Install Windows 7 without affecting other HDD

[hhhd1]

I have a computer with 2 connected HDDs, one with windows 8.1, and one empty.
I need to install windows 7 on the empty drive, without touching the drive of windows8.1.

How can it be done without having to disconnect the windows 8.1 drive?

Is there a way to force dismount the win8.1 drive within the 1st steps of the setup ?

 

[Elixer]

Disable the drive in BIOS.

 

[hhhd1]

Disable the drive in BIOS.

It is not possible on the laptop's bios, it has very limited functionality.

 

[Dahak]

You could possibly un-assign the drive letter through the diskpart utility during setup (hit Shift-F10 for command prompt). I am not sure that would work or not.

But the safest way would be to remove the drive

 

[JackMDS]

Not really sure but may be you can use this software to temporary neutralize the 8.1 Boot and then reinstate it again.

Dual-boot with anything you could want - - http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

 

[Mushkins]

I second just disconnecting the drive physically. If you leave it in, the installer might try to write boot data to the second drive and fubar your current install. Better safe than sorry.

 

[SimMike2]

Many notebooks with two hard drives have one in the external expansion bay. Can you just remove the drive and put it back when the install is done?

 

[Ketchup]

If it were me, I would physically disconnect it.

 

[Steltek]

Definitely disconnect it. Win7's installer is so retarded that you are just asking for trouble if you don't.

 

[Matt1970]

I would trust nothing short of disconnecting the drive. I saw XP installer once format a secondary drive on it's own.

 

[jkauff]

How do you plan to switch between OSs? Does you BIOS allow you to choose which drive to boot from? If not, you'll have to install a boot manager on one of the drives unless you go with something like Acronis OS Selector, which loads after your BIOS and before Windows starts. That's what I would recommend, based on my experience dual-booting 8.1 and 7. You have zero chance of messing up your boot files on either drive.

 

[silicon]

disconnecting the drive is best as other have mentioned. The risk is having the installer mess up the boot sector.

 

[hhhd1]

Thanks for the replies,

You have confirmed my fears, i was trying to avoid having to unscrew few screws.