A question before my Win8 install...

[SkyBum]

I'm currently using a 120Gb SSD for my current Win7 install and have most of my utility programs installed to a conventional secondary HD.

I'm assuming that those programs on the HD (as well as the 770gb of steam installs....sigh) will be toast after the Win8 install, and that I should probably just delete the programs/x86 folders and re-install the applications from scratch after the new OS installation?
Sorry, never encountered this situation before having an SSD....

Edit: Also, the disc I have is win8 pro 64. I intend to upgrade that to 8.1 . Are there any things I should be aware of as far as avoiding any problems during this process?

 

[Berryracer]

yes, you're right, the programs all need to be reinstalled so they will have the correct registry entries

 

[corkyg]

If you do a direct upgrade, you won't have to reinstall anything. I would try that first - and if all is well, leave it. If not, then you can do the clean install and reinstall, etc., etc.

 

[CRCSUX]

Steam will be fine as ive done the same a few times. As for the others you can try them.

 

[denis280]

If you do a direct upgrade, you won't have to reinstall anything. I would try that first - and if all is well, leave it. If not, then you can do the clean install and reinstall, etc., etc.

+1

 

[flexy]

I *DID* an upgrade from a Win7 machine with a zillion programs installed.

It worked for almost everything except that I needed to get rid of some unsigned modded Audigy drivers, Perfectdisk defragger and Demon Tools. ALL OTHER STUFF has without a problem made it to 8 and then to 8.1

Are there any things I should be aware of as far as avoiding any problems during this process?

Yes! Make sure you update your Win7 install so it's current with Win7 updates BEFORE you install 8...and I also recommend a backup, just in case. Otherwise I do not see a reason to install fresh, UNLESS on new hardware. (Which I didn't do, I simply upgraded this machine from Win7 -> 8 -> 8.1)

It took a while (because first going to 8 and then to 8.1) but still better than wasting days reinstalling all the software. It was very cool booting into the new 8.1 system with my familiar desktop, Kaspersky etc. all installed already and pretty much anything like I had before.