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Need help running XP..multiple hard disks...wierd

Forum Windows XP : Windows XP General Discussion - Need help running XP..multiple hard disks...wierd

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Arcum   04-22-2004 at 12:12:30 AM

Ok here it goes:
I had a 20GB Maxtor hard drive as my master (windows XP would run off of that), and an 80GB Maxtor drive as a storage drive.
I bought a new Western Digital 120GB drive and replaced the 80GB with it. I installed windows XP on this drive and I can boot into windows with it when it is paired with the 20.
However, when I remove the 20 and set the 120 as master, the system wont boot...it goes to a screen where it says PRESS A KEY TO REBOOT.
Can anyone help me?

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arkus   04-22-2004 at 03:59:34 AM
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Check in BIOS that its set as a boot device.

Also, might be worth trying setting all the drives to cable select - that way you don't have to ever change the jumpers, just connect the end of the cable to the drive you want as master, and the middle connector to the slave.

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arkus   04-22-2004 at 04:00:24 AM
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Is the new Western Digital Drive SATA or PATA?

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mjjohn   04-22-2004 at 04:42:33 AM
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Sounds like the 20GB is set as the 'active' or boot drive. Re-install XP to the WD after removing the Maxtor. Make sure the WD is set as a 'master'. After installing XP connect the second drive - set as a slave.


For it is not what is seen, but what is not seen. :eek:

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peartree   05-01-2004 at 02:54:16 PM
- 0 +

Now, I have to partially agree- your old 20 gig drive was set as the Active boot drive and you need to set the root partition of the new 120 gig as the Active boot partition. It can get complicated, though.

The question here is: did you set the 120 up initially as a storage drive?

If you did, then it's more than likely going to take a repartition to get things straightened out. Much easier than all the fooling around is to wipe the 120 G drive and reinstall XP with a repartition that will set the C: partition to Active and the boot drive.

There are other ways around it, but they can get terribly complicated.

Quote :

<font color=green>===</font color=green> Never assume <font color=red>ANYTHING</font color=red> <font color=green>====</font color=green>


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