[Thinkpad] T41p: reinstalling Windows, what HD to use?

I'm having enough problems that it may be time to re-install WinXP.
Specifically Bluetooth won't work properly any more (that's few quite
a while back, but I didn't need it in the short term and put it off)
and also I'm finding things are slow and sometimes unstable.

If I re-install Windows (someone please convince me not to), I either
need to:
     -- get a new internal HD and mount the current internal as an
     external, to get data and other stuff from it; or
     -- get a new external HD, back up/image everything to it then
     wipe the current one and start over.

Benefits of the first approach are, (a) I don't have to do the initial
imaging, and (b) I get a new HD (current is ~2.5 years old, 100GB
Seagate).

Benefits of the second approach are, (a) I end up with a useful
external HD, and (b) well I guess that's all. I already have a cable
and AC adapter (somewhere) to hook up the 2.5" drive as USB.

My instinct is to get a replacement internal drive and keep the
current one as a backup for a while. But I wonder if that's either
wasteful or unnecessary.

Thanks!

-- 
 Andrew                          mailto:awebber@wwwebbers.com
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