Zero One

I had the same problem and found an easy solution. I just copied the Windows folder from C:\ to D:\ plus all system files from C:\ root to D:\ root. Then I made the second drive bootable (with fdisk IIRC) and now I can just swap them in the BIOS and it's booting fine from either drive.

 

Since then I'm just installing games on C:\ and hold all important data on D:\ - that way, should C:\ finally die, I can just throw it away

 

(I tried & tested this with Windows 98 only, I'm not sure wether you can just copy any newer Windows from one drive to another )

I tend to ignore most hard drive errors. If it refuses to register in the BIOS or on the controller, OR if I get a message saying I need to contact customer service on PowerMax, then I worry.

 

I run multiple drives on all my machines. One has a dual boot of 98SE so that it is always ready to run even if I have a data corruption or a hard disk failure (the latter hasn't happened yet, knock on woodgrain). The others typically have one drive for the OS and the other as a data drive.

There are SATA to IDE adapters available on eBay. People use 'em to put huge SATA drives in older TiVos.

 

Replace the dying drive and get yourself a USB adapter for it. Easiest way to pull stuff off.