doing a full install of XP

[d3mcfadden]

can someone please let me know if this will work. i recently installed windows xp professional, but i did not do a full install because i did not want have to back up all the files on my comp ( bad mistake) and now it is giving me alot of problems. i recently bought a new hard drive that i am going to install so i have 2 HDs. is it possible to just install the second one as a slave and do a full install of XP on it and then transfer all the contents (just move the whole C folder over) of the old hard disk to the new one -do a full insallation of xp on the old one and then move all the files back to the primary hard drive with out tons of problems and have all the same settings and everything unchanged?

[devinemi83]

I believe that to boot up Windows has to be on the master Hard disk. The best way would probably be to configure yourt old drive as slave first then install the new master,boot from the XP cd install fully onto your new drive and just transfer anything you may need. To make the other drive more stable, move all your valuable files off onto your master disc, format the slave and allow XP to format it again as NTFS,No windows on it at all, just the most stable file system ever based on windows technology.

After your slave drive is up and running simply send all of those files you want back to the disc.

Its better that way in my opinion since nothing else would be on the disc,not only is a bad installl gone, but also you free up 1 gig or more of real estate.

[Greg12]

I would make the second HDD a primary on the second IDE ribbon if possible.