I am about to install a new maxtor hard drive. * Maxtor DiamondMaxPlus D740X, ultra ata/133, 2mb cache, 60 gig, 7200 rpm ***Can I take out my old drive...install the new one...partition and format and all that stuff...and then ** Install the OS using my restore disks?? I am hoping that I won't have to either copy all from my old drive, OR buy a new OS. Thanks much, Matt.

If yo backed up your hard drive with Norton Ghost or something liek that, YES you can. It is the easiest way to install your stuff. Only drawback, is you will have to go through the system setup thingy, as all the components will be wrong, but that isn't really difficult. In fact it is easy. Just do it mate. Thats how they do it at computer factories, albeit on the same systems!

If you're talking about the restore disk that may have come with your computer or if it's an image created with Norton Ghost (very good product), there should be no reason why you can't just plug it in and go. Making sure all your jumpers are correct and your BIOS knows it's there. If it's a Ghost image you don't even need to partition or format the drive. A restore disk may be differant.

Just so I get this straight, I am wanting to have a completely fresh hard drive with no data at all from my current one...Just windows me, works, and all the other programs that come with a new comp...that were on mine when it was brand new. This norton ghost program...is that going to copy something from my current hard drive and copy it to the new one? I guess I am lost...and confused as to where this "ghost" image info is stored if I take out my hard drive and put in an empty one.. Sorry...lol ..if this is too much to explain or something, I understand, maybe someone could point me to an online resource so I could do some reading... or if you would care to type, I would appreciate it a lot. Thanks again, Matt.