HELP!!! Re-installing Windows onto a new Drive (SSD)

[Santac]

Hello all and thank you in advance for your help.

So 4 months ago, I build my very first computer. It is working awesome and is very good for gaming. I installed windows onto a standard, 1tb mechanical HDD. There was no SSD in this build. But, just yesterday, I bought an SSD. I bought it to install windows onto. But the only problem is... obviously... that windows is already installed onto my 1tb hard drive.

SO...

My question is: How can I re-install windows onto my new SSD without deleting any of my games/personal files on the HDD? (I have Windows 8.1 64 bit)

Here are my specs in case you need them:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cHhfjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cHhfjX/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($137.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($239.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Thermaltake Commander G41 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.89 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX229H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($129.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $919.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-05 17:42 EDT-0400

 

[shawn81]

There's no need to bother at all with the installation on the old HD. Just go to bios and reset your boot options to load from disc, select the proper drive to install it to and select that drive as well as your primary boot drive. Install windows and your chipset drivers/gpu drivers etc and you'll be good to go. The old HD will just have a copy of windows on it taking up space.

 

[USAFRet]

There's no need to bother at all with the installation on the old HD. Just go to bios and reset your boot options to load from disc, select the proper drive to install it to and select that drive as well as your primary boot drive. Install windows and your chipset drivers/gpu drivers etc and you'll be good to go. The old HD will just have a copy of windows on it taking up space.

And then reinstall all your applications to go with the new OS install.
Steam games can mostly be moved, via this:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

 

[shawn81]

Make sure your desktop shortcuts "Start in" and "Target" paths for non steam games correspond to the proper drive letter if you're going for OS/Main driver only type installations on the new HD. The drive letter as you know should change once you finish what you're doing.