New
#41
Alan, the good thing is that we all learned something. So as long as it works now, let's put it to rest. But Greg is right. It could have been less painful.
Multiboot HDD-W7 + HDD-XP + SSD-W7
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New #42
Ok - you're right - just a passing thought ???
Yes W7 now successfully cloned/migrated to SSD and working rather pleasingly.
Consumer-friendly methods are always better - but I'm very much in the dark on these issues and admittedly use my system for what it can do for me rather than how I can tweak more mph out of it or play with its construction - but I am very grateful to you both for your support. I have learnt a lot but at my age
if not used regularly it will probably soon pass into history. 
At one time I always wanted to retain XP partly for old times sake and partly to enable me to go back and see how I did something that I can't get working on W7. Trivial I know. As for W7 HDD - probably similar reasons.
See next post for an idea I have for the future of XP (if not W7 HDD)
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New #43
You have the SSD set in BIOS to boot first so that it boots directly to SSD with no other boot menu, correct?
Now what happens when you tap the BIOS Boot Menu key at boot and choose the XP hard drive. We need to know this first to help you further.
We also need a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
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New #44
Correct - W7 SSD now boots by default.
Please find attached a disc management capture.
Firstly - won't I have to set the XP partition to active? Or maybe not if Disk 1 already has a loader on partition D (wonder if it'll look like my original dual boot system offering the 2 HDD based OS's)
I'll try altering boot drive in BIOS (to disk 1)and report back.
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New #46
Disk 1 should boot since you have an active partition on there. Question is whether you want to keep that - e.g. as a backup.
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New #47
Yep W7 booted off the original HDD - I can hear it
No choice - so it obviously does not see the "other" OS - XP.
Would it be as simple as running EasyBCD to add XP (as per attached image)???
PS: is there an easier way to see what you just booted off - rather than listening and trying to judge whether its SSD or HD?
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New #48
With EasyBCD you should be able to add XP to the bootmgr. Make sure you do that from the HDD system unless you want that on the SSD system too.Would it be as simple as running EasyBCD to add XP (as per attached image)???
PS: is there an easier way to see what you just booted off - rather than listening and trying to judge whether its SSD or HD?
Just put something into one system (e.g. a picture on the desktop) that is not in the other system. Then you can tell them apart.
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New #49
In reverse order...
What a simple idea changing the wallpaper - I'll make one with SSD somewhere subtle and the other with HDD on the wallpaper. Brill.
So before I do the EasyBCD bit - can I just run this past you...
In W7(HDD) - run easyBCD and Add the partition where XP is - then I'll get the usual dual boot option at boot time and be able to set the default OS and the wait time.
AND
In W7(SSD) - run easyBCD and Add the partition where XP is - then I'll get the usual dual boot option at boot time and be able to set the default OS and the wait time.
Then I would only have to edit the boot drive if I wanted to specifically get to the HDD W7/XP choice as opposed to what I think might be the default - namely the W7 SSD vs XP HDD.?
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New #50
I would not muck up the SSD with the XP BCD. The purpose of the SSD is a fast boot (among other things). Why hold that up with an extra boot selection - especially since you do not plan to use XP that often..
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