I have a 40 GB drive which is where my system resides. I want to put a 400 GB HD in bay # 2 to use for RECORDING video only from my cameras. Will XP allow me to do this?

PLEASE advise.

ThanksIf you computer will accept it and your Bios will recognize it.  Windows XP will be glad to have it.

What BIOS will work? Is there a paticular version I should be looking for?The BIOS is the (Basic Input Output System) on your computer's motherboard.  When you start up your system you see a message for a short period of time something like "Press F2 for setup".  This system recognizes things like cpu, memory, keyboards, HARD drives, CD ROMS, etc. and loads them before the Operating System even STARTS.  So it has to know what to do with the hardware before the operating system does.

If your computer is not too old then this should not be a problem for you at all.

Put the drive in the computer properly, the BIOS should pick it up.  Windows should then be aware of it but won't be able to do anything with it until you format it.