Very confused right now

Sabre978

Reputable
Oct 11, 2014
16
0
4,510
So I am about to build my own computer and I am taking my old HDD (which is dying) from my Prebuilt HP and transferring the files to a new HDD in the new build. So since it is Prebuilt I can't just take the old operating system from it. So I am going to get win8 on a DVD to put on my new pc. However, I am not sure how to go about applying it. Do I install it then move all my old files? I am somehow afraid that the cloning process will format my new HDD (with the newly bought windows 8) and erase the windows 8 I installed. I am just utterly confused and this has been troubling me all night as Well as made me very nervous about my upcoming build.
Sorry if this doesn't make any sense, kind of frantic.
 

Sabre978

Reputable
Oct 11, 2014
16
0
4,510
OK to simplify I basically want to get all my files and setting over but not the Operating system, as I am going to install that myself. And I am not sure whether to clone, image, or just drag and drop my files from the C: to my new drive.