another booting problem

[n604]

I was having a similar problem to this thread:

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?p=323773#post323773

Whyzman suggested I start my own thread about my problem, so here it is.



I had a windows on HD1 which I've been using for 2 years.
Now I installed a new windows on HD2 which i'm using these days.

When I start the computer, it always wants HD1 to be present, because the boot.ini is on it. If I remove HD1 or set the boot sequence to start booting from HD2, it gives me the missing hal.dll message and I cannot boot.

I want to get rid of HD1, or format it.
I want the computer to be able to start even with just HD2 present.
What should I do?
Thanks



Hagar wrote:
"There was already a primary partition present on HD1, so the installer only created an extended partition. HD1 is still the System partiton which boots.
I know no way to fix this other than reinstall, and HD1 must be disconnected when you do it."

These are 2 seperate hard drives. on each hard drive windows is on the primary and not the extended partitions. However when I start windows on HD2, and I go into my computer, it appears as drive D:
while my old windows is on drive C:
so there's no way to switch them? can't i just copy the boot.ini from one drive to the other? I definitely have to reinstall with HD1 disconnected?
Thanks.

[Hagar]

Maybe you can find some info here: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

[karthik]

before I begin,
Your problem is same as been described by the above thread, access the thread follow the solutions given. I believe that will solve your problem :)

[Hagar]

I tried to replicate your problem by installing Windows on HD2 while HD1 was connected.
First, there is a boot menu where I could select which of the two to boot. Either the previous Windows on C:, or the new one on D:
As I expected, there was no system files on HD2, so it could not boot on its own. The error message was 'NTLDR is missing'.
Then I copied these 3 files from HD1 to HD2: ntldr, boot.ini, NTDETECT.COM
Now I could disconnect HD1 and boot from HD2.

I cannot understand that you get 'missing hal.dll message'. Is that a typo?

[n604]

thanks for going as far as replicating my problem.

you are right, this time it doesn't say hal.dll is missing, but it doesn't give me the "ntldr is missing" message either.
when I boot from HD2 this is what it says:
"Reboot and select proper boot device
or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key"


when I boot from HD1 it gives me the option to start my old windows or my new windows (hd1 or hd2).

I don't wanna get in a situation where I can't boot from either of the drives.
whats the safest way to fix this?
if I copy ntldr, boot.ini and ntdetect.com from HD1 to HD2, and disconnect HD1, it should be able to boot from HD2 alone?
and if it doesn't boot, I can still connect HD1 and boot from it as before?

i'm using xp pro sp2, those files are hidden right? are they in the root directory?

thanks for the help

[MinorFatality]

I'm not very coputer savvy, heck I can't even figure out to to start a new thread here, so I'm posting in this guys, sorry.

But I have a question about reformatting.
I know how to START the reformatting process, but once the OS is installed, I'm not sure where to go from there, which of the blue windows disks I need to install next. If some one could possibly list which of the drivers/software cds that come with the computer that I need or point me to a good website I'd really appreciate it. I've got a stack of about 30 blue disks form several computeres, so it's not like I can just install all that I have and hope for the best.

[Hagar]

Reply to n604
Those files are hidden system files, in the root directory. You need to go to Tools - Folder options - View -and check "Show hidden files and folders", and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files".
There is no danger in making a copy of those files to HD2.

I think maybe HD2 is not bootable because it is not 'Active'.
Go to Disk Management: http://www.theeldergeek.com/disk_management.htm
Right-click the graphic box for the primary partition on HD2 and select "Mark partition as active".

[n604]

sorry, sometimes i don't reboot for many days.

i made HD2 active, and now I get the missing NTDLR message...
so now I'm gonna try copying the files, and see what happens.
Thanks for the help.

[jlreich]

Please post the contents of you boot.ini file from your first drive here for us to look at. That way we can show you what changes to make.

[n604]

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional"
/fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


thank you for the help

[jlreich]

As already stated, copy over NTDETECT - NTLDR - and boot.ini

If you remove the first drive all you need to do is change the rdisk() value to rdisk(0) in the "default" line like I did below, and remove the first line in the "operating systems" list.

That will boot straight into windows without a boot menu.


[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /fastdetect

[n604]

awesome. thank you. i'll try that.

[jlreich]

As already stated, copy over NTDETECT - NTLDR - and boot.ini

If you remove the first drive all you need to do is change the rdisk() value to rdisk(0) in the "default" line like I did below, and remove the first line in the "operating systems" list.

That will boot straight into windows without a boot menu.



timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn[B] /fastdetect
Oops, that last /fastdetect doesn't need to be there. I must have missed it when deleting the other line. :o I don't think it will hurt anything, but I would take it out anyway.

Let us know how it works. :)

[n604]

it looks like it's working.
thanks a million, guys!

I got one more thing to fix: HD2 always appears to be drive D:
HD1 is always drive C: , how can I switch them?

[jlreich]

It's listed as D: because of installing windows on that drive with the first drive in the system.

You can change it by going into disk management, but it may cause problems with programs already installed that are expecting things to be on the D: drive.

I would leave it alone unless you are having problems. ;)