is it hard to take the failed HDD out and make the other the master? and right beofre i got kicked off i put some documents on the slave will i be able to get those when i install windows on it?

Being a custom build you will lack the help of a manual but we can help you thru it.

First you need to find out how the case opens. Then you probably do not even need to move the drives themselves; just change the ribbon/cable & the jumpers.

You should be able to create a partition on the Maxtor just for XP. So that previous data can be retained.

ok let me look into my onptions and see what i want to do but thanks for the help so far

Glad to help!

Maxtor has a great online video tutorial on setting up their drives. I will dig it up for you & post it later.

It is really a simple process.

Here is the Maxtor tutorial:

http://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/m...p?p_faqid=1171

As you will see it is quite an easy process.

Let us know if we can help.

so is it just a matter of take the wires and all that from the failed one to the good one?

For the first step I would take the cable end from the WD & put it into the Maxtor leaving the WD disconnected at this time (also remove the power connection from WD).

Make sure that the Maxtor jumpers are set to either Cable Select or Master (see the above tutorial).

At this point you can install XP onto the Maxtor. As far as the partitioning look at the tutorial for MaxBlast & post back any questions.

After you get XP onto the Maxtor you can reconnect the WD as slave if you want to retrieve data.

i know its been a little while since but...
whats cable select because its already set to that and is it nessisary to disconnect the wd but anyway right now the wd doesnt hasve a shunt in it what does trhis mean and how would i be able to set it up as a slave with out one?