Paging file missing - can't boot Win2k

When I boot into Windows 2000 and arrive at the auto user
logon/authentication, Windows warns me that I have no active paging file,
and that I should immediately choose one. The trouble is, the system then
goes in to a constant loop where it warns me with a dialogue box, I choose
OK, then it goes back to the win2k logon box, then the warning again, etc.

Here's how it happened - I run a SCSI controller with 2 hard drives
attached, a primary and a secondary. Usually, only the primary hard disk is
online. The secondary hard disk is used for my weekly back up. I do a
complete drive image from the primary to the secondary disk, and then I take
the secondary disk completely offline so it cannot be afected by viruses,
power surges, etc. I ran into a situation where I needed an older version of
a file located on the back-up/secondary hard disk. I shut down my PC,
plugged in the secondary disk and rebooted. The system showed both hard
disks online. I then copied the file I needed from the secondary disk to the
primary. I shut down the system once again, and unplugged the secondary
disk. Upon rebooting (with only my primary disk online), I ran into this
missing paging file nonsense. For now, I have switched cables so my
secondary disk boots and my former primary now sits as secondary. The
annoying thing is that I can see the paging file "pagefile.sys" at the root
of both hard drives, meaning my hard disk is not truly missing the page
file.

Can someone please provide me with instructions on how to remedy this
situation and get back into Windows again with my primary disk? I have
rescue disks and whatnot if I need to manipulate my C:\ drive (NTFS format)
outside of Windows as a fix. Thanks.