It took me way too long to figure out how to upgrade my computer's hard drive which is running Windows XP. Obviously, the upgrade should not involve having to reinstall everything from scratch. I found it difficult to find this information fast on the Internet so I am posting this best known method to help others in the future. By all means, if anyone sees a better way of doing this, post a response. Symantec Ghost works great, but the $70 cost is a bit steep for a one-time use. See this webpage entitled "Beginner's Guide: Cloning Windows XP" for the best method: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=418&page=1 Basically, use HDCLONE (free software) to copy one drive to another. Then use a free partition resizer utility to adjust the partition size. I used HDCLONE followed by a Linux Knoppix utility which was used to adjust partition sizes. The Knoppix utility can be reached by "sudo qtparted" at the terminal window. Avoid Intel Celeron CPUs, buy an AMD instead. Avoid Nokia, go Motorola instead.

most new hard drives come with software to copy the old hard drive to the new. or you can download it from the manufacturers support download website. but nice to know HDCLONE is also available.

You may get lucky and solve this for free and without snafus it may work, but I would back up your data anyway. (I'm sure you do that on a routine basis, though) Since you have now done this, just go ahead an reinstall Windows and the programs you use, search out and add the drivers for each litle component. Don't forget antivirus, AdAWare, Spybot, and then get all of the updates and run those. Then there's Service pack 2 and all of the Windows updates. Shouldn't take more than 3 or 4 hours, but you will get things exactly as you want. _______________________________________ I use Linspire and it is start to finish in 10 minutes , that's loading the office suite and all the applications. Surfing the net in 10 minutes from a blank hard drive. If I were a serious gamer, I would use Windows, but since I'm not, I use what works. A thought of reinstall and all that goes with it doesn't make me dread it. Good luck, and sorry for the shameless plug (www.linspire.com) You can avoid many of these Windows problems with Linux. Linspire eases the transition for new users

www, I tried the software that came with my drive first, but it would not boot on my motherboard. When it tried booting off CD, it would just hang. And yes, I did have the CD-ROM specified as the first boot device, followed by floppy. I even downloaded the Maxblast software from the website, but no good. It's either the software or my ASUS P4P8X mobo. GXI man, no need to reinstall Windows if I only upgraded the HD. HDCLONE copies from HD to HD sector by sector. Everything is copied exactly. USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS AND PAY ATTENTION WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN.