How do I install new Hard Drive?

I own a HP Compaq and it is still under warranty so when I started having problems with it I called HP and they walked me thru some tests and determined that I had a problem with my hard drive. So Now I have a new one that I need to install. I don't want to have to reinstall all of my programs. I am on dial-up and I would be forever redoing all of the updates ext.
So my question is how do I transfer all of my data onto the new Hard drive?
I have 2 hard drives can I take out the one that is used as a back-up and use that slot to install the new one and transfer my files or what do you all suggest I do?


Here is some info on my PC.
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation

System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model HP Compaq dc7100 CMT(DX438AV)
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1 GenuineIntel ~3593 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1 GenuineIntel ~3593 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard 786C1 v01.05, 6/16/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-215"


Total Physical Memory 1,024.50 MB
Available Physical Memory 489.25 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 2.39 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

 

Plug in the new HDD on the same cable as the existing HDD, or if there is no connector available, get a cable and connect it.

Make sure it's visible in the BIOS and is accessable.

Use a cloning tool to clone the HDD.

 

I have Norton ghost but I have never used it. Can it be used as a cloning tool? I don't no very much about this at all so please give newbie responses please.
I have two drives. Picture might help.

 

norton ghost works great, i would probably recommend using it, it is a bootable disk and if im not mistaken you can do a hard drive clone thru the boot disc, however if you ever need to do a windows repair on the machine your windows disc will not recognize the partition as a windows installation after using ghost, which seems to be the only downside

 

Here's a link to Ghost's online manual. Chapter 12 Copying Drives will walk you through the steps. If you got a utility disk with your new HD, I could give you the steps to setting things up that way.

http://www.symantec.com/region/reg_eu/techsupp/home_homeoffice/products/ghost/nghost_10/manuals.html

In your case, yes, you would temporarily remove the back-up drive and set it aside while setting up and transferring files to the new HD. Once the new HD had your OS installed and files copied from the faulty drive you would discard the bad drive and put the backup drive in its original position as slave.