Easiest way to transfer programs from SSD to HDD

Like the title says.

I built a budget computer about a year ago with 2 SSD's that totalled about 120GB and have quickly reached the limit.

I now have a TB HDD installed already but just wondering if anyone here knows an easy way to transfer programs (not just photos, music, etc.) It's mainly things like my Steam client and games attached to it. I don't want to uninstall and then just reinstall in fear of losing data.

I assume I'd have to create a disk image of my current drive? I mainly want my OS to run off the SSD's and everything else off the HDD.

I've searched and looked up a lot of different ways but just wondering what has worked for you guys in the past? Any programs that would make it easier?

 

In some cases, you can extract the registry entries from your exiting installation, then after reinstalling the program, execute the x.reg file and it will restore your original settings.

But... that doesn't always work, or it doesn't always pull all of the information because some info may be stored in the program folders.

Disk image might be the best way to go, but I'm not sure how you'll be able to get both images onto one drive, and your current boot code is configured for the SSD, so Windows might throw a fit.

 

Searching has lead me here.

Looks like its the easiest way without getting too technical. I might have a buddy look into it first before spending the money.

 

Also, moving programs is a generally bad idea since it can corrupt the registry.
you can use acronis/ghost/etc, but on occasion this can be problematic as well if the hardware changes too much. You are probably OK to do this since you are just doing hard drives and your drive configuration is not complicated.

The better setup is to leave programs and OS on the SSDs and move storage items to mechanical drives. This is the best speed benefit and use of your hard drive configuration.

 

Nah, this is no big deal at all, have done it a hundred times. Simply image the machine from one hard drive to the other. When you image a machine, EVERYTHING is copied, exactly as you left it. Complications only arise when changing HALs (going from say a single core to dual core processor). Acronis is good, I like ghost and macrium reflect. Macrium reflect has a free home version, works great, used it for exactly what you are doing 3x in the past couple of months.