How to transfer HDD OS to SSD? OS only. or better yet, how to uninstall OS without removing everything?

Disconnect all drives. Install the SSD on the sata_0 port. Install the new OS. Be sure to switch the boot order in the bios to boot from SSD. Reconnect all remaining drives. You should now have access to the data on the old drive. When you are sure all is OK, delete the windows folder from the old drive.

You will need to reinstall all your programs.

If u need only OS then it will be better fresh install....

Leave only the SSD connected, do an OS install.. after finish and everything running (driver / essential are installed)

u can conect the old HDD and retrieve the old data u needed... (just make sure in BIOS it set to boot from SSD)...

after all necessery data is backup -ed/moved/retrieved u can safely format old OS partition in the old HDD....

but some apps/game may need to be re-installed since they tied with OS..

You will probably need at least a 128GB SSD for all of those programs and your OS. I have a 128GB and i'm using about 70GB with my OS, BF3, Adobe Lightroom and all necessary drivers.

You don't have to format your old drive, but you do have to reinstall your programs. You may be able to get away with installing steam, then copy over the steam folder tree from the old drive, but I've never tried it.

Even with new OS sometimes old windows folder (or windows related) is protected... (cannot be deleted)
u can delete it by change the security setting/take ownership but it easier to just format it ...

some games can be moved without need to reinstalled just move the folder, dunno about steam games..... (not much exp with it)

1) Recommended - Clean Install. Can Do a Migrate OS + Programs to a SSD. Need a Program that will:
.. Move system Partition to SSD.
.. Resize "C" partition on SSD as Partition On HDD is probably too large, even for the 128 gig SSD.
.. Properly align partition for a SSD (most HDDs are not properly aligned), enable TRIM and disable defrag
.. Transfer only OS + selected programs
Program I use is EZ-Gig-IV, cost about $19 from Newegg - Cost is for the SATA -> USB cable (Program is Free from Ez-gig, but does require the specific USB adaptor cable - Handy anyway.
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812161004

Not aboves posts are correct, for Clean Install you must disconnect all HDDs - If you do NOT the System (boot) partition will be on HDD and cause problems down stream.
NOTE: Not mentioned above - MUST also verify that BIOS is set to AHCI NOT IDE mode. If IDE change to AHCI.

PS More later.

Your old documents will still be there, but not tied to the new OS. If you are using win7, you should be able to add those old folders into your library or just copy the files over to the new "documents" folder.

not sure much but i had one friend comp with old vista folder (windows, doc and setting, old program files folder, etc..) that cannot be removed without messing with the security setting (hard work)... He now using win7

u can always leave the folder there, it will not have effect with new os.. (but the old win folder is an eyesore for me , so I'm remove it for him)

edit:

+1, forgot about this

AHCI is required for the SSD to be able to use the TRIM function and also provides some other advanced features.

1) If you do a clean Install. YOU will be able to boot to either the HDD or the SSD Until you decide to delete "old "OS".

First with HDDs disconnected, bios set to AHCI, instasl windows when everything is working then Re-Connect HDDs. When powerin up go to BIOS and set boot priority to the SSD.

With Most systems you simply need to hit the "Hot Key" that brings up a boot menu. NOTE this does NOT change BIOS boot priority. On My gigabyte MB it is F12 and on my Asrock MB it is F11.

For any reason you need to boot to the Old HDD OS. Then hit the Hot key during post and select the HDD. Say a week, or a month, you decide you NO LONGER need the HDD OS then you can ditch it.

On Size a little expaination:
Installment plan: Breaking my post up
Part 1:
SSD size, Yes plan on a 128 gig SSD, 64 gigs is just too small anymore. Explain.
.. With a 64 gig SSD your maximum usable space is about 48 Gigs. All my systems with a typical install Plus programs is approx. 35 gigs – NO Games installed and space saving tweaks applied.
.. For a starter when you format the 64 gig SSD you end-up with 60 gigs. Then you should leave a Min of 20 % FREE (Unused), This is to allow Wear leveling, Garbage Collector (GC), and TRIM to work their magic to keep the SSD running at Manuf specs. NOTE: Recommended free space use to be 10% but recent articles show that it should be 20->25% unused.
Tweaks that I use to save space:
1). Disable Hibernation. This saves SSD space equal to 75->100% of Ram. If you have 8 gigs ram saves approx. 6->8 gigs
2). Manage your Page file (virtual Memory/swap file). For an 8 gig Ram system, set BOTH min and Max to 1024 mbs. Saves about 11 gigs of space on SSD. NOTE: Should you ever get a “out-of-memory error” – NO BIGGY, just go in and up Min and max (BOTH) to 2048 mbs
3). Manage the space that System Restore folder takes. Windows will set up to 10% of SSD for this. Each restore point takes 300 mbs – Just 20 Restore points = 6 Gigs. Set max space to 1.5 gigs which will retain last 5 restore points.
Personally I just disable restore point and use windows GREAT back-up app which will create a system Image of your SSD and put it on the HDD. You can Use the repair/restore using image to return your system to the EXACT state it was in when you made the Image. Takes about 10->15 mins and NO: Re-install windows, wait for updates; No reload drivers; no re-install programs. ONLY need to re-install changes made AFTER image was created.

ON SSD recommendations. They are sometimes listed based on performance - FORGET that. Most all "good" Sata III SSDs perform almost identically, that is you will NOT see a nickels (5 cents) worth of difference in day-2-day performance. Then there is the listing based on Cost - Would be great if they factored in Reliability and LEAST user problems.

Bottom Line is look for Reliability and least user problems.
Based on this My recommendations are:
Crucial M4, Plextor M5, Samsung 830 (Hard to find), and Samsung's new 840 Pro.
.. Which one, the ONE that cost the LEAST - Normally the 840 Pro is the Best but cost more and In real life does not perform much better than the others I've listed.
The Samsung 840 (NON-Pro) would be the cheapest, but if only $10 (your equivalant) diff between the M4 or Plextor M5 then select the curcial M4 or Plextor M5.
PS I have all the ones I've recommended except the Plextor and the Samsung 840 Non-pro.

There is a "FREEBE" program (EasyUS) that does what the Ez-Gig app does. I've used it.
http://apcmag.com/how-to-transfer-your-os-to-your-new-ssd-drive.htm
Another method is first set-up your HDD (resize partition, correct IDE/AHCI if IDE was used to Install OS onto HDD.
If you want more on this then I'll do Part 2 - LOLs

Actually OS is better on SSD, since Os will have frequent background process this will helped much more by ssd than a games/apps ...

SSD will die over time, but it not soon enough to worried about with normal usage (except defective one)..
we may already replace it with newer drive before the SSD die.

my win7 x64 (+apps, no hibernation, moved swapfiles) using about 30gig of space