sunny marky wrote:
> I need to install a new hard disk in my Dell notebook. I have a new Windows
> XP CD and need some help on how to install it . I donot have the drivers CD
> with my notebook so should I copy them from my file/ folders and install
> when the XP is installed or how else can I do it? Would I be able to download
> from Dell website once I installed Xp and connect to the internet?
>
> I would appreciate some advice because I have never done this before, can
> anyone give me any tips and is it fairly simple to do this. Thanks
>
> Mark
>
If you have the service tag, you can download all the drivers, (and
should) from Dell.

But an easier way to change drives is to get a trial copy of Acronis
True Image Home http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/
this or Seagate's Disk Wizard
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/sup...ads/discwizard
The latter is just the Acronis program, maybe trimmed down a bit.

You also need an external USB drive enclosure that will accommodate your
drive either SATA or IDE. Plug the drive into the enclosure, hook it
up to windows and go into drive manager and partition and format it.

Either of these software programs or some 'disk clone' software will
probably have you make a bootable CD, and allow you to clone the current
C: drive (or multiple partitions) on your current laptop onto the USB
drive. You will be prompted to turn off everything and then you
install the external drive internally and boot up as normal. Nothing
lost or changed, but you have a new drive.

Done it about 8 times now, works like a charm.

When done you can use the external USB for backup using the old drive.
If you like the program and want to continue using it to make backups of
your system onto the USB drive, you can buy Acronis at NewEgg on sale
once in a while. Look around.

HTH Al.