If you have the pre-SP2 version of XP Home, you can order a CD from Microsoft that contains SP2 updates here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
The CD is free but will have to pay for shipping. After that it's a matter of going to the update site and getting the later update files downloaded and installed. Or if you know of anyone that has downloaded SP2 and has it on a disk, you can use that as well.

Af for Firefox and Tbird...
http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/profile#backup explains how to backup/transfer your Firefox profile information.
http://www.mozilla.org/support/thunderbird/faq#q2.10 explains how to export/transfer your emails and profile information.

Hope that helps

Bummer Aufisch! Hope you get it worked out...I know what its like to get caught in that situation...but it looks like ama02 got the info you needed!

I went through this last month when upgrading my brother in law's laptop. It was a seven year old Compaq that was running Win98 with only 32MB of memory and a 3GB harddrive.

ama02 gave you some great tips.

Other stuff to consider or watch for...
I don't know what you have to work with or how old it is, but what I ran into was the computer not seeing the entire 'new' harddrive. I put in a 40GB drive and it only saw 16GB of it, so it had to be partitioned.

Depending on how old it is and how you access the HD to replace it, watch the ribbons for the mousepad.

And finally (I realize you may already know ALL of this, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating stuff you don't need to hear) make sure you have backed up all your drives...especially your cd-rom drive. Somehow, I had managed to lose mine and it became rather difficult when I went to install a fresh copy of Windows.

I ran into all kinds of little bugs, but it was my first time upgrading a notebook and one that was so old, but it all worked out. Good luck with yours!

Thanks a lot ama02 you're a champ. , although I was kind of hoping there was a way to also back up the 500+ Windows updates since SP2 , having SP2 is already a big help.

WebGizmos; Oh yes, I really don't look forward to spending almost a day on the computer just to get it back to normal... Big sigh!!!

Po, how does one back up a CD-drive? I have never heard of that. I just hope/assume that Sony made their Recovery discs in such a way that they will actually work from the internal cd-drive.

As for the HD; my notebook had a 40GB ATA100 5400rpm but I hope to put in a 80GB. The only thing I am not so sure is whether the new HD will use up more power and hence could cause problems.

I just had to install a new harddrive on my pc as well. For some reason my cd/dvd-drives weren't behaving, and then when I tried to reformat my pc it wouldn't let me. So I had to go oAut and get a new harddrive and reinstall everything all over again. And I still haven't gotten everything off the old harddrive yet. I'm really starting to hate pc's

Oh yeah...and I'm sure some people will disagree with this, but I found my pc behaved much better without SP2 on it. I installed it with the new harddrive because I figured new harddrive...new install...what could it hurt? But I soon found I didn't like how my machine handled after it was installed, and since I took it off I like it much better. JM2C

Another way to transfer all of your Firefox settings over:
Browse to C:\Documents and settings\username\application data\mozilla

Copy the whole Mozilla folder to you external drive, and on your new install just copy your old Mozilla folder over top of your new one, and everything will be there like you have it now. You will still have to install plug-ins (Flash, Shockwave, etc...) but all of your extensions, themes, and bookmarks will still be intact and working.

Obviously "username" is your account name. You will also have to have Hidden files and Folders set to show, or you won't be able to see the application data folder.

Good luck.

there is a very easy way to backup everythnig within firefox and thunderbird...use a program called MozBackup (Link) ..it doesn't backup your extensions by default, but you can set it to, and it has worked for all my extensions...it backs up everything you want it to, then restores after you have re-installed the programs

for xp, use autopatcher (
Link) .. you can downloaded one file that will update your xp installation, including SP2 and NET

You're recovery discs 'should' have all the drives you need, but as webgizmo said and I said, sometimes the unexplained does happen. You may want to go to the cd-rom's manufacturing site and download the drives for yours to keep seperate on a disk or external HD just in case.

MAXIMUMPC Magazine's PCTroubleshooting Issue Spring 2005 has great article on ceating a slipstream for XP. In the article it says you should be able to download a stand alone install of WinXP SP2 from downloads.microsoft>com, however, when I looked I could not find it. I believe when they went to that new updates platform where they verify your copy of windows, they stopped offering that download. The only one I could find of the complete SP2 was for IT pro's and has a warning that it is NOT for single computers.

