What is the easiest way to get my images to a new computer and keep my Lightroom catalog intact?

I have 2 SSD's on my current laptop; SSD1 has Lightroom (and other programs), SSD2 has my Lightroom catalog and my images (imported/copied as DNG files with no XMP side cars). At some point I read this was the best way to optimize performance for Lightroom, so assuming this is true, I'd like to keep the same setup.

Years ago I did some reorganizing/upgrading storage drives and created a mess of my catalog and images. I had a large number of images that could not be found by Lightroom and I recall losing the edited settings on many of those. I thought this info got embedded into the DNG, but I apparently thought wrong.

I have a bit of PTSD from that situation so I could use some explicit instructions to get this done the right way.

I've done this and it's easy.

Copy the *parent* directory that contains the catalog and all the images to the new computer. IOW start the copy process high enough up the directory structure that the catalog and images are all copied in *one* copy operation from the old location to the new one. Once the copy is complete go to the *new* location and double-click on the LR catalog file. DO NOT click on the LR application shortcut nor application .exe. This will start LR and everything will be intact since the same *relative* directory relationship is maintained.

The catalog will have a name like:

Lightroom Catalog-2-v12.lrcat

If you're doing it as part of the migration from one machine to another, I'd do it like dangermoney explained. You'll probably be pulling over other apps and data, so just copy over your catalog as part of the process. Don't bother with SSD1. Just reinstall the app directly on the new machine. All "your" stuff lives in the catalog.

Like dangermoney said, copy from as far up the directory tree as you can and leave everything below that where it is. If there ends up being problems, they're easy to fix from there.

Does the new machine have a bigger and better SSD2? If it's a lateral move, there's always the option of just swapping the drive out of the old box. Give the old drive the same drive letter on the new laptop and LRC won't even know anything happened. That would be the easiest way.