Windows 7 / XP install

[hovdog]

I just purchased a second hard drive and installed Windows 7 to it.

Thing is I wanted to get rid of the XP install on my original HDD.

Before trying to delete it, I simply unplugged the HDD to see if my computer would boot Windows 7

Which it didn't....then I plugged the XP HDD back in, and still nothing

it just hangs at the black screen with the blinking cursor....any help? I'm desperate....

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome to SF!

That is very easy to fix. Disconnect the XP drive, and run a startup repair.

I can almost guarantee that will work. If not, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve.

 

[hovdog]

will this affect any files i already have? I installed a few days ago and migrated many files already.

Also....any idea WHY this happened? I simply unplugged the XP HDD

 

[Jonathan_King]

No, it will not affect your files at all.

It happened because the boot loader is installed on the XP drive, and without it, Windows doesn't know how to boot.

A startup repair will automatically write a new boot loader to the Windows 7 drive. If it doesn't work, we can manually write a new boot loader using some commands from a command prompt.

If you ever want to connect your XP drive again, as storage, make sure to set the 7 drive to be the first in the boot order, in your BIOS, before you try to boot.

 

[hovdog]

no dice....

 

[Jonathan_King]

All right, boot up XP or Windows 7 and check out your disk management. Could you please post a screenshot?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello hovdog, welcome to Seven Forums!



Plug the XP HDD in and try the repair on Seven again, if that works we can go from there.

 

[hovdog]

i ran the startup repair....and it restarted now it hangs on the press any key to boot from cd or DVD....

should i have taken out the DVD before restarting?

 

[Jonathan_King]

We do need your disk management screenshot. See my last post above.

 

[hovdog]

how do i find disk management?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Right click computer and select manage.

 

[Jonathan_King]

how do i find disk management?

Type diskmgmt.msc into the start menu and press enter.

 

[hovdog]

View attachment 68259

 

[Jonathan_King]

Sorry, I should have made it clear; I need to see your Windows 7 drive. I'm wondering if Windows 7 is installed on a Logical partition.

 

[hovdog]

the only way my pc boots is if all i have connected is the XP drive....
I have no idea what happened

It has been working for a few days...one OS on each HDD

then i decided to boot it without the XP HDD plugged in and it stops working permanently

 

[hovdog]

Hello hovdog, welcome to Seven Forums!



Plug the XP HDD in and try the repair on Seven again, if that works we can go from there.

Did you try this?

Yes....same result...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello hovdog, welcome to Seven Forums!



Plug the XP HDD in and try the repair on Seven again, if that works we can go from there.

Did you try this?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello hovdog, welcome to Seven Forums!



Plug the XP HDD in and try the repair on Seven again, if that works we can go from there.

Did you try this?

Yes....same result...

The repair to 7 with both HDDs plugged in at the same time didn't work?

 

[hovdog]

ill power off, plug them both in....boot from DVD, try the repair....

and restart....do i keep the DVD in the drive when I restart??

 

[Jonathan_King]

Make sure Windows 7 is on a Primary partition. If it is, boot up the repair disc and open a command prompt (while the XP drive is disconnected).

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec/ fixmbr

bootrec /rebuildbcd

BOOTSECT /NT60

That should do it.