Integrating an old HHD into a new rig.

Tricky loaded question that the answer is 'Depends". First the EASIEST solution is already built in (but will require a purchase), Windows Easy Transfer. This free tool was introduced with Vista, made a HELLLOT better in 7, but I am sure there has to be something in 8 that will walk you through IF there is changes to how it works.

Process: Boot your 1TB Green to WIndows 7 PC, plug in external 1TB+ Drive (A additional purchase if you don't have one laying around) OR Boot your Win 8 Machine over your network (most people can 'see' all their computers at home on the same 'router' some can't all 'depends'). Click Orb and type Windows Easy Transfer, you will see it in the menu appear. Run it and select "this is my old computer", follow the Wizard to either Save to External or Across the Network as applies to your situation. If your across the network, start Windows 8, look up Windows Easy Transfer, and select "this is my new PC" and follow the wizard for across the network (usually it picks it up automatically), which will have you type a code you see on the Win7 Screen into Win 8 Screen and wait a bit. If your restoring fromt he drive you would select the option on Win8 to restore from the external hard drive instead.

Now here are the Caveats: After a reboot in on W8 when it is done, your desktop as you SEE IT (background, where your icons are, etc.) SHOULD appear similiar (we are talking different User Interfaces, so ....) and your files (My Docs, Music, etc.) will all appear. Games/Programs are IFFY! Usually if you had reinstalled ALL the programs on Win8, then Windows Easy Transfer, they line up pretty well and usually work okay (same save point, etc.). I have found for Games though the best solution is either a 'clean' install of the game on your W8 and just 'start over' OR if you get your games via online (STEAM for example) there is forum notes on the process to 'move my games to a different hard drive' you can look up on the forums there. As for CAD, Office or otherwise best to always CLEAN install, always has hiccups down the line, especially with the NUMEROUS differences in how Win8 handles things as compared to Win7

Nice idea as much as putting the 1TB WDGreen into a USB 3.0 Shell Case and use it that way to. But I think he is 'expecting' that all the software (Games, applications, etc.) would work by just 'finding and clicking them' that way, which DOES NOT WORK in your method. There is alot of files spread all over a hard drive for every application, because they inter-depend on Window's files to 'fill in the gaps' then packaging everything into 'one simple directory to run out of'. This is more true as W8 does things EVEN MORE DIFFERENTLY, so you can't just dig down to Word click on it and expect it to run with your solution, much less BF4 or such.

As I mentioned in my post, most games (because of the way they DEPEND on STEAM to 'run' and ensure no one is pirating the software) downloaded 'over-the-wire' setup files / functioning files are in a special directory that you can 'move around' but ALWAYS requires several steps to 'fool' the software (STEAM, etc.) that it is 'reinstalling' the game, when it is just putting all those 'little things' where they belong somewhere in the Hard Drive (as I mentioned before).