Windows 10: Upgrade to Win10 on new SSD, keep old Win7 on HDD

Hi all,

I am currently running OEM Windows 7 on a HDD, and want to take advantage of the "free" upgrade to Windows 10 (I know it expired in 2016, but I read that you can still do it). Problem is, I have some programs that I still use that I don't have the keys for, so I'd like to keep Win7 just for running those programs. I was planning on getting a new SSD and doing a clean install of Win10 on it on the same computer. If I go ahead and install Win10 on the new SSD, would Win7 still work if I directed the BIOS to boot from the old HDD? I figured since the windows license is tied to the motherboard, either option (booting into Win7 or Win10) would work. Or does Microsoft somehow disable my Win7 once I install Win10?


Thanks

:)

 

Fresh install of Win10 to a new SSD after I already Upgraded to Win10 on an iffy HDD.

I can't seem to get an answer on this.

I did a free upgrade to Win10 Home from Win 7 Home Premium.

I used the Windows Media creator (USB) to install after it failed twice by normal upgrade.

I installed Win10 on a HDD that may be a little iffy, possibly why it took 3 tries.

I would like to do a fresh install of Win10 on a 500 GBs SSD, due to the shaky nature of the HDD.

I have the data backed up on a WD backup drive.

Due to the iffy condition of the old HDD, I don't think a recovery or clone options are an option.

I want to do a fresh install and re-install my programs on to the new SSD.

How do I go about this?

Running a Dell XPS Studio 7100, with Win7 pre-installed. Have a very old ( 2010 or 11) recovery backup on DVDs, but since Win10 is installed and working, I/d rather not go that way. Attempts to recreate Win7 recovery failed. (HDD problem???)

Any time I tax the HDD (Defrag, Spinrite, Dell Disk check) the machine locks up.

Tried to clone HD to SSD same thing, it locked up.

 

How will I know that the Win7 to Win10 upgrade is ready?

I bought a new, larger HDD and installed vanilla Win7 on it (call it "new-Win7-HDD"). I then performed Windows Updates until KB3035583 was installed. I then did the "Get Windows 10" exercise and was informed that my upgrade is now reserved and
I'll be notified when it's ready.

So I could have a working system while I wait, I pulled out new-Win7-HDD and substituted my old HDD (call it "old-Win7-HDD").

Question 1: How will I know it's time to switch back to new-Win7-HDD (so that the upgrade can be completed)?

Question 2: Would it be a good idea to uninstall KB3035583 from old-Win7-HDD so that the upgrade isn't done on the wrong HDD?

Notes:

When new-Win7-HDD is upgraded, call that "new-Win10-HDD".

Once I have new-Win10-HDD, I will retire old-Win7-HDD.

Once I have new-Win10-HDD, I plan to do whatever needs to be done to create a clean install, then wipe new-Win10-HDD and do a clean install <<<<---- COMMENT?

That's my plan, and those are my questions. (I couldn't find any existing article or forum post that specifically addressed Question 1.)

Thank You.

 

Needed: Instructions for setting-up multi-drive computer - SSD(OS) and HDD(Data) - for WIN10 install/upgrade and old WIN7 User(s) Account & File/Folder transfer

WIN10 system requirements has led to the upgrade of the family computers so I'm taking this opportunity to build a machine with SSD for OS/Programs and HDD for Data/Storage. My end goal is to keep the machine running efficiently with programs on SSD and
User Profiles, Documents, Photos, Music, etc. on HDD.

The new machine came with WIN10 on HDD. I added SSD and "cloned" over HDD. Now I need to start moving User Profiles, ... from old machine, but I've noticed Windows automatically builds "Users" on the C: drive. There is no "Location" tab in File Properties.
These threads usually start at the point of someone manipulating registries or CMD syntax midstream. I need to start at the beginning. Can someone point me to a guide?

First: Should I be attempting to set-up the file/folder structure on the new machine across SSD/HDD first within WIN10 and then conduct a massively painful "transfer" of old files/folders; or, should I "clone" my old WIN7 machine's slimmed down and backed-up
HDD onto the new machine and then "Upgrade" to WIN10?

Second: How to point OS/Programs to SSD and DATA to HDD?

I see four methods online, but like here, most are partial descriptions by more competent technicians:

1. Change the Registry

2. Change directory pointers in CMD prompt

3. Change "Properties - Locations"

4. Paste and Cut, possibly through Back-up and Restore. But I still need to figure out how to get the default User locations changed.

Thanks!