, but went back to my HDD as I didn't want to reinstall everything (yet).
 
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