transfer content from one hard drive to another

You should only make the exact copy if you are currently not having any problems (other than lack of disk space) with your computer. Otherwise, use the boot disk to set the drive up and reload your OS and other programs. You can then copy data files from the old disk to the new.

What I’m trying to ask is how do I install
DOS to the new [second] hard drive?
Isn’t it needed before I can install
Windows?  Which will be my primary
drive.

You would need to format the hard drive.  Are you setting it up as a secondary drive?  If so, all you will need to do is make sure it is recognized by the BIOS and then format it using either Windows or DOS.  If you are setting it up as your main drive, the best advice (as already mentioned above) is to format it, boot with a boot disk that will see the CD (from www.bootdisk.com if necessary), and then run setup from the CD.  If it is an upgrade version it may ask for a disk or CD as proof that you have the product which it is upgrading from.

You do not need DOS to install Windows. Windows will install a DOS version in its installation. Once the drive is set up as shown in previous posts, your Windows Boot Disk (or a boot disk from www.bootdisk.com as linked by slink9) will provide the CDROM support needed to load the OS.
Once you have the drive jumpers configured and the drive installed in your computer, you will need to enter setup and get the drive recognized by your system. Then use the manufacturers disk to set the drive up. This will partition and format the drive to make it ready for installing Windows.

the software that comes with the new drive should copy everything, including partitions, file systems, master boot records. You should be able to transfer the drive contents, change the jumpers (if neccessary) plug the new one in as master, and boot right up

The only problem you may have is if the bios won't recognize the larger drive. In this case you may have to flash the bios, or use an overlay program like ez-max

For BIOS info:

BIOS
http://www.ping.be/bios/numbersami.shtml
http://www.motherboards.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/
or check the motherboard manufacturers website.
Also you should update any hardwaredrivers for your installed cards and the motherboard drivers.

If you want an exact copy, the program for doing this should be included or available, see above comments.

If you want a fresh install, create a emergency boot diskette from the control panel - add/remove prog /

remove your old hard disk ( temporarily ). Install the new one, check the master/slave jumpers - set for single or master.

do an fdisk and partiton your hard rive ( preferably 2 partitons at least ), 1 Main bootable partiton, and an extended DOS partiton for Data only.

reboot from the floppy.

DO a format C: /s

format D:

copy the win98 dir from the CD to drive C:, and then run the setup.exe from c:\win98.
You will no longer need the CD.

I hope this helps !

I would suggest that you consider using your old hard drive as the primary master for your operating systems and essential core files and programs only and the new drive as the secondary slave to which you will install all your programs and data. This is probably the most pain free process provided you have space in your system case to take the second drive. I can give you some step by step specifics if you require. Post here and either myself or one of the others can assist.

Cheers

Your new hard drive should be faster.  Although the easiest procedure is described above, it is probably not the best.  If you have no problems with the current OS then you can ghost it over or use one of two program from www.partitionmagic.com - drivecopy or partition magic to make an exact data copy onto your new drive.  You could (and probably should)keep your drive as-is as the secondary slave.  That way you will have the data there if something you have didn't copy over properly.  You can also later zap that drive if your new drive fills up.  If you want to start with a fresh OS and programs install then you have already been told how to go through that procedure.

To Fenman
Please give me some step by step specifics.

To slink9 or anyone
Are you talking about the Windows boot disk or the DOS boot disk???

Windows boot disk.  It should say "Starting Windows95" and then drop you to the A prompt.
sysexpert already gave you step by step instructions for installing the hard drive (master/slave jumpers, bios, etc).  It would be a bit long on the detail to tell you how to mount it in your case or plug in the power cable (make sure you don't try to use the two-pin small if it needs the four-conductor large cable).  Follow those instructions and you should have enough detail.

I think you are not having a Licenced OS
If you have it (Win9x/NT), you can directly boot off the CD if your BIOS supports, and then continue with setup that helps you to create partitions and install

Else you can get a bootable floppy from you friend that allows you to access a CD-ROM drive, using that you can start setup.
More, you can conenct both of them together and format new one as bootable, copy installation, disconnect and start setup

I can't get more specific in short, best is to find a friend that can help you locally

regards

-Karan