Resolved Installing XP on a new Sata HD

Back in 2008 I had a problem with my PC only booting with a XP cd in place. See old thread
http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/77696-computer-will-only-boot-cd.html

Well I've finally got around to trying once again to solve the problem.
I've completed a clean inatall, cleared the cmos, checked the bios and all is fine except I still have the same problem??
I guess it must be the Master Boot record messed up?

Anyway, I think I've decided to install a new Sata HD and install XP on this new drive.
Question is do I need to disconnect the old IDE drive that has windows on it? or will the PC boot from either HDs?

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Colin
there should be no need to remove the IDE Drive, as you will be asked which disk you want to install to
You may need to press the f6 key at the prompt to install extra drivers for the sata, this may not happen but in general it does with XP
Obtain the drivers & either save them to floppy if you have one or slipstream them to a bootable disk before hand

Jac

 

this is a good suggestion but I hate doing it especially on old system that will break anytime huhuhu!

what I do is to carefully setup the boot priority from the bios. then start my installation. just my $0.001

 

So do I
Actually this will also avoid a lot of pain if you accidentally install to the wrong drive

Espcially since you have a faulty CD Drive or IDE connection (probably just the data cable

 

Thanks for your reply I think that's probably the way I'll go.

faulty CD Drive or IDE connection

No I don't! Everything works fine except when booting. The Bios is set correctly, the Cmos has been reset, the computer boots fine from the IDE drive when it gets passed the "press any key to boot from cd ". So I'm of the conclusion it's the Master Boot record that's messed up.
Rather than chance losing info from the IDE drive [by using fixmbr and possibly having partitions go missing]] I have several SATA connections I can use, hence deciding to install a SATA HD.

I could just leave it as is as it's no big deal having the XP disk in situ all the time except If I'm copying disk to disk.

Thanks all for the help.

Colin

 

You're selling what now?

Although Fixmbr only concern (whilst repairing) is stopping any multi-boot system (many have Windows 7 + XP etc etc)
You can then use Fixboot to safely fix that too.

So the chance of partitions and even Windows going missing.... Hm.. I say about 1% (I was going to say zero), but yes I think there have been some that said all went wrong, usually because their Hard drive itself was faulty!

Here's what I'd do

Confirm HDD is in IDE0 (or the first IDE channel)
Confirm HDD is jumpered as CS (I agree on some older drives, Master is better)
Confirm CD is in IDE1 (or the second IDE channel)
Confirm CD is jumpered as CS (on some older OS and drives, Master is preferred for burning reasons)

Then test... It didn't fix the issue?...Replace both IDE Cables....It didn't fix the issue?...Replace CD Drive

All done

 

Kimsland, I think you have misunderstood what colinb has said about his system problem in the link that he gave. He reported that he could not boot the system unless he had a bootable CD in the drive bay. That would imply that the HD MBR was corrupt or wrong for the system he was trying to boot. Booting with a bootable CD took away the MBR from the equation since a CD doesn't have or need one to boot.

So, with that understanding, he wasn't saying his CD-ROM drive was failing, quite the contrary, it was working fine and allowing him to boot in spite of the MBR problem.

 

I find XXclone to be a splendid tool for restoring bootability to hard drives. Repairs MBR's, initializes drives and more. That's just some of the many little side features it has. Its basic function is cloning of course, and it does that very well also.

The free version is all you need.

XXclone cool tools screen

 

Ha Ha ha

Very funny. Now colinb please follow what I said. I still believe CD Drive hardware issue, but could just be the way its set or the data cables (ie all of the above I already stated) Since that's exactly what I'd do

 

I'd think disconnecting the CD-ROM drive and trying to boot the old drive would be a faster diagnosis.

Kimsland, I didn't mean to make you laugh, just wanted to be sure you fully understood what he had said.

 

I'm thinking that if you disconnect the ATA (IDE) cable from the Motherbooard, then may as well check the jumpers whilst you're there.

Anyway two members trying to help someone get to the same result, to fix the issue. So that's good
Try the lot.

 

Now resolved!!

OK guys, just back in and after reading the replies I decided to try the fixmbr route and SUCCESS!! Didn't lose anything and PC now boots no problem.

So thanks for your efforts on my behalf

Colin

 

Thanks for the update

Please mark this thread as 'Resolved', see .....