I've never done a boot disc transfer but it is a common question in hardware forums since it is a different process from what you do on the Win 9X series OS.

The following is lifted from:

http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?s=b21dd579150f08d5a23680c9cd958b77&threadid=25742&highlight=hard+drive

Keeping your XP settings when upgrading

Upgraded a system from Abit KT7 Raid to SuperMicro P4DCE+, dual xeon, WITHOUT having to reinstall all my programs, desktop settings under Windows XP Pro...and no reregistering required. Here's the scoop:

1. back up everything, of course...can't be too careful.
2. do the hardware.
3. the system will not be able to boot to XP, put in your XP Pro disk, boot from CD.
4. At the Welcome to Windows Screen, do not choose repair through the Recovery Console. Start Windows Setup.
5. Do the license code. After that XP looks for existing Windows installations.
6. When XP finds your previous setup, choose it with R for repair.
7. XP then goes out and finds your hardware and appears to be doing a standard install...but when it is done, your programs are there, your settings are there, your new hardware is now the hardware list.
8. When you reboot, your system may pause at a boot screen listing two installs. Pick the 1st one or let the clock tick down.
9. Go to System (in control panel or Window Key/Break). Choose the Advanced tab.
10. Choose Start-up & recovery; set time to display list of OS to zero...OS choice screen will be gone.

My previous standard was reformat and clean install...I really didn't want to do that...and turns out I didn't have to.

When you go to Windows Update, there will be some code to install, but still a pretty clean process.

Allan Thornton