Help: Delete OS Without Deleting Programs?

[Edpotts]

Hello all!

I was wondering if anyone could help me with this problem:

 

     I have a 500GB WD Blue and a new Crucial MX100 512GB SSD. I installed windows 8.1 on the SSD (forgetting to unplug the hard drive as Linus suggests, but that's not the problem) and I had Windows 7 on the hard drive. My question is: Is there any way to remove Windows 7 without removing my programs (Steam, etc.)? I have over 100GB in Steam games and I'd like to not have to reinstall all of them/lose my progress. I know I can just create a shortcut to Steam but I want to remove the OS. Should I just individually delete files?

 

Thanks!

[AlwaysFSX]

Well, yeah you can delete the files. Just boot from the ssd, access the hdd, delete what's Windows.

[Mojo-Jojo]

Most programs install references and other settings to the Registry. They'll break if you don't reinstall them after an OS upgrade.

 

That having been said, I'm almost certain that Steam is one of those applications that don't break and can be stored anywhere and reused between OS installs.

 

At least Game files you can simply copy over into the new Steam diroctory after you reinstall that. It even includes a simple to use backup/restore functionality as well.

[JAKEBAB]

just copy the steam game files over to your ssd then format your hdd then reinstall steam on your hdd then put the game files back in the steam directory on your hdd.

[ManIkWeet]

You can just create a new game folder in steam, and point it to the folder on your harddrive...

Yes delete all other programs as they are likely to be broken

[Edpotts]

Thanks for the help guys! I'll just copy the game files over to the ssd and format my hard drive.