Currently I have a very messy Win2k install, with problems all over the place. I want to reinstall, without ACPI to help fix my ACPI problems.

My problem is, that I don't have enough CDRs to burn backups (and I can't afford more). I also fear that my PC isn't stable enough to burn CDs anyway. What I would like to do, is place the hard disk in my other PC, and delete everything apart from a folder with my backups in (about 6Gb on a 31Gb drive). If I was to do this, and then install win2k back on my orginal machine, would my backups still remain intact?

So, to round that up:
1) Take out hard disk from THIS PC and place it in my second
2) Wipe EVERYTHING except the backups I need to keep
3) Place THIS hard disk back into THIS PC and install win2k

And I would like to know if that backup directory would remain intact.

Yes, that will work just fine.... just MAKE SURE that you don't repartition the drive or format the drive during setup. You will have to leave the partitions alone, and when it asks which file system to use, choose 'leave the exising file system intact'.

great. thanks a lot. That saves a lot of time/grief/cds/money/stress etc etc etc.

What problems were you having w/ ACPI ?

I shall direct you to this post....All is fixed now...and the plan worked perfectly...thanks.

http://www.apushardware.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=11956

Well I'm glad that things are working well for you now. Although have you considered a BIOS update?

It's all in the post.....I have 'the most reliable' there is atm