Lost XP disk -- possible to image to external, then back to working HD

[coppatop]

My hard drive is broken, and I need a new one, however, I have lost my XP install disks, and would like to avoid buying a new one, as well as a new hard drive. Is it possible to image my current hard drive onto an external hard drive, replace my faulty internal hard drive, then put that image (with the OS) back onto a new hard drive?

Is this even possible, or do I need to find, or buy a new operating system disk?

 

[peterdigby]

Hi,
You will need to find your original or get replacement disks.
If the drive is physically damaged (motor not spinning, head hitting disc) you will not be able to get the data off the disc.
If the drive will not read due to damaged software, if you image the disc, you will only be installing the bad software onto the new drive.
Either way, you will need to reinstall the operating system, which needs to key.