My First Time With An Ssd-only Pc. I Have A Few Questions.befo

Before I ask my questions, I am fully aware that MS support for Windows 7 has ended but I love Windows 7 and intend to continue using it with Total AV as protection along with CCleaner and Superantispyware.

My first question related to partitioning. I know things are different with SSD but how do I partition my big 500GB SSD so I can continue using the pre-installed Windows 10 but also have my Windows 7.
Is it true what I have heard about NOT using any type of Defrag program with SSD?
Having been using HDD PC's for over 15 years, is there anything I need to about my soon-to-be-delivered new PC so I get the best possible operation with SSD.

500GB SSD - 16GB RAM - Core i5-2400 CPU

 

Not quite sure about your partitioning question. Are you saying you currently have one 500GB SSD that is set up with a single partition and has Windows 10 installed on it, and you want to partition it and put Windows 7 on the second partition? There are ways to do that, but then you effectively cut your disk space in 1/2 (or whatever sizes you divide it into). FTR, I don't normally recommend partitioning SSDs because, in general, the more space the OS has, the better it is at keeping the SSD optimizes.

CCleaner - a great program - but is not a security program.

Windows 7 - also a great program - really does need to go away. The problem is not your security, but the risk your computer may become compromised without your knowledge then used as threats against the rest of us. Since MS is no longer supporting it, there is no guarantee any security application can continue to protect it. And if compromised, the system may be used to distribute spam, malware or as a zombie in a bot army for DDoS attacks against company or government networks - again, without the user even knowing the system has been compromised.

If your dislike of Windows 10 is the new user interface, I don't blame you. That's why I use and recommend Start10 which brings back the familiar W7 Start menu and desktop and for just a one-time cost of $5 for a lifetime license, it is well worth it. It has a decent 30-day trial period too, if still unsure. This is, IMO, the best W10 start button alternative.
Open-Shell is another option and is totally free.

Having been around awhile (since before Windows), it is my experience to NOT like new versions of the operating system when they come out. But after giving it a fair chance and time to get used to it, it soon becomes intuitive and then I like it very much. The exception was Windows 8 - but then pretty much everyone felt that way.

As for defragging SSDs, you don't have to worry about it. All modern versions of Windows can properly identify SSDs and automatically will NOT defrag them. Instead, Windows will properly "optimize" the SSD with TRIM and wear leveling features that are used to extend the life of the SSD. So you don't need any 3rd party defragging or disk optimization tools.

 

When you partition a disk (SSD or HDD) with Windows 10 installed on that disk, and you install an older version of Windows (8.x, 7, Vista, XP) you'll have to reinstall/repair Windows 10.
Or you could repair the bootloader with EasyBCD - not recommended for the inexperienced.

 

The best way is to have Windows 7 already installed first and -then- partition and install Windows 10.

 

Doesn't really matter here since it will be a new computer with W10 already installed.

 

That's why this one can't be done the best way. Somebody going to partition a new pc may also not be adverse to buying a 49.00$ ssd and using their copy of '7 to do a smaller ssd the way they want and then adding their win 10. We have no way of knowing. At least they have now more than a 'NO' answer.

 

Nobody said "NO" before so not sure the purpose of such implication. For the record, I specifically said, "there are ways to do that" and Eldon specifically noted a precaution and noted how to resolve it. Nobody said it cannot be done.

So at least before, they got "applicable" answers. While neither maybe pretty, there are no pretty solutions when starting with a single partition that already has W10 installed on it from the factory. Possibly complicating it further is the likelihood the motherboard is using UEFI. While setting up a dual-boot drive with UEFI normally is a seamless operation, W7 will be forced into UEFI legacy mode. Again, normally not a problem, but when problems do arise, they can be more difficult to resolve.

And for the record, I have found setting up a dual boot system just as easy, if not easier when W10 was installed first. I have seen nothing that says the best way is to have W7 installed first. Got a link?

I have, however, seen many source say when dual booting with W10 and Linux, that it goes more smoothly when W10 is installed first. I have added Linux to several systems with W10 and that was fairly painless. I have never tried to add W10 to a Linux system so I cannot speak to that.

But for sure, before attempting to do any re-partitioning and installing a 2nd OS, back up any data you don't want to loose. And since it is likely no W10 installation disk was provided with the new computer, be sure to create the necessary disks to install/restore W10 before starting.

As a side but related note, I will say that, IMO, the best way to share data between two operating systems is to have a third partition to store the data and then set up each OS to have access to that 3rd partition. Setting up the partitions can be done with Windows' own Disk Management applet, or with a 3rd party partitioning program.

 

This is a response to those 3 words only. And I've seen it state on many more sites if you want more. Scroll down to the first green high-lighted text box.

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/dual-boot-windows-7-and-windows-10.html

I didn't say anyone here posted 'bad' info. Don't try so hard to make it seem so!

 

Why not install Windows 7 in a virtual machine in Windows 10? I have done this , and it works well.
Basically you can use both , without concern. You can make the virtual machine to a size to suit your needs, and it will be that little bit more secure-you just make snapshots of it running correctly, and if it gets compromised, you can just go back to that checkpoint, and all is well.
As Windows 7 will, no doubt , be harder to secure, as time goes by, I think its a bit of extra help in protecting your computer.
I use Oracle virtual box- https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/virtualbox.html

 

I have '7 in a virtual machine on one of the '10 machines here. When my wife uses it it's on Win 10 and runs forever. When I use it, I start the '7 VM right off.
I'm running it under VMWare, another free, easy virtual machine software.
I do have her '10 set up with one of the shell programs mentioned earlier and it so close to the '7 look she had before that she doesn't even realize it's different. Give one a try.

