How Do I Separate Win7 OS To A Seperate Partition?

[Struzinski]

Basically, I only have one partition on my computer (C that includes everything: data, operating system, programs, etc. What I'm looking to do is make a separate partition with JUST my operating system in order to clone it to my solid state drive on my home-built computer. I'll recover all my data separately, but I want to make an ISO file of my operating system to install on my new SSD. However, I can't seem to figure out how to partition my HDD to include JUST the operating system to copy onto my SSD. I'm doing this so I don't have to make a 500GB ISO with ALL of my stuff on it. Games, music, programs, porn, etc. do not need to be included in a recovery partition.

Also, how much space should I allocate in the new partition before I throw my OS onto it? All help would be appreciated.

I've searched far and wide for help on this, but all tutorials I watch have the OS already separated when they transfer it to a new hard drive Nobody seems to go a bit more in-depth with how they separated the OS from the rest of their stuff.

 

[office politics]

Nobody seems to go a bit more in-depth with how they separated the OS from the rest of their stuff.

i dont think most ppl would try to do this. the windows install you are trying to move has customizations inside it that are tailored to that specific instance. If you separated the OS from the user data and programs, then i would expect errors to occur later down the road. My recommendation would be to install a fresh windows on the ssd. Afterwards, you could run sysprep and create a disk image with clonezilla to reduce the time to install windows.

however, one way to separate the os from the user data would be to create backup and restore jobs with directory excludions.

Back up your files - Microsoft Windows Help

 

[Struzinski]

i dont think most ppl would try to do this. the windows install you are trying to move has customizations inside it that are tailored to that specific instance. If you separated the OS from the user data and programs, then i would expect errors to occur later down the road. My recommendation would be to install a fresh windows on the ssd. Afterwards, you could run sysprep and create a disk image with clonezilla to reduce the time to install windows.

however, one way to separate the os from the user data would be to create backup and restore jobs with directory excludions.

Back up your files - Microsoft Windows Help

But that's just it. HOW would I do a fresh OS install on the new SSD without a hard copy and product key of Windows 7?

 

[office politics]

some vendors have software preloaded to create recovery media. i would check for this first.

you could use a pc audit software to find your windows key.

or contact microsoft

How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs, and replace product manuals

quoted:

Replacements for damaged, defective, or lost Microsoft software or hardware
To request replacement hardware or software, contact the Microsoft Supplemental Parts team at the appropriate contact number that is provided in the "Contact Information" section. You must be in possession of the product (if it is damaged or defective) and be able to provide proof of purchase. The customer service representative will advise you of any replacement costs or shipping and handling fees that may be charged. If a product is no longer under warranty, the replacement item may no longer be available