Can I turn a boot drive into a data drive without losing existing data?

[maniac5999]

So, I've decided that based on how frequently I use my desktop vs. my netbook, I'd be better served with my SSD in the desktop, than in the lappy. However, my desktop currently has a 1TB drive, while my external backup drive is only 320gb. I have everything critical backed up, but I have a lot of relatively low value data (pictures, various kinds of movies :whiste: etc.)that I would prefer not to lose on the desktop HDD. I was wondering if there's an easy way to do a clean install of windows onto the SSD, and delete the OS from the old HDD, while maintaining all the other data on it?

 

[InfoTiger]

Yes, you don't need to do anything on HD.
Just install OS to SSD with the 1T HD unplugged.
Then reattach HD and use it as data drive.

 

[Elixer]

When you hook it back up to the machine, don't forget to set the boot order in BIOS, so it don't boot off the HD, and uses the SSD instead.
As for killing the old OS, just delete the windows folder, and the profile stuff (assuming vista/win7). You can even rewrite the bootblock, so it will never be a boot drive again if you wish.