Internal and External HDD?

The old hard disk tells me its an old computer, perhaps before XP SP1a which was the first time you could format and read a disk over 133 gigs.

So you had better have the FULL edition of XP and it had better be SP1a or above. Check under your Control Panel, System Icon and see ifyou have at least SP1a, SP2 or SP3 on your computer (service packs). The basic Microsoft O/S disk is what is important, because if you only have the original release edition of XP Home or Professional you will not be able to read over 133 gigs of space on the new disk.

There is a way to update the older version, its called slipstreaming, but I think that is something you aren't ready to deal with - it is an extensive bit of work to slipstream an XP Operating Sytem Disk.

You cannot legally transfer the operating system, although you can buy Disk imaging software to do that...Symantec's Partition Magic 8 and Acronis True Image will do that. However, I would recommend that you do a full install of the operating system on the new hard disk and use your old one as a secondary drive. I am betting it is an IDE drive. I don't think they make 40 gig SATA's.

Since you have and IDE hard disk already, that tells me you will have to buy an IDE disk and not a SATA disk. IDE disks have jumpers that set the device to MASTER or SLAVE. Only One master/slave combination per IDE channel (usually there are two, called IDE0 and IDE1) on older motherboards. The first channel, or IDE0 is the one you want to install the new disk to as the PRIMARY device. You can have up to two IDE devices on each channel for a total of four IDE devices.

You set the MASTER or SLAVE condition with the jumper on the back of the hard disk. The hard disk should have a label on it telling you which pins to set the jumper to to make it a MASTER or SLAVE device.

The IDEO PRIMARY is the MASTER device, this will be your new hard disk. You can either use the old hard disk as an external hard disk or you can make it a SLAVE on the IDEO PRIMARY or you can make it a MASTER on IDE1. All ROM devices, (CD or DVD) should be SLAVES. THis is because they are much slower and will slow down access if set as Master.

To make your old hard disk an external device, you have to buy what is called an IDE to USB converter box. Cheap ones from China cost about $20 and are usually NO GOOD! You need to pay somewhere between $30 - $40 for a good one. It comes as a box with a small converter electronics board inside in the front of the box and has a 4 pin molex power adapter and the 20 pin data connector for the IDE ribbon. Make sure that when you pull the 40 Gig you take note of PIN1 on the ribbon (there should be a light red color on the ribbon, look carefully!). You will convert the internal IDE device into an external USB device using this converter kit.

Open up the converter box. Usually held closed with tiny screws or plastic clips or both. Open the slide in tray, if it has one. Otherwise, pull out the converter to slip your hard disk into the box. Pull the jumper from the back of the hard disk because USB devices are not jumpered. This is important or the device will NOT be seen as a USB device! So pull the little jumper out of the hard disk. Next, align the internal IDE ribbon adapter, Pin1 to the Pin1 side on the hard disk, insert the IDE adapter. Then, take the molex power adapter and insert it into the power plug on the hard disk, yellow wire facing to the outside. You may have to struggle a little bit to get the hard disk and the converter to go together by cramming extra wires tightly together, shut the box until the plastic retainer clips click in place and screw in any little screws. Attach the external power adapter and the external usb adapter into the back and you are done! Plug the power adapter into the wall and with the computer ON, at the desktop, insert the USB connector in a free USB port.

One thing! Make sure that you have USB 2.0 and don't get tricked by somebody into selling you and old USB 1.1 unless your computer is so old it has USB 1.1 only. A USB 2.0 box will not be recognized by USB 1.1 (even though they say it will, it will not be! - Trust me on this).

Well, that is how to do it.

You will have to reinstall the operating system onto the new hard disk. The old data will still be on the 40 gig when you boot it.

You can certainly use your old internal HDD as an external HDD. It is called a Hard Drive Enclosure. You can find them at most electronics/office places.

I am enclosing a link of a picture so that you know what you are looking for.

After you get the enclosure, just plug it into the computer (via USB) and it will open up as a removable device. To remove the contents, just right click on the removable device and format.

You can use the old drive as either internet or external. You will want to format it either way(that will remove the os and everything). If you choose to use it as external you will need to put it in an external enclosure for ata to usb.

Keep in mind you will need to reinstall windows and all your software on the new drive you buy. Also to format the old drive just put it in the computer after you install on the new one, and right click it in My Computer and format. Choose Quick Format or it will take awhile.

Yes, you would need to be a cage for the internal hard drive to make it an external hard drive. These range in price from $25-$50, I will recommend one below. Also check to see if the hard drive is SATA, IDE or something else, and ensure the cage supports the correct interface for that drive.

Here is the one that I use: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...

Again check to see the interface of the drive.

Hello,if you would like easiest way out just install both hard disks make 40GB one master HD and 160GB slave HD.

If you take out your 40GB HDD than you will need to install Os+Drivers+Softwares again on your PC plus you will need to buy USB casing for 40GB HDD so you may connect it to your Pc or any other PC.

Use the NEW HD as the master. It will be faster and more reliable. You can CLONE your old HD onto the new one to save you from reinstalling your OS.

u can use converter for that..just plug in to ur USB port..format hard disk ..all done..converter is just look like this..>>>>