I have two hard drives on my computer. The master drive is only 15G. My second drive that I use as extra space for downloading is 40G, so I want to make it the master drive because I'm always battling to maintain enough space on the 15G drive. How difficult is it to switch drives? My understanding of computers is basic, so I need detailed instructions. Thanks. Any replies would be appreciated.

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You don't necessarily have to do anything regarding making the second drive master.

If you need more space on C, you can un-install some programs and re-install them on the other drive, or move some of the data that isn't programs to the other drive, or delete or un-install (don't delete what you can un-install - that causes problems) some of the data on the C partiton you are not using, or burn some of the data to CDs or DVDs and delete the data you copied from the drive, etc., etc.

You DO NOT have to install most programs on C!
- if you choose the Custom install option or similar instead of Express or whatever the no-brainer default is, and/or choose a location other than C where the program is installed, it will install a little bit on C and most of the program on the other partition.

That's especially space saving if you try to install most installations that take up a lot more hard drive space to other partitions.

First off, you don't need to change drives just to download to the 40GB. All you need to do is change the download path. Next time you try to download something look at where it will download to. That is the path. You can chnge it by using the browse function. I suggest you create a folder and name it whatever you wish. You can create additional subfolders while in that folder. It will look pretty much like your My Documents folder now looks if you wish.

Conversely, you could reinstall any software that YOU have purchased and installed. Because you have a Compaq computer moving Windows to the second drive can get complicated and I am not sure you have the skill to perform that task. If I didn't make the method of how to change the download path then post back and I will attempt to elaborate.

"Because you have a Compaq computer moving Windows to the second drive can get complicated and I am not sure you have the skill to perform that task."

If the original Compaq software installation is still on the first drive, all brand name system software installations make two partitions on the original hard drive - sometimes you can see the second partition on that drive in Windows but are warned not to mess with it whenever you try to access it, or Windows won't let you access it at all, sometimes it is hidden from you seeing it at all.
The second partition contains data that allows you to restore the original contents of C using a single Recovery CD that Compaq either provided when you bought the computer, or that you make in Windows using a Compaq supplied program to make it while Windows is working fine. If you add or delete or alter the contents of the second partition, or delete the partition, you can't restore the original contents of C using a single Recovery CD. In that case you can only restore the original contents of C and the second partition with a set of Recovery CDs, that you either you made in Windows using a Compaq supplied program to make it while Windows is working fine when the contents of the original second partition was intact, or that you order from Compaq and have shipped to you, if it is still available for your model.

So - if you want to be able to restore the original Compaq software installation in the future......
You could clone the contents of the original drive to the second drive if the original drive still has the original second partition data on it, but it will wipe out any data presently on the second drive.
E.g. I know the current version of MaxBlast on the Seagate site can do that with minimal instruction needed from me about how to use it, but at least one hard drive on the computer must be Maxtor or Seagate.
Or you could use the proper set of Recovery Disks to load what is now the second drive with all the original software, but it will not have all data added by you after you got the computer, unless you then copy it from the other drive, and install all the programs you installed on the other drive that you want to keep using.
Then you could delete the partitions on the first drive, make one or more partitions and format them, and use it as a place to store some of your data.
You could then change the jumpering on the drives and/or possibly which data cable connector they are connected to, or you can just change which hard drive model is booted from in some bioses, so that the computer boots Windows from what is presently the second drive.

You could move your 'My Documents' folder to the other drive. It usually eats up a lot of disk space. Window's system folders can be moved by using Tweakui. Check the 'My Computer > Special folders' section.