Install XP Home on new hard drive

[Guest]

My present configuration has XP Home on a 40GB HD with a 20GB slave (both
IDEs). I've run out of space on both and just purchased a 160 GB SATA drive.
I want to make this 160GB the master on the SATA channel and make the
existing 40 GB the slave after the DVD/CDROM on the IDE channel (eliminate
the 20GB).
Question: After I make the necessary hardware changes and cabling can I
reinstall XP Home on the new 160GB SATA? I've got the XP Install CD (Upgrade
I believe) and product key. Does it matter that the 40GB in the new
configuration will still have XP Home on it when I install XP Home on the
160GB. After the XP install I plan to transfer files over from the 40GB to
the 160 GB and then reformat the 40GB.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My present configuration has XP Home on a 40GB HD with a 20GB slave
(both IDEs). I've run out of space on both and just purchased a
160 GB SATA drive. I want to make this 160GB the master on the SATA
channel and make the existing 40 GB the slave after the DVD/CDROM
on the IDE channel (eliminate the 20GB).
Question: After I make the necessary hardware changes and cabling
can I reinstall XP Home on the new 160GB SATA? I've got the XP
Install CD (Upgrade I believe) and product key. Does it matter
that the 40GB in the new configuration will still have XP Home on
it when I install XP Home on the 160GB. After the XP install I
plan to transfer files over from the 40GB to the 160 GB and then
reformat the 40GB.

Two suggestions..

When you buy a retail hard disk drive - they usually come with utilities to
move your existing installation to the new drive. No reinstallation, etc -
may wish to look into that.

Otherwise - Backup all of your data NOW. Then, I suggest removing the old
drive completely. Using your Windows XP and application CDs to install
everything on your new drive like the old drive does not exist. Get
everything installed and updates - all the proper drivers installed, all
your applications installed and updated, all the Windows security updates
installed, antivirus, etc.. Then - install the old drive again and power
back up. Make sure both are seen in the BIOS first and then boot into
Windows XP.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My present configuration has XP Home on a 40GB HD with a 20GB slave
(both IDEs). I've run out of space on both and just purchased a 160
GB SATA drive. I want to make this 160GB the master on the SATA
channel and make the existing 40 GB the slave after the DVD/CDROM on
the IDE channel (eliminate the 20GB).
Question: After I make the necessary hardware changes and cabling
can I reinstall XP Home on the new 160GB SATA? I've got the XP
Install CD (Upgrade I believe) and product key. Does it matter that
the 40GB in the new configuration will still have XP Home on it when
I install XP Home on the 160GB. After the XP install I plan to
transfer files over from the 40GB to the 160 GB and then reformat the
40GB.

Technically you would have two XP installations, but your license permits
only one. But since your plan is to almost immediately format one of the
drives it's installed on, it's had to imagine anybody caring.