How Do I Install Windows XP On New Hard Drive On A Computer If Old One Is Bad.?

It is easy if you have the XP CD, which you should. First open the computer and replace the defective hard drive with the new one. There is a small rectangular plug on the new hard drive. It should be set for either MASTER or CS. If it is set to SLA or SLAVE then move the plug to CS. When installing the drive you will see a wide flat ribbon cable and a 4 pin plug that has red, yellow and black wires going to it. This is the Power Supply plug and plugs into the hard drive in only one way. It is not too hard to install so apply pressure but DON'T force it. The ribbon cable has one ribbon painted red. Be sure the red ribbon lead faces the power supply. It is easy to put on so do not force it, either. Tighten the hard drive down and put your computer back together. Install the wall outlet and have your XP disk ready.
     Turn the machine on and immediately put the XP CD in the CD/DVD drive. The machine will go through its POST check and end with PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD... Hit any key and XP will begin to install. After the first set of files are installed on the CD, XP will ask if you want to do a new installation on the hard drive. Choose Yes and choose C: The whole hard drive. Choose NTFS format. Now go have lunch while Windows does its installation thing. When you check on the computer again, it may ask you a few questions before completing the Windows installation. Be sure to have your product code with you. It is usually on the side or bottom of the computer and is 25 characters long. You are done.
     GOOD LUCK.