If you go to windows security updates for XP, you can DL everything (On the page you will need to click "Next 45" to see them all) and save them to one folder and put them on a disc. here is a link for making a Slipstream CD you can put all those updates on...Link

One other note, incase you don't know...get yourself a T-8, T-10, and T-15 Torx driver. The T-8 was the hardest for me to find. I even went to BestBuy and Circuit City but they wanted $40 for an entire tool kit when all I needed was one tool. I finally found it at Home Depot of all places, but it was the only one. They have numerous manufacturer's and sizes, but that T-8 was a mother to locate.

and then when I tried to reformat my pc it wouldn't let me.

I went through the exact same thing. It seemed that the HD got damaged from this, or so corrupted it would not allow a reformat. I exchanged it for another one and instead of trying to format it an install windows I used my brother in-laws original recovery discs to format and install. Seeing it when it was done was a trip. It returned it to it's original factory settings with IE4 and a host of other programs that were seven years outdated.

You may also want to download a copy of IE6, depending on how old all your stuff is. His laptop discs had IE4 and I couldn't do updates of any kind until I installed IE6.

The only thing I am not so sure is whether the new HD will use up more power and hence could cause problems.

You should be fine. If my brother in-laws laptop could go from a 3GB to a 40GB HD. (The specs said I could get away with a 60GB)

ONE more thing...sorry but I still can't edit here....

This site helped me find the right HD, but also had a page that was specific to the laptop on how to install the HD and what to watch for (like the mouse pad ribbon I mentioned). You should or may find such info for yours.Link

best program for updates i found so far is at neowin.net itis called Autoupdater it made for someone in your sit. Your XP disk should have SP2 on it[depending on age]but autoupdater will have it also and every update[critical/non critical]but you must start with Dec. full and lite updater and then feb and then march.You can save the files to what ever location want [ie your exturnal HD].Then after your clean install open the files in order and in about 20 min. your comp is fully up to date {ps it also comes with a bunch of tweeks for XP which undo or not install if you want]And yes i have used it and i works great hope it helps[you may have to look around the site a little for it]

]And yes i have used it and i works great hope it helps[you may have to look around the site a little for it]

yes, try the link in #8 above

aufish, I recommend you go to the laptop manufacturer's web site and look for any BIOS updates and driver updates (chipset, audio, video, and networking) and then download and burn to disc (or copy to external hard drive). I recommend installing the BIOS update prior to swapping the hard drives. If the manufacturer offers upgrades for your model laptop, look for the maximum size hard drive upgrade offered. If they offer an 80 GB, you can be sure the power supply will accommodate your intended upgrade (though there really should not be a problem with the 80 GB upgrade). Normal procedure would be: 1 - Remove old drive (after backing up files and powering down computer). Note - pay attention to any adapter connected to the pins on the back of the drive (which may serve as both a connecting adapter to the motherboard bus adapter, and a drive jumper). If one exists, it will probably be connected in such a way that two or more of the "drive's" pins are left uncovered. This is the same way you will want to connect it to the new drive to allow the correct connection to the motherboard (so remove from old drive, and connect to new drive). 2 - Use a formatting utility to create a Primary partition on the drive by booting from either a floppy, or bootable CD with the utility program on it. You will need to use either a utility provided by the new drive manufacturer (recommended), a third party utility like Partition Magic, or perhaps FDisk if you have a floppy drive (either internal or external). The process is painless as long as you have one of the above utilities, and boot from the correct media device (Floppy or CD). Note - make sure you know how to get into the BIOS settings to set the correct boot sequence to allow the media device to first boot device. Once the program starts, it should be fairly intuitive to identify the drive (most likely the only one), and tell the program to create a "Primary" partition. The process in #2 allows computer to identify the drive and partition, and provides the Windows XP set-up program with a partition to format for use by the Operating System. 3 - After the format utility completes the process of creating a Primary partition, verify in BIOS settings that the motherboard sees the drive and that it is recognized as an 80 GB drive. 4 - Set boot sequence to boot from CD, and run the recovery discs. 5 - Once Windows boots succesfully, run any driver updates that you found at the manufacturer's web site. 6 - Run the Service Pack 2 CD. 7 - Install any Anti-Virus and Firewall programs. 8 - Go to Windows update site and download any updates you want. 9 - Install any programs you want, and restore any files saved from previous drive. 10 - If all is well, pat yourself on the back for a successful project.