Using data off an old hard drive

[Matty]

Hi. I have just purchased a new windows XP system but I
would like to install the hard drive from my old win 98
system to the new PC as a second hard drive. There is a
lot of data and files on the old drive that I need..The
old drive also has the old win98 operating system on it
as well. If I just plug the old drive into the spare bay
on the new PC will win XP be able to read the files on
it. I've installed and replaced drives in the past with
no problems but have not installed an extra one which
already has another operating system on it. Are there any
precautions I need to take. Will I have to initialize the
new drive on WINxp to make XP use it and if so how do I
do this without reformatting it. Are there any other
precautions I need to take with the old operating system
still being on the old disc. I really appreciate any help
anyone can give me on this. Sorry for the long question.

Thanks loads

 

[root]

Hi. I have just purchased a new windows XP system but I
would like to install the hard drive from my old win 98
system to the new PC as a second hard drive.

Just jumper it correctly and plug it in.

There is a
lot of data and files on the old drive that I need..The
old drive also has the old win98 operating system on it
as well. If I just plug the old drive into the spare bay
on the new PC will win XP be able to read the files on
it.
Yep.

I've installed and replaced drives in the past with
no problems but have not installed an extra one which
already has another operating system on it. Are there any
precautions I need to take.

Just make sure you don't attach it as primary master or it'll boot and run
instead of XP.