[merlinxi]

Running WIndows XP:

Okay when i installed windows I ran the install it from my other hard drive, to make the installation faster, instead of installing it from the cd.

BUt I installed it to my 200 GB, but the boot record is on the 40 GB. How do I re-direct the booting to the 200GB, and not make it read the record off of the 40. Cause if my 40 ever died out, I wouldn't be able to boot, cause it doesn't have the boot record on the 200gb.

So I copied the three essential files to my 200GB (Ntldr, Boot.ini, and Ntdetect.com.) But when I try to boot from the 200GB it says "Hal.dll is missing" blah blah. So I know there is something in the boot.ini I have to change, but I don't remember what to change. And would a windows recovery console with a FIXMBR work?

Merlin

[PangingJr]

so you copied the i386 folder from the setup CD to your 40GB HDD, then ran the WINNT which was located in the i386 folder, the "Sourcepath" value of your registry for the installation is the <path>\i386.

don't understand why you have to copy those 3 files from the 40 GB to the 200 GB HDD's ?
where were the 2 HDDs location at the time of the Windows setup?

[PangingJr]

Correct me if i was wrong or misunderstood on my previous replied and pls ask me if you do not understand the questions.

and if i understand correctly you want to be able to boot Windows XP installed on the 200 GB HDD without having to have the 40GB HDD attached.
What is the type of the partition that you created on the 200 GB HDD and installed the Windows XP on to it ?
a primary partition or an extended partition (a logical drive/partition) ?


and this is FYI.

the commonly used names for the partitions that contain the Windows XP startup and operating system files, respectively:

-System partition
-Boot partition

System Partition:
The system partition refers to the disk volume that contains the hardware-specific files that are needed to start Windows (for example, Ntldr, Boot.ini, and Ntdetect.com).
NOTE: On dynamic disks, this is known as the system volume.
On Intel 186-and-higher-based computers (only the "x86" line), the system partition must be a primary partition that is marked active. On this line of Intel computers, this is always drive 0: the drive that the system BIOS searches when the operating system starts.
The system partition can, but is not required, to be the same partition as the boot partition.

Boot Partition:
The boot partition refers to the disk volume that contains the Windows operating system files (by default, in the WINDOWS folder) and its support files (by default in the WINDOWS\System32 folder).
NOTE: On dynamic disks, this is known as the boot volume.
The boot partition can, but is not required, to be the same partition as the system partition.

NOTE: As for a multi-boot system that uses the Windows NT boot manager, There will be one (and only one) System partition, but there will be one Boot partition for each operating system in a multi-boot system.

[merlinxi]

No.

The I386 folder was on my 40 GB. So I installed windows from that folder. The 200GB is formatted in NTFS. For some reason though, after installing windows TO the 200GB, I NEED the 40GB in order to boot, without that I get the "missing hall.dll" error. Whilst I see it clearly there my in directory while in Windows. I don't understand why that happened. I need to know how to copy the boot files in order for it to purely boot off the 200GB and not the 40GB. All it's doing is going for the boot record on the 40GB, then contiues to boot off the 200GB (Where Windows is installed.) But I can't let it PURELY boot off the 200GB, it needs to read the 40GB first.

Merlin

[PangingJr]

okay so you did NOT copy the i386 folder from the CD but use the one that is already on the 40 GB.,
and where were the 2 HDDs location at the time of the Windows setup,
which one is the main HDD?

i like to know what is the type of the partition that you created on the 200 GB HDD and installed the Windows XP on to it,
a primary partition or an extended partition (a logical drive/partition) ?
(not the file system...)

[merlinxi]

No.

The i386 was from a cd. BUT I backed the whole WIndows XP cd on the 40 GB. Which of course includes the i386 folder.

The primary master is my 200GB.

The partition is a Primary Partition.

Merlin

[PangingJr]

create a win xp boot floppy disk - http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/ntboot/
use the boot.ini information from the page.
(don't forget to change WINNT to WINDOWS)

disconnect/remove the 40 GB disk.

boot your PC from the boot floppy direct, select the 1st OS/partition from the menu, and see if you can boot to XP.

if you can boot from the floppy with no problem,
then try modifying your boot.ini (the one on the HDD) infomation, using the following info..

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

and if you use more boot.ini switches (after the /fastdetect) then add to it.
then try booting normally and see.

[Ferret_Style]

another way is to boot from the windows cd if you have it or the flopy disks and do the recovey console. you can do a fix MBR and Fix boot and it might reslove the issue. I found it work about 90% of boot problems.

[PangingJr]

merlinxi, how's it going ?

[merlinxi]

A little crappy and because:

My X800 XT died for no reason. I didn't even overclock it. I literally cried last night, why? It took my a MONTH to save up 500 dollars to get the card. I went crazy. I just so much back breaking work PUT IN to get that card (I work at a food store, and pack out, and lift heavy crap all day in the back room.) Now it's gone. I sent an RMA request to ATI. Since business is not on the weekends, I have to wait until Monday. I just hope to God I can replace it.

Merlin

[PangingJr]

Sorry to hear that, hope you will get a new one soon.
after the new one arrive i'd just reformat (delete the current XP partition, then create a new raw one and format, all with your XP CD including the setup from the CD).
and if you like to copy the i386 folder to your HDD, and then you can modify the value of Sourcepath to point to this new location and the XP won't ask you for a CD in the case it needs some system files. these can be done at later time.

good luck for the replacement.

[merlinxi]

No more formatting lol
NO MORE!! It's like a plauge.

A format is not always necessary when installing a new device.
I was getting along fine until BOOM the card died

Thanks for all the help though.

Merlin

[PangingJr]

the reformat was meant for your initail problem, actually. you did not report back about it and i think the reformat is the easiest way for some users but if you've already found a way to fix it then you don't have to.