General

ah thank you for all your help everyone

[quote=firedannyX] being away from home, wont have access to my other computer, but i do have an external hardrive with me, would it be fine if i copy it over to that, then on to the SSD?[/quote]

It's a bit more complicated than just copying the files.
You also have to copy the boot sectors and directory information from the old disk so the new disk will be an exact copy of the old disk, and be able to boot Windows.
The process is called "cloning" the disk, or "imaging" it.
Essentially the cloning/imaging software copies the disk sector-by-sector from the old disk to the new disk without even looking at the files. When it's done, the new disk will look exactly like the old disk and all the files will be in the same places they are now on the old disk. It makes a complete duplicate of the old disk.

It looks like the kit linked above by SoulXIV would be exactly what you need to install the SSD using just a single computer.
It comes with a cable that lets you plug the new SSD drive into a USB port, then the software clones the entire old hard drive to the SSD.
Then you just take out the hard drive and plug in the SSD and it should boot right up.

The reviews are almost all very positive, and Amazon has the kit available Used for $18.70 also.
Probably the best solution for what you want to do.

Corsair cloning kit is pretty useful, it's on Amazon for $20 right now.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-2-5-Inch-Solid-Cloning-CSSD-UPGRADEKIT/dp/B00CI8MT9W/

@BobR: being away from home, wont have access to my other computer, but i do have an external hardrive with me, would it be fine if i copy it over to that, then on to the SSD?

[quote=firedannyX] if my system files are on the hdd, how do i transfer it over to a ssd?[/quote]

If you have access to a separate computer you could slave both the old system drive from your laptop and the new SSD to it and image copy the old drive to the new drive.
That would copy everything and make the SSD bootable in the laptop.
The only problem then would be whether Windows would still activate properly because it would detect the difference in the drives.
You should be able to re-activate it with your license key, unless it's some kind of limited OEM version.

Worst case, yes you might have to buy a new copy of Windows.

[quote=firedannyX]so my laptop's hdd is old and i figured i should replace it with a sdd
but now i have a problem, if my system files are on the hdd, how do i transfer it over to a ssd? if i do that will my files be corrupted?
if worst comes to worst, would i have to buy a new copy a windows to put it on the ssd? T_T[/quote]

If you need a lot of space on your laptop but still want faster boot times and having programs load faster, then consider a hybrid drive. If you want to spend more money, you could use a bigger hdd and replace your cd/dvd optical drive with an ssd or vice versa. You do not need to purchase a new copy of windows, the key is usually provided on the bottom of the laptop you purchased. Not sure why Burning would tell you you have to purchase a new license, you can reuse your key as much as you want, provided that it's only used for one installation at a time (legally, anyway).

Lol, back up everything and install your os on the ssd? o-o..

[quote=firedannyX]if worst comes to worst, would i have to buy a new copy a windows to put it on the ssd? T_T[/quote]

Yes. I don't see the point of an SSD anyways.