Installing WinXP on new HD drive - best strategy

[Rique]

Hi all, a little help.


A-I am having a S.M.A.R.T Hard disk-1 problem, so I am reaplacing it. I also have another Sata 200GB I used exclusively for light video and music editing which demands a bit of performance.
B-I have replaced HDs before, but using DOS (long time ago)
C-Now, as I understand it, at least with my new WD4000KD (Western Digital Caviar 400GB, 7200, 16MB) it comes with its own application called "data lifeguard tools," to format and partition the new drive.

I am trying to Imagine how to go about formatting the HD, then do the minimum to get the computer working w/o any major problems.

1- Turn computer off
2- Remove old system Drive (once I do this, I won't have Windows anymore)
3- Install new Sata WD Drive. Turn computer on
4- I am not sure what to do here. (what comes first here the chicken or the egg?) I would like to use the WD Format/partition Utility "Data Lifeguard Tools" to format the HD but to do this I would need to have WinXP installed on the drive (Correct?).

Please advice how to proceed here. I suspect I will have to boot up from WinXP on my CD drive. Once I do this, I will have to install WinXP on the new C drive and partition it as well (Correct?). And if I remember correctly... you can partition and format the logical drives wit

 

[INeedCache]

You would not need to have Windows running to use the Data Lifeguard Tools provided you have the bootable DOS-based version. However, I would simply use the Windows install disk to partition and format. You don't really need the WD tools disk to format or install Windows.

 

[Rique]

Thank you for your feedback.

Yeah, I guess, the best thing is to DO IT and we'll see what happens.