Replacing hard drive with Program Files

[ShayTheRogue]

Hi, my hard drive that is holding my 2 program files folders (Program Files, Program Files x86) is showing a low health warning. I want to replace this drive and I'm wondering if I can just copy all the content to the new drive, remove the dying one and change the drive letter of the new one to the old one without messing things up.

My setup looks like this:

C: Drive (120 SSD with Windows 8.1) Small drive that's why my program files are not installed there.
D: Drive (2TB HDD for Games)
P: Drive (1TB HDD Program files Folders and other stuff) This is the drive I want to replace.

Also what would be the best free method to copy the files?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Emerald]

you cannot copy the content of the drive but you will need to clone the old drive to a new one. Once you disconnect the old one and start booting of the new one, the system will show up the same way then when you booted of the old drive.

 

[ShayTheRogue]

you cannot copy the content of the drive but you will need to clone the old drive to a new one. Once you disconnect the old one and start booting of the new one, the system will show up the same way then when you booted of the old drive.

I'm not replacing the drive that has the OS on it, what do you mean "booting of the new one"?