Installing  hard drive on a computer system that runs on Windows XP requires somewhat different steps compared with newer versions of Windows. To help you carry out a disk-to-disk data transfer without any problem you need a cloning software program. A cloning software program creates a mirror of your old hard disk drive.

Software programs like Acronis True Image and Norton Ghost are two cloning tools I've found useful over the years. True Image creates a bootable disk on installation.  To clone hard disk drives on a desktop computer, you must connect the new hard drive to the motherboard.

Step1. Check the piece ''Simple Tips to Installing Hard Disk Drive'' to learn more on how to clone hard drives in laptop and desktop computer.

Step2. Windows XP does not have SATA driver, so the cloned SATA hard drive would not load when you attempt to boot. You must enable SATA controller from the System BIOS and load the driver before cloning. Failure to do this will render your system unbootable until you run repair installation. To run repair installation, you would need Windows installation disc and a disk containing the SATA driver. The SATA driver should be available for download at your motherboard manufacturer Web site.

Step2-1. Boot from the XP installation CD. In the process, you would be required to press the ‘F6' key to install the driver. Press the key. Next, you would be required to press the ‘S' key for the disk controller driver. Press the ‘S' key and insert the disk containing the SATA driver and follow the instructions.

Step2-2.You would first be prompted to repair the system, skip it and click on ENTER to setup Windows XP now.

Step5. At the end of the Windows XP setup installation, click on F8 when prompted. Windows will now continue. Select the second repair option and complete the installation. All your old data should be intact at this point.

Step6. When the installation is complete, update the operating system.