Dual boot main hard disk died

[Sover]

My dual boot main hard disk died, and a new hard disk was
installed. However, I am not able to make the system to
dual boot again. I can only install WinXP as single boot
on the main hard disk. All the original files are still on
the secondary disk. How can I convert my WinXP to dual
boot again?

I think previously both hard disks were formatted to
FAT32, but now the new main hard disk is formatted to
NTFS. Is this a problem?

Thanks in advance,

Sover

 

[Rich Barry]

NTFS should see a FAT 32 partition but not the other way around. You
have to Install WinXP with both
drives connected. Xp will see the other OS and include it in it's
boot.ini file. What OS is on the second
hard drive?

 

[Guest]

The main hard disk that died had Windows98SE on it, and
the secondary hard disk has WindowsXP on it.

I think when the computer was made, Win98SE was installed
first, on the main disk, then followed WinXP on the
secondary disk. Now that my main disk has died, the
secondary disk with WinXP won't boot either.

Currently, the main disk has WinXP. I am thinking of
installing Win98SE on it, but I guess it won't work due to
the formatting.

There must be some way I can reboot WinXP on the secondary
hard disk, as all the original files are there. I could
reload WinXP, OfficeXP etc but I need to re-register them
all again. (I have all licenced versions)

Thanks in advance,

Sover

 

[Rich Barry]

You lost your bootloader and boot.ini files when your Win98SE disk failed.
Try using the Recovery Console and do a boot repair. If that doesnt work
then you could try a Repair Install. Leave the main disk disconnected.
Take a look at these sites for some help. You are primarily interested
in Fix Boot Fix Mbr and Bootcfg.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];314058

Try this as a last resort because you will have to reinstall
most of your programs.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Guest]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the hints. I viewed the MS page, and apparently
only an administrator can perform this task. Looks like I
have to take it to a computer shop with a MS admin.

Maybe I should forget my old main disk, and use the
replacement disk as the main one, just single boot. How do
I re-register the WindowsXP and OfficeXP, as my address
now is different to when I first registered them.

Thanks in advance,

Sover

-----Original Message-----
You lost your bootloader and boot.ini files when your Win98SE disk failed.
Try using the Recovery Console and do a boot repair. If that doesnt work
then you could try a Repair Install. Leave the main disk disconnected.
Take a look at these sites for some help. You are primarily interested
in Fix Boot Fix Mbr and Bootcfg.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb; [LN];314058

Try this as a last resort because you will have to reinstall
most of your programs.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

The main hard disk that died had Windows98SE on it, and
the secondary hard disk has WindowsXP on it.

I think when the computer was made, Win98SE was installed
first, on the main disk, then followed WinXP on the
secondary disk. Now that my main disk has died, the
secondary disk with WinXP won't boot either.

Currently, the main disk has WinXP. I am thinking of
installing Win98SE on it, but I guess it won't work due to
the formatting.

There must be some way I can reboot WinXP on the secondary
hard disk, as all the original files are there. I could
reload WinXP, OfficeXP etc but I need to re-register them
all again. (I have all licenced versions)

Thanks in advance,

Sover

.

 

[Rich Barry]

Sorry, it took so long to get back to you. Adminstrator is one of the
User Groups of WinXP. To see how this works go to Control Panel>User
Groups. There you can change and add yourself to the Admin Group
if you are not already a part of. When using the Recovery Console if it
asks you for a Admin Password just
ignore it and proceed. Since you only changed your hard drive then just go
about Activating your XP and
XP office online. Should be no problem in doing so. Good luck.

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the hints. I viewed the MS page, and apparently
only an administrator can perform this task. Looks like I
have to take it to a computer shop with a MS admin.

Maybe I should forget my old main disk, and use the
replacement disk as the main one, just single boot. How do
I re-register the WindowsXP and OfficeXP, as my address
now is different to when I first registered them.

Thanks in advance,

Sover

-----Original Message-----
You lost your bootloader and boot.ini files when your Win98SE disk failed.
Try using the Recovery Console and do a boot repair. If that doesnt work
then you could try a Repair Install. Leave the main disk disconnected.
Take a look at these sites for some help. You are primarily interested
in Fix Boot Fix Mbr and Bootcfg.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb; [LN];314058

Try this as a last resort because you will have to reinstall
most of your programs.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

The main hard disk that died had Windows98SE on it, and
the secondary hard disk has WindowsXP on it.

I think when the computer was made, Win98SE was installed
first, on the main disk, then followed WinXP on the
secondary disk. Now that my main disk has died, the
secondary disk with WinXP won't boot either.

Currently, the main disk has WinXP. I am thinking of
installing Win98SE on it, but I guess it won't work due to
the formatting.

There must be some way I can reboot WinXP on the secondary
hard disk, as all the original files are there. I could
reload WinXP, OfficeXP etc but I need to re-register them
all again. (I have all licenced versions)

Thanks in advance,

Sover

.