New HDD and Backup Strategy Questions

I just picked up a new HDD and am at a crossroads. I have 3 internal HDDs plus one external HDD:

1x 74GB WD Raptor (Currently primary drive; SATA or ATA; C: drive)
1x 80GB Maxtor (Currently a secondary drive; ATA; E: drive)
1x 320GB Seagate Barracuda (New Drive, un-installed; SATA)
1x 300GB External Maxtor On-Touch II (USB 2.0)

My Goals are:

1. A clean OS and Application Install.

2. Save all my data on the primary HDD (74GB Raptor). I have a ton of files and don’t have the time to weed through and organize them at the moment. I need to be able to access the files this weekend as well as be able to re-incorporate them into newly organized system storage scheme.

3. Create a “ghost” (or similar) of my fresh install to enable easier/quicker system reinstallation.

In the past I have always just installed a new HDD and use a CD to backup files. That really isn’t an option this time due to the mass of files, so I am debating two options.

Option A) Install the 320GB Seagate as an extra drive (“F:”). Copy my primary drive (74GB Raptor) to the Seagate, and then format / re-install on the Raptor. This seems like a “fast” solution, keeps my fast Raptor as my primary drive, and gives me space on the Seagate to sort out my mess of files and space for a “ghost” of my fresh install.

Q: What is the best way to copy all my files over to the Seagate? I need to be able to copy/paste and move files around (hence a “backup” with *.BAK files won’t work, but manually copying often fails due to the OS actually using files).

Option B) Make the Seagate my new primary HDD and move the Raptor as a secondary drive.

Q: Will I run into issues making the Raptor a secondary drive? Any tips/how-tos on this? I have never made a primary drive a secondary drive while there was still content on it.

Right now Option A sounds the easiest and best use of my resources. And copying files from the Raptor (C to the Seagate should be extremely simple with little stress.

Q: What applications do people suggest for making a backup of my fresh install? I have heard of Ghost but I have never used it.

Thanks for your tips and suggestions!

Ps- Windows XP Pro SP2 as an fyi.