Hi there jzarli,
How did you make the back ups? Have you use some back up tool, simply copy paste, or something else?
As for installing Win 7 to your new SDD, you will need a bootable CD or flash drive with Win. After that, you can boot from it and install the OS onto the SSD. (you need to physically attach/install the SSD)
Let me know how this goes,
D_Know_WD