New SSD - OS reinstall (noob help)

[maverickHF]

Hi all,
Just bought a new SSD and, while I built my PC and installed the OS originally I just want to make sure I will be installing it correctly... I will be using it for OS and Programs

From what I have read, steps are:
1) Install SSD into PC
2) Install Win7
3) Tweak Win7/reinstall programs

I guess the questions I have are around what to do with my existing setup...
Currently have one 640GB HD partitioned into about 100GB for OS/Programs, rest games, and 1.5TB from my docs/media
Somehow I have to change my current C: (OS partition) to some other drive letter right?
Do I do this before I install Win7 on the new SSD OS drive? Do I have to "uninstall" Win7 from the current OS partition before installing it in the new one (I have retail version). I would like to keep that 100GB OS partition as is for some time to ensure I have reinstalled everything right, and potentially as backup incase the SSD fails, but I'm not even sure if that's allowed? I really don't have much use for that 100GB of space anymore, so might as well keep it.
Also, I have WHS running backups, anything special I need to be aware of for that?

 

[Forceman]

Just install to the SSD without the 640 being hooked up. Then, as long as the boot priority is set to boot the SSD first, you can hook the 640 back up and you'll have no issues and can leave the 640 as-is - Windows will automatically give it a different drive letter.

You don't really need to do any tweaks, as Win 7 is SSD-aware and will make all the correct settings for you. Only thing you might consider doing is reducing the size of the pagefile if you have a lot of memory, to save some SSD space.

 

[maverickHF]

Thanks, makes total sense!

Secondary q: Will the old boot partition still be usable as a boot partition if the SSD were to fail? Both the SSD and boot partition will have the same copy of Win 7 pro (retail) installed...

 

[[LYL]Homer]

Make sure to install the SSD under AHCI if your motherboard supports it (enable this in BIOS before installing Win7). If you've already installed Win7 here's a fix without reinstalling.

 

[Forceman]

Thanks, makes total sense!

Secondary q: Will the old boot partition still be usable as a boot partition if the SSD were to fail? Both the SSD and boot partition will have the same copy of Win 7 pro (retail) installed...

Sure, just change the boot priority.

 

[addictedto60fps]

Make sure to install the SSD under AHCI if your motherboard supports it (enable this in BIOS before installing Win7). If you've already installed Win7 here's a fix without reinstalling.

Yup, definitely do that. I just did that right now and I saw my primary hard disk rating increase from 7.4 (ide) to 7.7 (ahci) when I ran Windows Experience Index. Sweet!

 

[Red Falcon]

Yup, definitely do that. I just did that right now and I saw my primary hard disk rating increase from 7.4 (ide) to 7.7 (ahci) when I ran Windows Experience Index. Sweet!

Yep, it improved for me when I did that too. You should see at least a 20-40% increase in performance from the SSD when using AHCI.