Installing new Windows 10 to SSD with HDD as storage

[kyle279]

Hi,
My custom gaming PC is currently running Windows 7 Ultimate on a 1TB HDD and I have a 500GB SSD installed also. It takes a long time to start-up so I'm looking to download and install Windows 10 onto the SSD and keep the HDD for storage. I'd use the SSD for some more detailed games as well, I already have one game installed on it.
Does anyone have any advice on how to go about doing this?
Should I install Microsoft Office onto the SSD or the HDD?
Other than gaming, I use the computer for work and for storing photos, but have a laptop that I use too so it's not my primary device. I have a 1TB external hard-drive that I can backup the photos and some game files onto but it's not big enough to do a full clone of the PC. Work files are largely on my laptop or already backed up so they aren't a problem.
There are plenty of guides around but I'm still slightly confused about it as the SSD is already fully installed and operational and I'm both changing OS and putting it on a different drive so it would be good to know what needs backed up.
Even if someone has a link to a particular guide that fits, it would be super helpful.
Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

From the SSD, copy any personal docs off that, to some other drive.

From the HDD, the same.

Since you'll be starting from a blank OS, do a little prep work to make the transition easier:
Document all your username/passwords
Find all the drivers for your hardware, and save them on a USB stick
Document any other hardware setting you might have.

Disconnect all drives except the SSD
Boot from your Win 7 install media, and do a clean install on that SSD
During the install, delete all partitions on that SSD, and let Windows create what it needs.

After the install, then install all your hardware drivers. GPU, LAN, fancy mouse/keyboard, whatever.
Then you reconnect the HDD, and delete all the partitions on it. Not just "format", but actually delete the partitions. Leaving one blank space.

Now you can start to install your applications.
Given a 500GB SSD, that will hold the OS and almost certainly ALL your applications.
Even a game or two.
Steam games, you can designate whichever drive you want the games to install on.
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder