BleepingComputer.com: swap hard drive around

OS is winxp home edition. 2 hard drives.
master is 149gb samsung and slave is 38gn seagate.

slave drive only has backup files and no os. but is formated fat32

master drive is making slowing down and making noise. need to reinstall xp (have install disc).

need guidance for setting up present slave as master )know how to move jumpers)

do i install OS on present slave and then reverse jumpers?

do i reinstall present slave as master, resetting jumpers, install OS and then reinstall present Masters as slave and transfer files.

can i have 2 OS on master and slave?

IN SHORT.....NEED BEST SEQUENCE IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS AND TRANSFER DATA.

THANKS IN ADVANCE for any help

jostonboe

Get anything you want to save off of the slave [38GB seagate.]

Remove it from the unit & set the jumper to Master .

Remove the original Master & set the jumper eo Slave.

Install the 38GB Seagate on the cable in the posistion the original Master was in on the cable

Install the Slave

Now install XP on the "new" slave.

When the XP installation gets to the point that it shows the Fat32 partition follow the prompts to delete the partition & format it to NTFS.
Let XP install.

There is another option that will save you a lot of time.

Leave the drives as they are
Right click on the 38GB Seagate & format it to NTFS

Download XXClone

http://download.cnet.com/XXClone/3000-2242_4-10631864.html

Install it on the Master

Go here for instructions on using XXClone,

http://www.xxclone.com/ixcman00.htm

XXClone will copy your entire master to the slave & the computer will be as it was , no need to transfer files.
I do suggest uninstalling your anti-virus program before cloning.

Once the cloning is done switch them around for the master/slave .