Solved New 7 install on added HDD,Dual Boot XP Pro

[Prospector]

Activated

Thank you theog, I was able to correct the problem with the "Over the phone" option where it is necessary to fill in a bunch of boxes, and what a relief!

Contrary to popular beliefs, I do not like being wrong, but the NTLDR/DVD issue was just rearranged when I changed the plugs. I followed the method that was suggested to de-activate XP but when I re-booted the Win 7 DVD to do the " 3 times" repair process, there were no longer the necessary files available to re-start the new drive, or anything else, and finish. You see, without the "Very Necessary" NTLDR, NOTHING is available to load or start. I am without the necessary XP OS components, to use this machine.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you referring to the XP installation on the old HD? Or have you reinstalled XP on the new HD where you wanted it yet? I have given you steps to add Win7 to XP boot once you've installed it on the new HD if that is still your goal, which would solve the problem.

Again the NTLDR error you're getting pertains to XP and has nothing to do with writing the System Boot files to Win7 partition with XP HD unplugged so that WIn7 can start on its own. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Please unplug the XP HD and leaving everything else plugged as it is. Then boot the DVD to mark Win7 Active and run 3 separate Startup Repairs. Partition - Mark as Active

If there is an error describe what causes it and its exact wording.

The non-genuine error simply requires inserting the Product Key again.

 

[Prospector]

Thanks Greg but I ran my product key 3 times and it kept rejecting it, even online so the phone option was my last available, and most comprehensive way of confirming the authenticity.

 

[theog]

Now you have Windows 7 work OK. Put the OLD XP HD under the bed.
Do wont a dual boot with Windows 7 & Win XP?

 

[gregrocker]

I don't think he's gotten Win7 to boot on it's own without the XP HD attached yet.

Prospector, have you tried unplugging the XP HD and leaving the SATA and DVD drives plugged just as they are?

What exactly happens then when you try to boot the WIn7 DVD to run the necessary repairs? Are you given the prompt to "Press Any Key to boot DVD?"

 

[Prospector]

I
Have an idea and needsome help to make my flash drive "bootable". I had tried the USB option in the "Boot Order" list hoping to get my USB Maxtor to somehow provide what i need but it did not work. I just plugged my flash drive in and pressed F12 and the Mem86 tester started since it was setup to auto start. I put my Win 7 Recovery Disk on to the flash drive and now after removing the mem86 to keep it from auto starting, I need to make the recovery disk which is now on my flash drive, "auto start", which may allow a recovery since none of the other devices can boot and provide a recovery. I remembered making floppy drives auto start when it is formatted but that option is not available when re-formating the flash drive. How do I autostart my recovery disk on my flash drive which will auto-start from the F12 since usb is now in the #1 position of the boot order?

 

[Prospector]

I missed the first part

Are you referring to the XP installation on the old HD? Or have you reinstalled XP on the new HD where you wanted it yet? I have given you steps to add Win7 to XP boot once you've installed it on the new HD if that is still your goal, which would solve the problem.

Again the NTLDR error you're getting pertains to XP and has nothing to do with writing the System Boot files to Win7 partition with XP HD unplugged so that WIn7 can start on its own. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Please unplug the XP HD and leaving everything else plugged as it is. Then boot the DVD to mark Win7 Active and run 3 separate Startup Repairs. Partition - Mark as Active

If there is an error describe what causes it and its exact wording.

The non-genuine error simply requires inserting the Product Key again.

Greg, the system was loading from the XP install and when it was marked as inactive as you said to do if I could not unplug it, then I needed to mark it as inactive. Marking it as inactive removed all possibility of using the DVD, SATA, or any thing else to run the Win 7 install disk or the Win 7 recovery disk that I made after the install. I have plugged and unplugged and changed positions on the motherboard and nothing works! All I get is the "NTLDR missing" error message. The drives will not boot on their own without it! I kept telling you that this issue had to be resolved before I could eliminate the old drive for the " 3 Times" repair", and I mistakenly thought that by switching the two SATA plugs on the motherboard, it had done it! Now if you read my last post from theog's thread you will see my next attempt, if I can auto-start my flash drive that I put the recovery CD on to. Do you know how to auto-start my recovery disk that is now on the flash drive?

 

[theog]

I
Have an idea and needsome help to make my flash drive "bootable". I had tried the USB option in the "Boot Order" list hoping to get my USB Maxtor to somehow provide what i need but it did not work. I just plugged my flash drive in and pressed F12 and the Mem86 tester started since it was setup to auto start. I put my Win 7 Recovery Disk on to the flash drive and now after removing the mem86 to keep it from auto starting, I need to make the recovery disk which is now on my flash drive, "auto start", which may allow a recovery since none of the other devices can boot and provide a recovery. I remembered making floppy drives auto start when it is formatted but that option is not available when re-formating the flash drive. How do I autostart my recovery disk on my flash drive which will auto-start from the F12 since usb is now in the #1 position of the boot order?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html?ltr=U

 

[theog]

In BIOS you should have a
DVD Drive
the new HD
showing.
Do you?

