New 7 install on added HDD,Dual Boot XP Pro

The System Active boot files for Win7 were placed on the XP partition since you didnt' unplug XP during 7 install.

To recover these boot-critical files into Win7, you'll need to mark it's partition Active first in XP Disk Mgmt, or using Diskpart from the Win7 DVD Repair console Command Line as given here: Partition - Mark as Active

Then with the XP HD unplugged, boot the DVD Repair console, accept any offered Repair. If this doesn't start Win7, boot back into DVD Repair console System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until it writes the System boot files to Win7 partition and starts up.

I will have to re-connect the old drive to get to the Disk Management, therefore do I just plug it into the board in the second position, or do I need to put the drives back to their original position with the old drive in SATA 0 position again?

I would plug it back in as it was, making sure it is set as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

After unplugging, it should default to WIn7 HD as first HD to boot in BIOS (after DVD drive) but I would also make sure of that.

gregrocker said:

I would plug it back in as it was, making sure it is set as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

After unplugging, it should default to WIn7 HD as first HD to boot in BIOS (after DVD drive) but I would also make sure of that.

I marked the "7" drive as active in XP then started over, putting the new drive into slot 1 and unplugging old drive. I set Boot order with CD/DVD, then SATA. The DVD drive is not available and when booting from the new drive, I get the NTLDR Missing , message. I tried all of the other available options and the Hard Drive diagnostics was the only one that works and it checked OK. The new drive is recognized but it won't load, using any drive, so the DVD option is not available.

Did you run the Hard Drive diagnostics from your DVD drive?

theog said:

Did you run the Hard Drive diagnostics from your DVD drive?

I had to refresh the page to find your post, sorry it took so long.
During boot attempts with the Win 7 DVD in the drive, it did not load to a point where the drive was available. After pressing F12 to get the drive to boot the DVD, it said that the drive was "not available" and when I try to boot from the SATA drive, I get the "NTLDR Missing" error message

Will the DVD drive show in BIOS? if NO check all the cables.

In the Dell System area "F2" it lists "Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive" in the Boot Sequence but below in the "Drives" and allows you to turn them on or off, it only shows Diskette Drive and then below are the SATA and PATA Drives in order, Drive 0, 1, 2, 3, Then SATA Operation and Smart reporting. This drives group contains options and settings related to Drives and the Hard Drive Controller. I checked the connections on both the CD-ROM and the DVD RW and also on the mother board and all appears to be normal. The Bios never showed The DVD drive alone, just the generic CD-ROM. The F12 shows the option to boot from the generic device CD or DVD but states that it is not available. It previously had the DVD listed as first of the two as the preferred devices but that was elsewhere, other than the BIOS. I do not know what else to do but switch the two SATA plugs, and see what happens after I re-connect the old drive but I have always lived dangerously. Otherwise I can put the old drive back in drive slot #1 and use it as it was yesterday with the new HDD listed as Drive F. I am out of ideas.

Try pluging the DVD into one of the other Sata ports.

I removed P9 from the DVD connector which is tied to the CD-ROM and barely stretched P6 connector which was loose and connected by 2 or 3 three wires to the floppy drive but it is the same outcome with the same NTLDR Missing message and when I press F12 and try to boot from the CD or DVD, it still states that it is unavailable. Also, I tried putting the DVD into both devices and it took a while for it to decide what it wanted to do with the disc in the CD=ROM but when back in the DVD RW it gives that unavailable message right away. Somehow, the missing NTLDR is preventing the boot sequence from even reaching the point where the drives are checked and activated during boot-up, therefore the drive activation has not had a chance to happen yet.