Moving Windows 7 to SSD.

I'm looking at buying the Qosmio X505-Q890. However, I want to eventually (in about 6 months--when prices come down) get a bigger SSD drive for it. So I'm thinking about getting a similar model w/out the SSD installed in it, but that I can add it later.

I'm really new to all of this. So what I want to know is how hard it would be to move Windows 7 from the standard HD to the SSD when I get a SSD for it? Would I have to buy my own copy since the one I'll have came pre-installed? And if I can move it from one drive to another, how would I go about it and how hard would it be for a novice?

Any info. you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

 

Nope, you don't need to buy another copy of windows 7, you can check out the windows 7 download guide in my sig, which will get you the clean install media
Just make sure you backup your activation with ABR (also in the guide)

As a bonus of doing this, you'll have no bloatware and can reinstall all of your notebooks drivers as necessary (just make sure you make an image of the original drive/ make recovery discs if your notebook doesn't come with them)

 

You don't necessarily even need to reload. If you or a friend has a desktop that has two sata ports, you can just clone the original drive to the SSD.

I use a piece of software called copywipe for this.

 

I wouldn't clone a HDD to a SSD... Could cause problems...

 

If I wouldn't want to clone it, what would I want to do then?

 

I would do as v3loc1ty2.0 suggested. If you don't own a Windows 7 disc, I would download the RTM from here. Download the x64 bit .iso version. Burn the image on a blank DVD and then swap the SSD in. Just make sure you follow that guide on the link I gave you.

 

I absolutely advise a clean install also FTW!

 

Don't clone mechanical drive -> SSD. You should do a fresh install.

 

Personally I did a clone. First clone it with windows 7 included backup. Use a windows disk to do an inplaced upgrade. clean the extra files and do a backup. Secure erase the drive and load the new backup. You are done, all default widows 7 tweaks etc.

Just be sure first your HDD is partition aligned for a SSD. If it isn't the hastles are way more than the clean install.

Now clean install is the most competent way as it is essentially the most fool proof method. It is recomended by everyone including myself as you have no idea of the persons skill levels on the other keyboard.

So in all I'd recommend a clean install too. You have to decide if a clone though is out of reach............

 

Listen to him, cloning from hdd to ssd can cause misaligned ssd, hurts performance and maybe life of ssd. Fresh install, get your key and you can use it on same computer without buying windows key.

 

And Tan answered just as I was But they both are right.