Installing Windows 8 on new SSD- any way to keep apps?

[defectX11]

So I've recently decided to finally buy a good SSD and upgrade my PC to Windows 8. My laptop has been running it for a while (since RTM) so I know my way around it, more or less.
However, here's my conundrum-
-I installed Windows 8 on to the new SSD. Took about 6 minutes. Wow.
-I want to be able to use the applications I had on my previous Windows 7 install, but don't want to copy them over to the SSD because of size limitations.
-I can't start any of my games from the other HDD using the shortcuts on my 7 desktop (in 8 file browser)

Is there an easy way to do this? I'd like to keep my HDD, with all the files intact (I don't have a drive to back it up) and use it as my storage drive, and use the SSD as my boot drive. I'd also like to be able to remove my 7 installation, because it's only using up space.

*while installing, I chose to do a clean install and not an upgrade- I assume the upgrade would simply put 8 on my 7 drive and leave the SSD alone.

Hopefully there's an easy way out! Thanks in advance.

 

[mctonale]

I have a partition on my storage array set aside for installing programs, I have mounted it in an empty folder on my ssd so that when installing a program all I have to do is change c:\Program Files (x86)\...\... to c:\Program Files (RAID)\...\...

 

[defectX11]

OK, but I don't think will that will work, I don't have the right equipment or the need to buy it.
I've also just found out the a bunch of my applications that I use heavily won't work in 8, so I'm considering to revert to 7 for compatibility issues. In that case, is there a way to effectively copy over my current windows installation?

The thing I'm afraid of is having to completely reinstall all my games again to reset the registry settings, however looking this over on the web it seems to be the only way. Thoughts?

 

[whs]

If you change the operating system, you will have to reinstall all applications - games or not. Even if it is the same kind, e.g. /7 to/7.

If you want to move an OS from a HDD to a SSD, see here: SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System - Windows 7 Forums

 

[defectX11]

The application in that thread works really well.
Or, it SHOULD work really well, if I could get past all these damned issues.

So, next issue I'm having is REMOVING Windows 8. I love it, but I can't use it on my desktop.

Currently-
-I can't boot into 7 while the 8 drive is plugged in. Even if I override the boot order in my BIOS is still auto boots it, no windows selection screen
-if I plug in my 7 install disk (to use the disk manager in there) it doesn't let me get to the disk screen, because it detects 8 first.
-If I remove the drive and boot 7, and plug in the 8 drive after, I can't see the drive. I've even opened hardware manager and "scanned for hardware changes". No dice.
-I can't reset the boot order with the boot configuration utility because the OSes are on separate disks- 8 doesn't show 7 as an installed OS.

So right now I've got a massive headache and a useless SSD.

 

[easyq]

I see your point but honestly I think you will have toreinstall the software, if the link doesn't work for you that might even be the best option. One advantage over a clean instal Is that a lot of rubbish well be gone. It will be a big job probably but you will have a clean start.

 

[defectX11]

That's my issue- I can't ​start clean because I can't wipe the drive...

 

[easyq]

Sure you can, just create a partition on your current drive, store everything for the keep there and clean the w7 partition.user the ssd for W8 ander instal thee needed software on thee Empty partition

 

[defectX11]

My drive is 3TB, and I've filled nearly 80% of the drive, so there's no chance I can handle that. No external drives right now for me to use, they are all filled too.
Also read what I put above- there is no physical way (as it is) for me to see the SSD as a second drive, so I can't wipe it. Not even the install disk will work to wipe it using the drive tools.

 

[mctonale]

I created my program files partition when using windows 7, after installing windows 8 I remounted the partition and then reinstalled steam over the install that was stored there. My games were left intact and when I launched them went through a quick install process (dx + c++ only) as the files didn't require downloading. Everything works perfectly now.

If you have a backup of the program files you require it looks like you can just copy them to your win8 program files location and then run the installer again over the top of them (or just install over their storage location), the "new" install should then work and maintain your settings.

I'd create a backup copy of the program files before attempting this, just in case.

 

[whs]

That's my issue- I can't ​start clean because I can't wipe the drive...

Here is a sure and efficient way to wipe your SSD: How to securely erase an SSD drive | How To - CNET