Install SATA new Hard Disk
 

I have a system with 10GB HDD having XP installed

There is a new 250 GB HDD and I have connected it
The system has detected the Hard Disk and shows as 232 GB capacity
But it shows not initialised. The new Hard disk is not showing in the mycomputer window.

I think the New hdd is not formatted and need to be formatted.

Can I install Linux on this unformatted disk?

Nearly most linux distro can format a not formatted disk and can even divide it in partitions .
It should be formatted before the actual installing
But you can do the same thing with a free version of windows partition magic

Parted Magic CD is ideal for partitioning (with all options)

I prefer to choose the Linux distro method as

1. The existing windows XP disk has no space at all (below 2 MB, and because of this, it is very difficulty to run windows and a lot of problems are there). Hence running a windos based program is difficult.

2. I don't have any partition tools readly available. But Linux distros debian, redhat are available.

One doubt -

The current Primary disc is IDE and I have connected the first SATA port to the new 250 GB Hard disc. Shall I disconnect the IDE disc for installing linux(or shall I connect the IDE disc as slave)?

Disk has a name in linux the first drive is mostly called SDA the second SDB
Linux use this order in here menu.lst to boot the OS .
So if you disconnect a Drive and connect drive after install the names do not fit anymore and will not boot