If I install XP on second hard disk will it be able to access prim

[Guest]

XP won't boot up on my primary hard disk. Won't start in SAFE mode or any
other recovery mode. It hangs after the Windows logo shows up so I thought if
I installed XP on my second hard disk I might be able to rescue some files on
the first hard disk or go in and fix the registry on the first hard disk if
that is causing the problems. Will this approach work or will the second XP
install only be able to access files on the second hard disk?

Most of my data is on the second hard disk and all the programs are
currently on the first hard disk. I think some of the Outlook data files are
stored on the first hard disk and I would like to get that data as my backup
is a little stale.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

XP won't boot up on my primary hard disk. Won't start in SAFE mode
or any other recovery mode. It hangs after the Windows logo shows
up so I thought if I installed XP on my second hard disk I might be
able to rescue some files on the first hard disk or go in and fix
the registry on the first hard disk if that is causing the
problems. Will this approach work or will the second XP install
only be able to access files on the second hard disk?

Most of my data is on the second hard disk and all the programs are
currently on the first hard disk. I think some of the Outlook data
files are stored on the first hard disk and I would like to get
that data as my backup is a little stale.

Fix the current install...

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Afterward - you might (shouldn't - but to be safe, I will mention it..) need
to:

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP
you have.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Shenan. To see what I have done so far to recover my first install
please see my post in the "Windows Help and Support" newsgroup. I tried
everything that was in a detailed Windows XP text book. If you don't mind
reading that previous post to see if you have some suggestions I would
appreciate it. My post is one of the last ones on Dec 9 and entitled Windows
XP Hangs on Startup after the Windows logo shows"

 

[Guest]

If the registry is at fault read kb307545 Otherwise youre plan might work
however if its totally corrupted might not...

 

[Guest]

Thanks again Shenan. One other question, if I follow the procedures you
layout (which are very good by the way) is it likely I will loose my Outlook
database of emails. I have it 90% backed up but have a few that I should have
backed up but don't.

If so would it be better to re-install XP on a new primary hard disk (its
only a cheap 40 Gig drive) and then set up the old 40 Gig drive as a slave
and recover the data later (I could put it in the removal drive drawer to
easily access it). Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Guest]

I was able to successfully install XP Pro on the second hard disk.
Once this was done I was also able to access the primary hard disk c: and
was therefore able to save all my data on c: and d:
What a relief. Now I can try to recover the system without any fear of
lossing data.

The question now is, just because I can access C: from the new XP Pro
installation on D: does that mean I can access the registry on c: for the
first CP install and clean it up? I am not sure. If I do a regedit won't
it only edit the registry in the new install?

 

[keepout]

your biggest problem this minute is if you registered / activated online on original drive, did you ALSO activate on the new drive ?
If so your problems have just begun. The way M$ now sees your setup, it sees 2 copies of it on 2 different machines with a 1 copy license.

If that's true, you will now have to activate every time from now until you replace the OS by phone. And it's a LONG drawn out process.
you must 1st try AND FAIL to activate automatically.
2nd try and FAIL to activate by voice with a machine.
3rd try and activate with someone in India or Vietnam by voice, how ever many times it takes for you to get them to understand your foreign accentwhile you repeat a 24 digit number.

If you haven't activated on the 2nd drive yet DO NOT DO IT. You'll regretit every time it comes time to re-install the OS.
Better to use the drive you 1st installed it on.

 

[keepout]

I haven't activated it yet. Thanks for the advice. Is there a way to
de-activate the first one since I am going to throw out that disk.
How do I make the second disk a bootable disk if I put it in the same
hardware slot as the other one and make it the master disk instead of a slave?

De-activate ? never heard of anything like that. The hard drive you activated your current OS is the ONLY drive M$ will recognize as a SINGLEuser license.
If the drive isn't broken, I'd say copy all data you can't replace to another drive, CD, DVD etc.. then format and re-install the OS on it. To be safe you need a minimum of 20 gigs for the XP Pro OS. I set aside a 30gig partition on my C: drive.
You might be able to TRANSFER activation. But you'll need to hear how from someone that knows how to do it.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

As your other respondent has indicated your situation is fraught with
difficulties and potential pitfalls.

How are each of the drives described in Disk Management? Start,
Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk
Management? Are both drives described as system? Which are
healthy?

Are both disks recognised in the BIOS?

Be careful not to alter drive letters as that breaks registry links
wholesale.

What is the make and model of the problematic hard drive?

The second hard disk presumably is bootable. Inspection
of the information in Disk Management ought to clarify this.

Information about your system on paper off your computer
could be important.

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information
about your computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this
is fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup
messages longer reports will irritate other newsgroup
subscribers.

For software

Download, install and run Bellarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

I would also backup your data files to CD. Also make sure you
have important email addresses and web site addresses off
computer.



--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~