 

Thanks for that link. I actually found another link that also recommends installing W7 first - though it does not say why. As I said above, I've not had problems when W10 was already installed. However, in my case that is anecdotal. That said, W10 is already on the OPs system.

And here you go again implying something was said when it wasn't. Just as no one said "NO", I never said or implied you said anything about "bad info".

I agree. This is, IMO, the better solution if someone still needs to use W7 on a W10 system. However, I still believe the best solution is to just take the time to get used to W10. It is human nature to prefer the status quo and not like change. However, we are also very good at adapting. W10 really is an excellent OS. It is more secure than any previous version of Windows, and as noted earlier, is easy to make it look and feel just like W7 if the UI is the issue.

I also note W10 has come a long way since it first came out nearly 4 years ago. Its security started out good and only got better. Microsoft heard the cries about telemetry concerns and gave us control (and monitoring ability) over it. Plus, and this is important, the hard ware industry has embraced W10. Computers with DDR4, for example, come out of standby (sleep) modes much faster with W10 and DDR4.

I'm just saying, give W10 a fair chance.

 

There is one more option, get a removable drive bay. Google
StarTech S251BU31REM StarTech.com Hot Swap Hard Drive Bay - Black Aluminum - 2.5" SSD HDD - for 5.25 / 3.5" Bay - SATA Backplane - Hard Drive Rack
It is a sata 2.5" drive bay, then you can have many hard drives with as many OSes as you want. You'll need to buy an extra case - Amazon & CDW has them. I have 2 of the same Dells - one at home and one at work so I pull the drive and carry it to and from, but I could load other OSes too. Very useful.

 

The reason is Win7 doesn't know about Win10. But Win10 knows about Win7. And this also applies to other older/newer Windows OS combinations.

This is a tower case the OP is getting. The easiest is to buy a second SSD and select which drive to boot from.

 

Yes, I understand that. I am just saying I did not have problems either way.

 

You have many years experience, that's something one cannot learn at the best university.

 

As I noted, my experience here is anecdotal. I have done this, but not that many times to consider myself an expert at it.

But to your point, also as noted, I didn't have any problems that I needed to draw upon my experience. Now whether that mean my experience allowed me to avoid problems in the first place or not, I don't know.

Personally, I am not a fan of dual boot systems unless (1) done by an experienced enthusiasts who (2) understands the need for, and (3) has a robust backup plan, and (4) who knows how to implement that plan.

And I am also not a fan of the continued use of W7 just as I was not a fan of the continued use of XP. W7 is 11 years old and no longer supported and W10 is now pushing 4 years old and is actively and aggressively being supported. IMO, it is time to just move on and get with the times. The hardware makers have. Program/application developers have. Users need to too.

 

Yes it did.

I merely gave you a compliment.
And it's reflected in your new rank...

 

Ah, thanks!

 

Another idea that goes along the lines of foogoo’s post Is the windows to go feature. Available in Win 8 and 10. I used the feature in ‘WintoUSB’. It’ here on ‘mg’ home page. It let me make a ‘to go’ usb from my win 7 machine. I can take it to any other pc and boot to ‘my’ win 7. My desktop. My programs. My stuff all the way around. And I have found that once booted I can remove the drive and still have functionality. It will also read other thumb drives to run programs and retrieve data. It’s easy to carry around your own pc. And since it takes only a usb drive, it’s a cheap, no harm done project to build.

Some of MS’s write ups says you have to have certain high priced certified usb’ to do it, I just used one of my almost empty non critical laying around thumb drives and it did just fine.

I did it with one of my drives that was almost just original Win 7 so the product wasn’t too large. Just put the things that you really want ‘7 for on it.

 

For the OP...I would say get ready for the shock of the speed that comes with the SSD. For me on a laptop, I slowly found myself wanting to test out software like browser extensions and I also found myself wanting to keep the system squeaky clean and neat. Because of the speed, I added apps I wouldn't have used before like Kindle for PC and Evernote (and the browser extension). Then I set up a really neat folder arrangement for evernote clips from the internet and pdfs for Kindle and a nice file backup sync. I have found I am really enjoying the speed now and the flexibility of being easily able to work with files. I really feel like I can now collect info from the net efficiently. The speed of SSD was quite shocking at first I must say. BTW, if you are new to USB 3.0, your system may have that too. It's extra speed also...

 

I tried the win2usb with Windows 8.1- But it was so slow starting up, that I discarded it.
My next revamp will be with just Windows 10, and Virtual drives with W7 Ultimate, and Windows 8.1 -I can then play to my hearts content.
Triple boot that I have on this tb hard drive is ok, but I have gradually come to think that running virtual machines within the ltest Windows version is safer, and easier-I can test programs in them, and discard if I want by not saving,and it does'nt overload the main W10.
What I have found , is that by saving the virtual machine as a virtual hard drive, means I can re-load my old Virtual machines, in a new system.