Boot order in BIOS
DVD Drive
new HD
Do you?

The old HD, under the bed out of the way.
Do you?

 

[Prospector]

Can't Stop Laughing!

In BIOS you should have a
DVD Drive
the new HD
showing.
Do you?

Boot order in BIOS
DVD Drive
new HD
Do you?

The old HD, under the bed out of the way.
Do you?

I am doing the copy and paste as I write this but can't get over your sense of humor. The Onboard Devices that mentions options to manage LegacySelect has in the BIOS , USB controller: Off, On and No Boot which says that even the No Boot selection will allow the BIOS to recocnize USB storage. It is set to "On".

Now, this will allow repair? Or only a complete wipe and fresh install?

I just tried to start the flash install and the previous programs, files and the auto-start Mem86 that I thought I had found and removed the files, but it is still showing. the Tutorial may need to be updated! It warned that it would wipe the files on the drive and did not!

 

[theog]

In BIOS you should have a
DVD Drive
the new HD
showing.
Do you?

Boot order in BIOS
DVD Drive
new HD
Do you?

The old HD, under the bed out of the way.
Do you?

If you have all of the above.

What do you have on the new HD?

 

[Prospector]

Limited BIOS Information

In BIOS you should have a
DVD Drive
the new HD
showing.
Do you?

Boot order in BIOS
DVD Drive
new HD
Do you?

The old HD, under the bed out of the way.
Do you?

If you have all of the above.

What do you have on the new HD?

The BIOS does not show a separate DVD drive just a generic CD-ROM for all devices onboard. This is an old computer and has limited ability. The Drives section simply shows SATA 0 SATA 2 PATA 0 PATA 1 and a couple items below these. I was never able to return the SATA 2 back to SATA 1 and do not know how this is affecting the computer. I can not tell from the BIOS which Drives are associated with the actual installed drives. It does not provide that much information. I am not sure what else that you are asking me. I have to try to install and then see if there is a drive (SATA) available at that time.

I need to wipe the flash drive because the tutorial was not correct about wiping the drive contents when I copied the WIN 7 OS on to the Flash. I may need to manually re-format the Flash and then re-copy the Win. 7 again. It just did not work correctly.
Have I answered your questions?

 

[gregrocker]

If you booted the DVD to install Win7 before, it should boot now. Try it again tapping the Dell F12 boot menu key this time to trigger the DVD. Please report back any error messages and the exact behavior.

If not use this tool to easily write the WIn7 ISO to flash stick, with Win7 in the dropdown menu window: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

 

[theog]

1) The CD/DVD Drive & the new HD, must showing in BIOS first.

2) The USB tutorial states to use the CLEAN ALL command, which wipes the drive.

 

[Prospector]

Boot Device Not Available

If you booted the DVD to install Win7 before, it should boot now. Try it again tapping the Dell F12 boot menu key this time to trigger the DVD. Please report back any error messages and the exact behavior.

If not use this tool to easily write the WIn7 ISO to flash stick, with Win7 in the dropdown menu window: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

I just found your post and re-booted, and it did as it always has done while pressing F12: "Selected boot device not available". The DVD is listed as the preferred device between it and the CD-ROM. Otherwise I get the "NTLDR Missing error message". Greg, Please believe me, I have said over and again what is happening, the NTLDR is missing just as it says, and neither the HDD nor the DVD will be recognized, no matter what I do!
I will try the Flash drive option again as soon as I can get it together, properly this time.

Also Greg, my laptop has a CD RW/DVD ROM and I just bought a bunch of DVD R discs and a box of DVD RW discs but the CD ROM Box is for music. This is all that I have available to write to with my CD RW. Can I use any of these with this CD RW Drive?

 

[gregrocker]

And I have replied repeatedly that the NTLDR Missing error pertains to XP only.

If you don't have XP HD plugged in there is no way to get that error, unless you've got a failed install to the SATA HD which is trying to boot - do you? We can deal with that if so.

So once again I ask you to unplug the XP HD and report back the exact error message or behavior when you try to boot the DVD drive.

Set the DVD drive to boot first in BIOS setup. Do you get the prompt to "Press any key to boot DVD?"

 

[theog]

You have a Windows 7 DVD, YES.

Why do you need DVD R discs?

 

[Prospector]

You have a Windows 7 DVD, YES.

Why do you need DVD R discs?

This is a side question concerning returning a CD-ROM that I borrowed from my neighbor when I was in need and it is 20 miles to the nearest store to buy another package of CD ROM Discs. I also need to know for my own laptop in the case that I need to burn an ISO image with one of the available programs that I might want to use before I have the opportunity to drive 20 miles again to buy the correct CD ROM discs.

 

[theog]

When you boot the DVD do you see this screen?

 

[theog]

If you have DVD-rw Drive, you use DVD r