Dumb Question on Upgrading Storage Drive

[CapnCrunch53]

This is probably a stupid question, but I just want to check myself and make sure I don't go and do something dumb, since usually when I upgrade a drive I do a fresh install of everything. Should be a pretty simple answer I figure. Here's my setup: I have Windows 7 installed onto a 60GB solid state drive. I've got a 500GB hard drive that I keep some files on, and have a bunch of programs installed to as well (Steam, other games, and whatnot). I've bought a brand new 1TB drive that I want to replace the 500GB with.

Here's my question. Since I don't have to worry about moving a Windows installation, can I format the new drive, copy the files from the old drive to it, remove the old drive, and change the drive letter, and have everything work? Obviously random files and whatnot will be fine; programs are what I'm worried about. Is there more going on behind the scenes that Windows keeps track of, and do I need to use Ghost to image the old drive instead?

Prolly a dumb question I know, but wanted to make sure and everything I find is about either migrating a Windows install or moving programs onto a new machine.

 

[patrickdk]

I wouldn't do that, normally your loose permission settings and ownership rights, and while MOST things will be fine with that, some things won't be.

I would clone it, then after it's cloned, or during the clone, resize it to what you want.

 

[CapnCrunch53]

Fair enough, that is what I will do. Thanks!

EDIT: Thought I'd just update real quick, I used Acronis True Image WD Edition to copy the drive and it worked great. It let me increase the partition size to fit my drive which I didn't realize I could do. Only thing I had to do when it was done was reset my page file settings. Thanks for the advice!