Dual HD

andreah1

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I have windows 8 on a new dell and would like to put in another hard drive from my old computer that has win7 on it...I hooked it up (two plugs, easy) but when I turned the computer back on it immediately went into "starting repair" so I chickened out, shut the computer down and unhooked the other hard drive.
I'd really like to have both of them there so if I'm having problems with one I can just restart into the other....should I let it do the repair? What is it trying to repair? I don't want to screw up the new hard drive. :confused:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
You need to delete the Windows 7 install first. Than both HD Drive will work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
And then reinstall it? I want an OS on each drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
I personally would keep the Windows 7 install on the old PC, for now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I can understand that....not liking windows 8 but can't have two computers running (space is TIGHT and too much of a pain to unplug from one and plug into another, all the cords are hard to get at).....That's why I'd really like to move the HD into the win8 computer....then I can switch over easily. Any work arounds? Should I not let it "repair"? Obviously I don't want to screw up win8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
What you lose, when booting Windows 7 on your new PC.

warning   Warning

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
As a guess:

1) If you removed the Win 7 drive from another PC, then surely the drivers, etc are going to be for the other PC, not this one.

2) If you just plugged the Win 7 drive into the PC's second drive bay, then the Win 8 drive is still plugged into SATA0 and the Win 7 drive is going to be plugged into wherever Dell ran the second drive SATA cables to (probably SATA 3 or 4 on the Motherboard). Therefore, the PC will presumably still try to boot from SATA0 (the Win 8 drive).

You can turn off SATA0 (Win 8 drive) and enable SATA* (Win 7 drive) in BIOS, therefore it can't try to boot from the Win 8 drive. But, as in 1 above, I'm not sure if it's recommended as the drive wasn't intended to be the boot drive for your PC when Win 7 was installed on it.

Personally, assuming you have a valid licence key and installation disc for Windows 7, I'd back up your files, format the disc and re-install Win 7 on that drive from the PC you're going to be using it on (plugged in to the primary SATA cable). Then you will have Win 7 on one drive and Win 8 on the other. Depending on which drive you want to boot from either remove the side panel of your PC and swap drives, or if they're both plugged in to separate SATA ports, disable the primary drive in BIOS before booting so that it boots from the other drive.

If your Win 8 PC has UEFI, then I've no idea as I've never used it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
As a guess:

1) If you removed the Win 7 drive from another PC, then surely the drivers, etc are going to be for the other PC, not this one.

2) If you just plugged the Win 7 drive into the PC's second drive bay, then the Win 8 drive is still plugged into SATA0 and the Win 7 drive is going to be plugged into wherever Dell ran the second drive SATA cables to (probably SATA 3 or 4 on the Motherboard). Therefore, the PC will presumably still try to boot from SATA0 (the Win 8 drive).

You can turn off SATA0 (Win 8 drive) and enable SATA* (Win 7 drive) in BIOS, therefore it can't try to boot from the Win 8 drive. But, as in 1 above, I'm not sure if it's recommended as the drive wasn't intended to be the boot drive for your PC when Win 7 was installed on it.

Personally, assuming you have a valid licence key and installation disc for Windows 7, I'd back up your files, format the disc and re-install Win 7 on that drive from the PC you're going to be using it on (plugged in to the primary SATA cable). Then you will have Win 7 on one drive and Win 8 on the other. Depending on which drive you want to boot from either remove the side panel of your PC and swap drives, or if they're both plugged in to separate SATA ports, disable the primary drive in BIOS before booting so that it boots from the other drive.

If your Win 8 PC has UEFI, then I've no idea as I've never used it.

All new Windows 8 Pc's have uEFI & Secure Boot,

Windows 7 not install with Secure Boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Boy, I can't win can I. Sigh. Guess I'll keep it in the other computer and throw it (not literally) down cellar and if in emergency I need it I'll have to go from there. SEems like too much trouble to try to do above (if it can even be done)...so here's another question, I also have a smaller drive that I installed win 8 pro on a few weeks ago when it first was offered for cheap...what if I connected that hard drive as a "2nd" instead? Would that work?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
As a guess:

1) If you removed the Win 7 drive from another PC, then surely the drivers, etc are going to be for the other PC, not this one.

2) If you just plugged the Win 7 drive into the PC's second drive bay, then the Win 8 drive is still plugged into SATA0 and the Win 7 drive is going to be plugged into wherever Dell ran the second drive SATA cables to (probably SATA 3 or 4 on the Motherboard). Therefore, the PC will presumably still try to boot from SATA0 (the Win 8 drive).

You can turn off SATA0 (Win 8 drive) and enable SATA* (Win 7 drive) in BIOS, therefore it can't try to boot from the Win 8 drive. But, as in 1 above, I'm not sure if it's recommended as the drive wasn't intended to be the boot drive for your PC when Win 7 was installed on it.

Personally, assuming you have a valid licence key and installation disc for Windows 7, I'd back up your files, format the disc and re-install Win 7 on that drive from the PC you're going to be using it on (plugged in to the primary SATA cable). Then you will have Win 7 on one drive and Win 8 on the other. Depending on which drive you want to boot from either remove the side panel of your PC and swap drives, or if they're both plugged in to separate SATA ports, disable the primary drive in BIOS before booting so that it boots from the other drive.

If your Win 8 PC has UEFI, then I've no idea as I've never used it.

The above will not work.

andreah1 said:
I also have a smaller drive that I installed win 8 pro on a few weeks ago when it first was offered for cheap...what if I connected that hard drive as a "2nd" instead?

As a dual boot, or Data drive,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Dual boot...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
andreah1 said:
I also have a smaller drive that I installed win 8 pro on a few weeks ago when it first was offered for cheap...what if I connected that hard drive as a "2nd" instead?

64 bit Windows 8 Pro, yes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Ok! Finally some good news, lol! So I can just plug it in and start the machine and assume it will go to the main drive unless I tell it in BIOS to go to the 2nd drive?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
But you must delete the Windows 7 install on the old PC, or You will have NO original software.

http://www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/10837-windows-8-eula.html

Microsoft said:
What about upgrading the software? The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may not continue to use it or transfer it in any way. This agreement governs your rights to use the upgrade software and replaces the agreement for the software from which you upgraded. After you complete your upgrade, additional software will be required to playback or record certain types of media, including DVDs.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2843-automatic-repair-run-windows-8-a.html
will strart on first boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I don't want to install from scratch anyways.....I don't have the data allowance to download all the updates all over again.....I think I will go with the small hard drive I have with windows 8 pro on it. Seems like that one I can just plug and go....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt430
This is a holy mess. I think I'll go Android.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I don't want to install from scratch anyways.....I don't have the data allowance to download all the updates all over again.....I think I will go with the small hard drive I have with windows 8 pro on it. Seems like that one I can just plug and go....

Your best bet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
What you lose, when booting Windows 7 on your new PC.

warning   Warning


not sure if that would be the case ,would it not be of ,when the computer is rebooted it would not know what choice you are going to make until after the UEFI checked the trusted boot, now I could be wrong ,as I usually am .
quote from link -(UEFI) to block the loading and operation of any program or driver that has not been signed by an OS-provided key.,
so as long as the key is good ,it should be ok
I have win8 on older Dell ,and after reading the info in this thread about install win7 and win8 on 2 drives ,I decided to shrink my hdd creating another partition and install win7 on it and see what happens ,it all went great within 1 hr, im dual booting win7&8 no issues on bootup ,no way to test secure boot ,something I think is not on my old Dell anyway
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
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