Got it up and running, installing software now. Didn't remember it taking this long 
Had a little bit of a problem with the HD, discovered I hadn't seated it properly, got that fixed and every thing is going good. Trying to find some software that will allow me to copy my existing HD and move it all over.
As MrRipley said, cloning your operating system would be a bad idea. I assume, though, that you've already installed the OS since you say you're installing software now. There's programs for transferring installed software, but I'd prefer installing every program from scratch, too.
As for copying your files from the old disk to the new one, Rip's idea of plugging the old hdd to the new computer is the easiest solution. No need to seat it properly, a "hanging mount" as they called it at nerd school will do.
Hint: Do the copying in Safe Mode, there'd be less hassle with ownership and other processes.
Hint2: Before removing the old hdd from the old computer, remove your login password and make your files visible for all users if you have them protected. Otherwise you might see your profile folder showing as empty in the new rig. A bootable Linux CD/DVD can also be used for copying without NTFS protection interfering the process.
A good program to ensure everything gets copied is
Unstoppable Copier by Roadkil, available both as standalone and install version. In case something is broken and thus can't be copied, the program simply informs about it and continues with the next file until the batch is done. Especially with XP and older OS'es a corrupted file was a PITA, it would simply end the copy process in the middle of nowhere, without no idea what has been copied and what not, not even telling which file caused the stop. 7 and 8 do a little better job, allowing to bypass a problematic file. Yet I still rely more on the Unstoppable Copier.
