I have just bought a used 80 gig,7200mb,8mb cache Maxtor(fat32). I have a WD 80 gig 7200mb,2mb drive with XP installed(NTFS), I have 1 partition to separate my files and programs. I know that windows will run faster on the new one with the 8mb cache. Is it possible to install windows on the new drive and not lose my other files. If I install XP on the new drive and hook my old one as a slave, what will my previous installation of windows do? I have read a little about it, but I really have never installed 2 hard drives on the same computer. I just do not want to lose my files, as my old hard drive is almost full. Any ideas will help! Thanks G

Hello, It's ok to install WinXP on your new HD, jus make sure u set your old drive as slave an the new drive as master on the same IDE cable. From my experience your files on your old hard drive should be ok jus as long as u dont format that partition where u have all your important files on. Also when u install XP be careful read through everything. Good Luck!

there is a way to copy the whole hard drvie if you set the new one as slaveyou could do a ghost copy than format the original and then set the original as slave.

I don't know if a ghost copy will work with having the hard drives different file systems. fat32/ntfs I could be wrong, but maybe someone else can comment on that.

I want to convert the new one to ntfs also. ...so windows(old installation) will not go apes---e as long as I set it as a slave? I just do not have the extra free time since I work out of state most of the time. I would back it all up, but.... If I don't have to.. then I would use my time for something fulfilling, like sitting on the couch for a minute or two for once.(HEHEH) My run on sentence skills are no less than astounding! anyway.... So only format the new drive and wait until xp installs, then go back and install the old(existing) hard drive as a slave after this step is complete? Does this sound right? My hard drive should not lose the existing data if I understand correctly. Thanks for your help. Please let me know if I am not getting it. I do drive a short bus sometimes....so... yeah thats about it Thanks G.