Computer HDD question?

[JohnnyTheFox]

I am upgrading my HDD which is a WD 2 TB Green to a WD 2 TB Black and at the same time doing a fresh install of Windows7.
The physical installation I got no problems with but when I go to boot up what should I do/expect? Someone mentioned something about reformatting the HHD so I am not quite sure what to do?

 

[cml750]

I am upgrading my HDD which is a WD 2 TB Green to a WD 2 TB Black and at the same time doing a fresh install of Windows7.
The physical installation I got no problems with but when I go to boot up what should I do/expect? Someone mentioned something about reformatting the HHD so I am not quite sure what to do?

The installation CD should walk you through everything and will automatically format the new hard drive. I am not sure what type of hardware you have but I recommend you install the 64 bit of Windows 7 if your hardware is compatible. If you are using an OEM installation disc, it will already have the proper version of Windows for your computer. I recommend that once you finish installing the operating system that you use Windows Update to update Windows 7. This will take a LONG time. Keep running Windows Update over and over until it tells you it is up to date. If you are installing Microsoft Office, I recommend you install it before you start the update process because it will also be updated when you run Microsoft Update. Once you finish all the updates defrag the hard drive for optimum performance. (Note: that WIndows will automatically update the software for you but you could be vulnerable until it finishes the updates)

Also, if you really want improved hard drive performance, you could take the opportunity to install a Solid State Hard Drive (SSD). While they are much smaller, a SSD is the best bang for the buck performance insrease you can do to a computer. The boot up time with a SDD is amazing and the read / writes to the drive are almost instant. SSD are typically much smaller and more of a PITA to install but the performance increase is worth it and you can add a regular spinning HD as a slave to increase space if needed.

 

[JDSmith]

If you are doing a fresh install of Windows anyway you might want to get a small SSD to install Windows onto. It will make your computer boot up much faster and it will start up all of your programs more quickly. Then use the 2 TB drive for storing videos, images and docs etc... You can got a relatively small solid state drive for the installation, 120 or 240 megs.

Edit: Just read cml750's post all the way through. What he said.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I am upgrading my HDD which is a WD 2 TB Green to a WD 2 TB Black and at the same time doing a fresh install of Windows7.
The physical installation I got no problems with but when I go to boot up what should I do/expect? Someone mentioned something about reformatting the HHD so I am not quite sure what to do?

I'm not sure I understand your question. If you just want a fresh install of Windows on the new drive, then just replace your existing HD with your new HD and run a normal install of Windows.

Since they are both 2TB drives, you could image one drive to the other and wouldn't even have to reinstall and keep your current installation, just on the new HD. To do that, you could download and burn a Linux Live CD. Ensure both HDs are connected, then boot to the live CD. Then use "dd" to copy the image on the old drive to the new one. Here is a how to with Ubuntu Linux Live CD.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I'm not sure I understand your question. If you just want a fresh install of Windows on the new drive, then just replace your existing HD with your new HD and run a normal install of Windows.

Since they are both 2TB drives, you could image one drive to the other and wouldn't even have to reinstall and keep your current installation, just on the new HD. To do that, you could download and burn a Linux Live CD. Ensure both HDs are connected, then boot to the live CD. Then use "dd" to copy the image on the old drive to the new one. Here is a how to with Ubuntu Linux Live CD.

I would not image.

Do a fresh install.

Better in my experience.
Otherwise you may encounter all kinds of never seen before errors or issues. There is something that you will "image" that you won't want... Your computer or new drive won't like.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

The installation CD should walk you through everything and will automatically format the new hard drive. I am not sure what type of hardware you have but I recommend you install the 64 bit of Windows 7 if your hardware is compatible. If you are using an OEM installation disc, it will already have the proper version of Windows for your computer. I recommend that once you finish installing the operating system that you use Windows Update to update Windows 7. This will take a LONG time. Keep running Windows Update over and over until it tells you it is up to date. If you are installing Microsoft Office, I recommend you install it before you start the update process because it will also be updated when you run Microsoft Update. Once you finish all the updates defrag the hard drive for optimum performance. (Note: that WIndows will automatically update the software for you but you could be vulnerable until it finishes the updates)

Also, if you really want improved hard drive performance, you could take the opportunity to install a Solid State Hard Drive (SSD). While they are much smaller, a SSD is the best bang for the buck performance insrease you can do to a computer. The boot up time with a SDD is amazing and the read / writes to the drive are almost instant. SSD are typically much smaller and more of a PITA to install but the performance increase is worth it and you can add a regular spinning HD as a slave to increase space if needed.

Yes it is a copy of Windows 7 64 and not the 32 bit. A SSD is on my list of upgrades for the future but after this a new GPU{for the Witcher 3} takes precedence over a SSD. My boot times now are not bad{around 30 secs} and boot times as well as read/write times should be improved with this..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236624

Thanks!

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

I'm not sure I understand your question. If you just want a fresh install of Windows on the new drive, then just replace your existing HD with your new HD and run a normal install of Windows.

Since they are both 2TB drives, you could image one drive to the other and wouldn't even have to reinstall and keep your current installation, just on the new HD. To do that, you could download and burn a Linux Live CD. Ensure both HDs are connected, then boot to the live CD. Then use "dd" to copy the image on the old drive to the new one. Here is a how to with Ubuntu Linux Live CD.

Ya sorry for being unclear......
I just wanted to make sure after I install the new HDD and windows that I would not have to do anything in the bios/etc.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I would not image.

Do a fresh install.

Better in my experience.
Otherwise you may encounter all kinds of never seen before errors or issues. There is something that you will "image" that you won't want... Your computer or new drive won't like.

