If you are hard over on scrubbing your system and re-installing it, write down the process as you do it. All the applications, all the installation codes, etc. This will make it a lot easier if you have to do it again.

If your only problem is the drive hardware itself, not software or registry issues, you can use Norton Ghost or similar programs to make a perfect image of the drive to plug onto the new one. Simply copying the files isn't enough.

Restore discs have an advantage - they load a lot of things that are specific to your hardware, particularly if you have a laptop. The bad part is they often load a lot of applications that are packaged with the system that you don't really need. Make your own judgment call.

After restoring your system, be sure to fire up Windows Update online and bring your operating system up to date. Same for any applications you load. This will take some time, especially if your restore disc is a few years old, but it's essential.