Help on migrating Win 7 Pro to SSD

[TaskMaster]

Congratulations to all the geeks and responders that make this forum so valuable!
I have been trying to absorb a lot of the postings about moving the OS to SSD, to the extent that may brain is overloaded with 'how tos' and 'gotchas'.
I am still confused with moving/relocating user profiles/user libraries.
I particularly want to be able to do a system image backup that will not include any of the user files.
This is probably pretty straight forward, but I'm having trouble grasping the concept.
Can anyone point the way please?

 

[AddRAM]

If you`re not transferring your files, what`s the point of using an image. Personally, I would not transfer a HDD image to a SSD. I would do a clean install.

Windows takes a mere 15 minutes to install.

 

[TaskMaster]

I am planning to do a clean install onto the SSD.
Right now Win 7 on my HDD is really bloated with pictures, music, video, and other misc for 3 users.
I want to move or relocate all of it to a 2nd unused HDD before starting the install to the SSD.
I have read that imaging the C drive causes the system to want to include all system files, that would include
the users libraries.
I think I would prefer to break that link and backup the data files with a different method.
I would like to have a restorable system image that wouldn't disturb any non-system files.

 

[gregrocker]

Easiest is to sort your files into the standard User folders you create on the HD: Documents, Pics, Music, Favorites, Downloads, Videos, etc... If you have an OS already on the HD you can shrink its partition to make a new Data partition for this, later delete the OS or other partitions and resize into the space or create new partitions as you wish. http://partitionwizard.com/video-help/moveresizepartition/moveresizepartition.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

Install to SSD with HD unplugged.

Next right click on each created User storage folder to add to the related http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/585-library-include-folder.html.

Leave the empty C user folder in Library so you can see if anything writes there and drag it to the User folder on storage drive in the same Library window.

Another method which stores, backs up to the cloud and syncs all your devices at once is here: http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...re-your-files-cloud-skydrive.html#post2269172