prepping a new build for install

[incomsquadron]

Ok so i finally have my new pc built and will be doing an install of aftermarket windows 7 (non-oem). After working with the folks here its ovious that i cant just do an image transfer to my new rig. heres my 2 questions:
1.) would downloading all the available drivers for my mobo and optical drive to a usb stick be the best approach? and along with that what else should i prepare in advance before cannibalizing my old rig for its primary HDD and ram?
2.) if an image wont work, can i still save all the documents i want to carry over on the 2nd HDD and just plug that in after install ( same version of microsoft office and everything so it should read the data no problem i think.) also since downloading all my games and software via internetis painfully slow, could i just transfer the game files the same way i plan to transfer the documents? or would the different hardware screw with that too?

 

[ss202sl]

Games would have to be reloaded, so unless you have the install files for the games, then the games won't work. Your documents(data) can and should be backed up and moved to the new computer.