Transferring data and install

[Coalchud]

So basically, I need to do a re install Windows and delete Windows on my current hard drive, kind of like a straight up wipe and reinstall of Windows, but I was wondering something. Could I possibly just take out my current hard drive, install
Windows on a new hard drive, and then put the old one back in, keeping all of my programs and installations? Would the newer hard drive serve as the hard drive in which my computer boots from, as well?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Programs, no. They're tied too deeply into the OS.

Files, yes.

You'd need to set your BIOS to boot from the new HDD.

 

[Coalchud]

Not a solution, just asking a little more. So basically if I had to install Windows on the blank hard drive, I would start up the computer with the blank hard drive, install Windows, then I assume do a system reboot and go to the bios and select the current hard drive(assuming I took the other one out) to start from, then reboot again and put in the old hard drive. I wouldn't have the programs themselves installed, but I would still have all the files, having to re install the programs?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Yup. But the files would be in odd-ish places, so it's generally best to copy them over to your new drive, then wipe the old drive and use it for bulk storage.