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

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!

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

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.

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.

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)

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]

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.

Oh wow, thank you all very much for the tips!

I downloaded Autopatcher, which seems to be a nifty little programm indeed. I also downloaded MozBackup, and I am gonna back up everything later today (the most important files are already back up anyway).

My Laptop wasn't on the HD-compatiblity list from the link provided by Po (#12). It is a Sony VAIO PCG-FR720. I believe this model was only sold in Asia and Australia/New Zealand. I think I am going with the 80GB anyway, because 40GB is just not big enough for me anymore.

Now if only the old HD lives until the new arrives to make this a least painful as possible....

No Problem, aufish.

BTW - the quick search I did, found one BIOS update here http://www.css.ap.sony.com/vaio/website/General/Model.aspx?Model=PCG-FR720#MyTopSearch as well as a few other downloads. I would only install this BIOS update if you have experienced issues with any USB 2.0 connections, otherwise do not worry about it. The other downloads are to address specific issues as well, so only use those if they apply to your circumstances.

The other bit of information I found indicates that your machine can accommodate up to 100 GB hard drive, according to the drives offered and listed compatibility here http://www.getpartsonline.com/sony-vaio-fr.html

The 100 GB would be make sense, based on the current large drives available for laptop/notebook computers (100 - 120 GB). I would recommend going with an 80 GB 7200 RPM model if you can get one where you are. I just installed a Seagate Momentus 80 GB 7200 RPM drive in my Dell notebook, and the performance over the previous 40 GB 5400 RPM drive is significant (as well as the space).

Now that I am back in Internet Explorer, I am hoping this post will retain it's spacing.

Good luck.