Need help with new computer build - hard drive probs

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Guest

I built a new computer, and I wanted to transfer the old hd to the new box
and have win xp work. Obviously, it did not. I had to reload the operating
system, and when I did the machine became a dual-boot (both the old hd and
the new hd). I want to remove the old hd and put it back into the old box to
give my grandkids - but the operating system will not boot to the new hd
without the old one in the loop. This is my boot.ini :

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows Whistler
Personal" /fastdetect

How can I get rid of the old drive?

Thanks - Steve
 
Coastalsteve said:
I built a new computer, and I wanted to transfer the old hd to the new box
and have win xp work. Obviously, it did not. I had to reload the operating
system, and when I did the machine became a dual-boot (both the old hd and
the new hd). I want to remove the old hd and put it back into the old box to
give my grandkids - but the operating system will not boot to the new hd
without the old one in the loop. This is my boot.ini :

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows Whistler
Personal" /fastdetect

How can I get rid of the old drive?

Thanks - Steve
Click to expand...


Reinstall but with *just* the install drive connected. In your case you
should just remove the old drive before installing. But for the record
.... after install reboot but again with *just* the single drive and
configure everything to your liking. Once all is working OK shut down
and re-connect the other drive(s) and go into your bios to make sure
that the drive with the new install is listed before the old drive in
the boot chain. In fact while you are there remove the old drive from
the boot chain to prevent the bios from selecting a drive that you have
no desire to boot from.

In your case of course the old drive has been removed so you certainly
don't want the bios to try and boot from something that no longer exists.

XP writes data into the registry concerning drives and their physical
location within the computer on the first boot and this is somewhat DOS
based. The bootstrap files (boot.ini, ntdectect.com & NTLDR) are written
to the active partition at install time. So a single OS drive at install
gets the active partition and the first boot with the single drive
ensures that the information that you want is written to the registry.

John
 
Coastalsteve said:
I built a new computer, and I wanted to transfer the old hd to the new box
and have win xp work. Obviously, it did not. I had to reload the
operating
system, and when I did the machine became a dual-boot (both the old hd and
the new hd). I want to remove the old hd and put it back into the old box
to
give my grandkids - but the operating system will not boot to the new hd
without the old one in the loop. This is my boot.ini :

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows Whistler
Personal" /fastdetect

How can I get rid of the old drive?

Thanks - Steve
Click to expand...

Pull out the old hard drive. Correctly jumper the new hard drive as master,
or (Western Digital hard drive only) master/alone (not master w/slave).
Configure your PC to boot from CD. Insert the XP installation CD. Use the
repair option. Repair the mbr.

If the CD is XP or XP sp1, and you have sp2. It won't work. If the
partition on the new hard drive is not primary, it won't work.
 
When I unplug the old drive, the computer does not boot, with a no boot
device found error message. How can I make the new drive Primary?

Jonny said:
Coastalsteve said:
I built a new computer, and I wanted to transfer the old hd to the new box
and have win xp work. Obviously, it did not. I had to reload the
operating
system, and when I did the machine became a dual-boot (both the old hd and
the new hd). I want to remove the old hd and put it back into the old box
to
give my grandkids - but the operating system will not boot to the new hd
without the old one in the loop. This is my boot.ini :

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows Whistler
Personal" /fastdetect

How can I get rid of the old drive?

Thanks - Steve
Click to expand...

Pull out the old hard drive. Correctly jumper the new hard drive as master,
or (Western Digital hard drive only) master/alone (not master w/slave).
Configure your PC to boot from CD. Insert the XP installation CD. Use the
repair option. Repair the mbr.

If the CD is XP or XP sp1, and you have sp2. It won't work. If the
partition on the new hard drive is not primary, it won't work.
Click to expand...
 
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