Windows XP on two harddrives, remove one computer doesn't boot

[anonymous]

Hiya,

I had to reformat my computer, and I had 3 hard drives: 1
40 GB, 1 80 GB and 1 180 GB. Everything was on my 180
and 80 GB hard drives.

To back up my computer, I reformatted and installed
Windows XP on the 40 GB hard drive, and put all my
backup'ed files there.

Then I proceeded to reformat my 180 GB hard drive, and I
installed Windows XP on this hard drive as well. I took
everything I need off my 40 GB and put it back onto my
180 GB hard drive.

Now here is the problem: I tried taking out my 40 GB so I
could use my 80 GB hard drive, and now my computer does
not boot. With the 40 GB hard drive inside, it shows me
a boot list (which one of the hard drives I wanted to
boot from). Without it, the computer shows me nothing.

I am guessing that somehow my Windows XP installation on
the 180 GB hard drive does not have the power to boot,
and relies on the 40 GB hard drive for that purpose.

I only have 2 IDE ports on my computer. Is there any way
I can boot from my 180 GB hard drive so I can use my 80
GB one?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[D.Currie]

It sounds like the boot files are on the 40, so when that's gone the
computer won't boot. Take that out, do a repair install on the 180, and see
if that solved the problem.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help! :-D

I am wondering, what will happen when I do a repair
install? Will I have to back up my files on the 180 GB
hard drive, or can I leave them in place? Will it erase
anything, or just recreate the boot records?

Thanks so much, I wasn't sure what to do.

 

[D.Currie]

A repair install replaces system files, so you'd have to reinstall hotfixes
or service packs, but it shouldn't touch any of your files.

But, of course, backing up what you can't bear to lose is always a good
idea, because you never know when things might go all wrong.