Pointing an SSD boot drive to an old Windows 7 install

So, I've been meaning to get an SSD for a while. I snagged a cheap 250GB 850 Evo last week and I'm going to install it today. What I'm going to do is a disconnect my old HDD temporarily and do a clean install of Windows 7 on the SSD. My question is, can I just point the new Windows 7 install to the directories on my old HDD, like to my user folder and to my documents and pictures, etc? If so, how would I go about doing this?

You can right click on any of the "Libraries" folder in your Windows Explorer and change folder location properties of them. I've never done this before so I am can't be sure that will do exactly what you want, but it's probably a good place to start Googling from.

OP, your install method sounds fine.

If you'd rather not fool with Libraries, most of the new profile's user folders (e.g., Desktop, Documents...) can be moved. Once both drives are hooked up, go to Properties\Location per folder, click Move & point to the HD. This will NOT blast any existing files, unless you copy from the SSD & OK a conflict. IOW, you'd have to try.

That Overclock.net guide seems complete overkill to me.

Leave the libraries alone. Just right-click on each of the folders like Desktop, Docs, Pics, Music and Downloads (Location and Move are the key words to look for) and you will be fine.
A better approach would be to copy all your data you want to another drive and nuke the current HDD to get rid of the OS. Move data back afterwards.

Point well taken, Lost-Benji. I realized that leaving the mechanical drive as is would be sort of self-defeating, especially when I have a 1TB external drive hanging around.