Transfering Windows 7 to SSD from HDD on new laptop?

Since you don't need the old OS on E any longer, and Recovery partition won't run without it anyway, I would move the data off of it to wipe DISK0 of old boot code with Diskpart Clean Command, then repartition it as you desire in Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Create New

This may solve the problem with it interfering, although it could also have to do with how it is installed and the port it is plugged into. Often an SSD needs to be plugged into the SATA 1 port which it most likely is not if it's Disk1. I don't know how easy it woudl be to switch the HD's or if you'd even want to try. So try the easiest solution first to wipe the boot code from Disk0 that may be interfering.

If the SSD performance isn't perfect then you might want to reinstall following the steps you apparently ignored in the tutorial I provided to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Greg, I'll do that first thing tomorrow morning and get back to you.

Bigmac, the 500 gb hdd still has os on it too. Should I wipe the drive?

Greg, I'm going to wipe the 500 GB drive tonight following the diskpart clean command, i'll post back with results.

Do I need to "repartition it as you desire in Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Create New"? I only want to use the drive to store downloaded media and other folders of information.

I read up on partitions but am still not that familiar with them.

yes, you'll need at least one partition to store your data in. Just follow the steps in the blue link tutorials.

I am currently creating the primary partition, should I press "OK" and then right click on the unallocated drive to create new simple volume. I'm just being thorough, I don't want to get anything wrong

Follow the illustrated steps in Option One of Partition or Volume - Create New.

If you have a specific question about a step, let us know the number and what concerns you.

If you want a whole-disk partition then just use the default size that's given in the selection box, as illustrated with different numbers in Step 7:

My bad, I forgot to attach the photo.

I get the textbox prior to doing this step: 5. In the middle pane, right click on the empty unallocated partition or volume and click on New Simple Volume. (See screenshot above)

For some reason it wants you to Initialize the Disk before you can partition it. So go ahead and choose MBR disk which is all you need. Then create your partition(s) as desired.

Did you do anything besides format it? Normally a disk only needs Initializing when its new. After creating and full formatting (uncheck the Quick Format box) I would run a full Disk Check on it to check it out.

I successfully created a new partition and checked the disk, everything seems to be good.

The bootup/shutdown time is still not right so I guess I have to either do a clean reinstall on the SSD or try switching the SSD to the disk0 location. I think i'll try to switch it's location first. When I get home later today i'll open the laptop up and take some photos of how things are connected so that you can better assist me. If you think that rerouting the hard drives will be too difficult I will try the clean reinstall.

Will you be around later tonight?