You might consider this route...  How important is the data currently on that 250GB drive that you have now?  Are you in a position to back that up before doing this:

* Replace the existing 1TB drive with the 250GB

* Install the original, factory supplied, HD into the second bay and your 1TB below it

* Use the Dell Recovery CD on the new machine to wipe and re-install the factory image to the 250GB

* Upgrade the factory image to Win7

* Wipe the factory supplied 1TB

I believe the Win7 upgrade DVD provided by Dell will look for a Dell OS image, it doesn't care the size of the HD that the OS is on, it is looking for the proper SKU of the image on the HD

Hope this helps!

-J

I should add...  If your current system is Vista, you can use the File and Settings migration wizard to move the data from it for restoration after you've installed it, wiped it, re-imaged it in the new system.  Then you can upgrade the OS to Win7.  Keep in mind that you'll have to re-install any applications from the old system in-between.  It's a great time to "retire" some apps that you may not use anymore to save some disk space.

-J

Dell doesn't supply an "Image" disk. They provide a Windows Reinstallation disk. After installing Windows from that disk, you'll have to install all the correct hardware drivers for: system utilities (if required), chipset (if required) followed in order by video, audio, network drivers, etc. So it would be a good idea to know exactly what hardware and drivers are installed before you begin.

Don't know if Dell still supplies a disk with the drivers, since they're available on line, so you might want to download what you need and burn them on a CD before you begin migrating.

Keep in mind that Dell typically doesn't supply disks for the software they install, and you can't download it, so you'll lose those apps.  And, you may want to run the system for a while before doing any mods, just to make sure everything works correctly from the factory. :emotion-5:

Ron

EDIT: I can't even spell my own name today! 

And another thing to consider is when you reformat the factory installed boot drive, after installing windows on another drive, you'll lose the Image Restore and Utitlities partitions.  Image Restore is the only way to reinstall Windows on that same drive without having to mess with drivers etc. Image Restore takes about 10 min and you won't lose any of Dell's pre-installed software - but you will lose all your personal files and any software you added.

 

re: "Don't know if Dell still supplies a disk with the drivers..."   for my 435t/9000 (and other Dells I have purchased), there is a disk included entitled "Dell Drivers and Utilities - Already installed on your computer", so that would be a great baseline, but I would still go to the Dell site to download the latest drivers. 

Also, if you set up an account with Dell.com, you can download the applications that came with your system three seperate times.  Once logged into your account, register your machine and you should be able to get to the link stating "Download Factory Installed Software (My Dell Downloads)".  As an example, I can re-download McAfee, Cyberlink, Roxio Creator, etc.

 

-J