If there is something wrong with the current installation, then yes. If there isn't and the only thing changing is the drive and they are both SATA, then copying the image should go flawlessly unless the drive itself has an issue. If thats the case, then even a fresh install won't go flawlessly.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Here are some of the benchmarks of the WD Green 2 TB vs WD Black 2 TB.
http://hdd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/WD-Green-2TB-2011-vs-WD-Black-2TB-2013/1850vs1821

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

If there is something wrong with the current installation, then yes. If there isn't and the only thing changing is the drive and they are both SATA, then copying the image should go flawlessly unless the drive itself has an issue. If thats the case, then even a fresh install won't go flawlessly.

It is well known that operating systems "take a hit" for lack of a better term while being used. dll's get corrupted, Etc...

A fresh install is good way to get "fresh" brand spanking new feel on an older computer with new hdd.

Fresh install will go flawless with new drive and fresh windows install. I don't how what you said makes any sense. May have some fun, "not" getting drivers and loading them but that's it.

 

[NorthTexan95]

It is well known that operating systems "take a hit" for lack of a better term while being used. dll's get corrupted, Etc...

A fresh install is good way to get "fresh" brand spanking new feel on an older computer with new hdd.

Fresh install will go flawless with new drive and fresh windows install. I don't how what you said makes any sense. May have some fun, "not" getting drivers and loading them but that's it.

I agree. Unless there's a compelling reason, a fresh install would be better. Make an image right after the fresh install so you can always go back to it if needed.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I agree. Unless there's a compelling reason, a fresh install would be better. Make an image right after the fresh install so you can always go back to it if needed.

I know a decent amount of "tech"... Not a Boodah of it.... Lol

But.... I have seen many Boodah's waste hours on these things. Then, they go on a mission to fix the issues when a fresh install eliminated that waste of time,

Just trying to save some heartache that I endured lol

 

[YosemiteSam]

It is well known that operating systems "take a hit" for lack of a better term while being used. dll's get corrupted, Etc...

A fresh install is good way to get "fresh" brand spanking new feel on an older computer with new hdd.

Fresh install will go flawless with new drive and fresh windows install. I don't how what you said makes any sense. May have some fun, "not" getting drivers and loading them but that's it.

What exactly do you mean, "Take a hit"? Re-imaging a disk does not result in degraded performance unless outside influences cause it. (or using different hardware than the original image was made with which isn't the case here) DLLs can get corrupted if there is drive damage, but the dd command replicates at the block level, so corruption shouldn't occur without again "outside influences".

We re-images drives almost on a daily basis here. It's a very common practice in IT. We re-image PCs for our users rather than doing OS installs. It's FAR faster and much more efficient than installing using OS installer disk.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

What exactly do you mean, "Take a hit"? Re-imaging a disk does not result in degraded performance unless outside influences cause it. (or using different hardware than the original image was made with which isn't the case here) DLLs can get corrupted if there is drive damage, but the dd command replicates at the block level, so corruption shouldn't occur without again "outside influences".

We re-images drives almost on a daily basis here. It's a very common practice in IT. We re-image PCs for our users rather than doing OS installs. It's FAR faster and much more efficient than installing using OS installer disk.

Boodah!

 

[MonsterD]

 

[NorthTexan95]

What exactly do you mean, "Take a hit"? Re-imaging a disk does not result in degraded performance unless outside influences cause it. (or using different hardware than the original image was made with which isn't the case here) DLLs can get corrupted if there is drive damage, but the dd command replicates at the block level, so corruption shouldn't occur without again "outside influences".

We re-images drives almost on a daily basis here. It's a very common practice in IT. We re-image PCs for our users rather than doing OS installs. It's FAR faster and much more efficient than installing using OS installer disk.

I don't think we're comparing apples to apples here. First, it's one thing to create an image of a brand new build and use that to load computers. The problem comes if you take an existing computer and image that to put on a new computer. A image is an exact copy so any software issues on the old computer will transfer to the new computer and any outdated software versions are copied. The second issue is time. IT staffs use images to save time. When it comes to one computer, imaging doesn't save a ton of time.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't think we're comparing apples to apples here. First, it's one thing to create an image of a brand new build and use that to load computers. The problem comes if you take an existing computer and image that to put on a new computer. A image is an exact copy so any software issues on the old computer will transfer to the new computer and any outdated software versions are copied. The second issue is time. IT staffs use images to save time. When it comes to one computer, imaging doesn't save a ton of time.

He is swapping hard drives, not computers. If there is nothing wrong with the current OS installation, copying the image to the new HD is the best and fastest option.

It does save time if everything (including updates) is already installed on the original drive. Installing Windows 7 updates alone can take several hours and many reboots. Not to mention any other software that must be installed.

btw, I'm acutely aware of why IT staffs do image drives. I've worked at all levels of IT for last 17+ years.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I don't think we're comparing apples to apples here. First, it's one thing to create an image of a brand new build and use that to load computers. The problem comes if you take an existing computer and image that to put on a new computer. A image is an exact copy so any software issues on the old computer will transfer to the new computer and any outdated software versions are copied. The second issue is time. IT staffs use images to save time. When it comes to one computer, imaging doesn't save a ton of time.

Thank you but that went without saying.

He is swapping hard drives, not computers. If there is nothing wrong with the current OS installation, copying the image to the new HD is the best and fastest option.

It does save time if everything (including updates) is already installed on the original drive. Installing Windows 7 updates alone can take several hours and many reboots. Not to mention any other software that must be installed.

btw, I'm acutely aware of why IT staffs do image drives. I've worked at all levels of IT for last 17+ years.

Whoot, there it is!


Lmao

 

[YosemiteSam]

Thank you but that went without saying.


Whoot, there it is!


Lmao

So passive aggressive.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

So passive aggressive.

Something else you don't know. The definition of passive aggressive.