I'm loading XP on a new HD (bigger, faster) but there are critical drivers missing which keep me from logging onto the internet (sound, VGA and others), either with the wireless or ethernet making going out on the net for drivers impossible.   The devices list themselves as unknown so I can't even see what the model is to go search on the other computer.  

I tried loading the drivers file from the old CD onto a disc and making the new XP look there, but it won't recognize the drivers...

So what do I do?  I'm currently using my old HD which has some major problems....

?

   Each of those components that you have on your computer (like, the ethernet card, the wireless card or box, the monitor, the sound card, etc.) came with software and a manual to install it.  You need to run that software and install each of them according to the instructions that came with them.
   If those components came with the computer when you purchased it, they were already installed.  You are going to have to reinstall them, use the restore CD which came with the computer, or use the XP on the other drive.
   Installation of a component usually does not work if its unknown device item is in the Device Manager, so you need to remove it first (sometimes accomplishing that can be tricky).

There are driver backup utilities for free on the web. You should use one to backup your drivers and to burn a copy to a cd. use the cd as a disk when device manager wants to install drivers. That makes problems like yours easy to solve, but it requires backup before a problem occurs.