Simpler OS transition?
Simpler OS transition?
There isn't a way to move just the operating system while keeping installed apps and games. You'll need to reinstall Windows on your new drive. Apps from the old drive will also require reinstallation, though some may create shortcuts instead. You won't retain the same integration features like the start menu or file associations. Games should remain unaffected. With Steam, you can add your old drive to the library so it recognizes the games. Other game clients might support this too. After installing Windows on the new drive, you can remove files from the old drive if you no longer need them.
Only cloning makes sense. Simply copying won't work... Or try a new install and risk losing your files. You might refresh the system, set up Steam and other players like Blizzard/Epic, point their installation directories to the old hard drive, and after a short time your libraries will be restored online without needing to download everything again. The launchers just verify the installation process.