Upgraded MB and CPU but can't start in start in safe mode

Would I connect the old hdd just as a secondary drive after setting up windows on the new one?

You can connect it as a second internal hdd or put it in an enclosure.

Just make sure you've copied out any files you want before doing anything drastic with it.

I'd just put it in an enclosure since it may take some time to figure out what files you need.
Then just connect the enclosure and copy that file then disconnect the unit.
That way there's minimum chance of over writing something.

Thanks for your help, I was wondering though if I did just buy windows 10 instead of 7 would I be fine to leave to old hdd as a secondary?, the old drive has windows 7 of it still.

with it being a new motherboard, if you are using the old win7 that came with your other motherboard, you do not have a genuine install. You will have to purchase a new operating system.

I get this, I'm wondering if it would be fine if I left windows 7 on the old hardrive, then got win10 on the new

since you failed to mention whether or not you are using oem/system builders, it needed to be mention since it makes a difference as to what version of os you can use and the answer to your question.

it would be best to format the old drive and recover all the space that windows is using if you want to use it for storage. Besides, if you are upgrading, microsoft license requires you to delete the old os completely.

You won't be able to boot from it and if it's always connected you run the risk of something happening to it before you get all the files you want copied out.

That's why I'd use an enclosure and just plug it in on an as needed basis until I was sure I had all the files I wanted.

Then I could just wipe the thing and use it for storage.
Internal or external would be your call.

So I have to wipe my old hardrive or buy an enclosure? I have all of my files and games on it, I can not boot windows from it as of the hardware upgrade, but from what I'm understanding, a enclosure will make it act like portable storage device no matter if windows is installed on it or not?

everything on the Old HDD , you should buy an enclosure for it and install a new HDD/SSD ,than your Old HDD in the enclosure will be an External HDD and you can copy/paste whatever you want on to the new one.
This is your safest bet.

I was beginning to think of my old hdd as dead to the world lol, I'll see if I can find a store that sells them near me because I would love to getalk this pc back to running asap, thanks everyone for your help.

to purchase an operating system .
You do understand this right ?

I wish I didn't have to but oh well, win 10 is only like $80, anyone know if I could just copy the win7 user file right into the win 10 user location?

Depends on what you mean with "user file".

It's something like c:/users/(this file, your username), the profile file

You can surely copy selected subfolders like My Documents, My Pictures and such, but that's all I would advice, unless you know what you're doing.
You might need to take ownership first if you get an "Access denied" error.

I asked, because it's not a file, but a folder. Quite something else.

You can mount the old hdd internal or external.
That's your call.
The only reason I was going external was for safety.

You can then copy off things like pics/docs..etc.

Do not expect to copy apps which I suspect your games are and have them function.
They will need to be reinstalled on the new hdd.

I live in bfe, can't even get cable out here, so my Internet as u can imagine is very slow, like 90kbps slow, haveing games sized at 30 and 40gb this would suck like crazy. I have copied some games steam folders to other pc's and been fine, hopefully they are OK otherwise, well I may not be on arma 3 for some time D:

I live in bfe, can't even get cable out here, so my Internet as u can imagine is very slow, like 90kbps slow, haveing games sized at 30 and 40gb this would suck like crazy. I have copied some games steam folders to other pc's and been fine, hopefully they are OK otherwise, well I may not be on arma 3 for some time D:

I live in bfe, can't even get cable out here, so my Internet as u can imagine is very slow, like 90kbps slow, haveing games sized at 30 and 40gb this would suck like crazy. I have copied some games steam folders to other pc's and been fine, hopefully they are OK otherwise, well I may not be on arma 3 for some time D:

I'll let u guys no how it goes hopefully tomorrow, drove around to 8 diferent stores today and was busy. I'll probably go to bestbuy then to micrometer if there is no windows at bestbuy tomorrow, don't want to wait for shipping or bother to get a key, idc if it is cheaper just want this over with asap

Got win 10 today, installed it on the new hdd, thenot turned off the pc, put the Satan cable back in the old, and all of the games are transferring fine and steam detects them fine, and runs them fine ! Idk why it posted my one replie like 3 times before lol, anyway all is good except steam is set to an odd resolution for some reason...