replace crashed laptop hard drive I have full XP OS but need to know what will happen when I put in new drive?

Question

My laptop hardrive crashed completely after many attempts to get it to reboot. Using my XP disk ,I wanted to go into safe mode but can't get past the "starting windows" screen. It's dead and I have a new drive on the way next week.
Can I install the new drive and afterwords install the XP software? There is no working drive to clone so this is all going to be done from scratch. Is there anything I should do ahead of time? I have experience on PC's swapping good drives for better, but a fully crashed one and on a laptop is new for me.
Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

One thing you will definitely need is the Systems Drivers. If you don't have a driver CD for your sys, get your S/N# & go to your manufacturer's web site/support/driver downloads & download the needed drivers, to be installed after you load your OS. If it is a Dell look for your Service Tag # & use it. Dell site is relatively easy to use, but download each driver separately into a folder before you burn a copy of your needed drivers. I have used the Dell site many times but could not get Drivers to load properly from a combined .ZIP file.

Answer 2

in case you lost the CDs yet registered your homestead windows XP with Microsoft and activated it precise, you're able to purchase a CD in simple terms from Microsoft and use your cutting-edge key for activation (some computers had the key imprinted on the "certificates of Authenticity" label on the computing gadget itself). Even borrowing a WinXP CD from somebody else will artwork in case you have your key (notice: some OEM discs will possibly no longer artwork based on the seller). in case you do not have the key and on no account registered with Microsoft, you could nicely be caught paying for homestead windows XP. you're able to be waiting to receive the drivers from the producer or use homestead windows replace, so as that may no longer as enormous of a deal.

Answer 3

No you will have to install the OS from scratch, but I'm afraid you have lost all your personal files