adding new hard drive but keeping old as storage

JanetBG · 09-04-2008, 07:44 PM

I received a new/used hard drive from a neighbor (40GB) to add to my computer that only has 8GB on it's current hard drive. My GOAL is to use the 40GB as the primary main hard drive and use the 8GB as storage.

I have Windows XP Pro loaded on the new hard drive after formatting it and loading winxp Pro. My problem is, when I boot, (I have both hard drives plugged in) the 'old' drive has all the boot records on it and it's own Win XP pro on it. So, it's not even using the 40GB for the operating system load. When I try to disconnect the old drive, the unit won't boot, I receive a message NTLDR is missing.

I looked up this and found it's because I dont' have boot records on the new hard drive. How do I get the Boot Records from my 'old' hard drive onto this new hard drive and get the New Hard Drive as the Main Hard Drive? Currently, when I have the plugged in, I get the message of my 8GB is the Secondard Master and the 40 GB is the Primary Slave. Is that mixed up???

Any and all help is GREATLY Appreciated.

Janet

Tumbleweed36 · 09-04-2008, 08:36 PM

There are a couple of things we need to clear up.

First of all, did you load the WindowsXP from this machine or another machine? If you loaded it from another machine, then you will need to do a repair install to have it work and then load the new chipset drivers from your motherboard and things such as SP2. If you need to do that, here are Repair Install instructions

The optimal setting would be to put this new drive as the Primary master with jumpers set to master and place it on the end of the ribbon cable. Then, take the old drive and set the jumpers to slave and place it on the Middle connector of the motherboard.

Next, enter the bios setup menu and set the Boot Order to:

CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd
Hard Disk - 3rd

Then, migrate down to the Hard Drive Priority (may be worded differently) under that same Boot subsection and set the Boot drive as FIRST under that heading. (not all bios setups have that same option)

Don't forget to save before you leave the bios setup menu.

Give it a try that way and post back.

JanetBG · 09-05-2008, 08:58 AM

I will try what you said. Thanks. To clarify, I loaded XP on the hard drive installed on this machine. I added the hard drive and it recognized it so I was able to run the steup on the Cd and get it loaded on the new hard drive.

I'll let you know how I do

Thanks
Janet

09-04-2008, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
JanetBG Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	adding new hard drive but keeping old as storage I received a new/used hard drive from a neighbor (40GB) to add to my computer that only has 8GB on it's current hard drive. My GOAL is to use the 40GB as the primary main hard drive and use the 8GB as storage. I have Windows XP Pro loaded on the new hard drive after formatting it and loading winxp Pro. My problem is, when I boot, (I have both hard drives plugged in) the 'old' drive has all the boot records on it and it's own Win XP pro on it. So, it's not even using the 40GB for the operating system load. When I try to disconnect the old drive, the unit won't boot, I receive a message NTLDR is missing. I looked up this and found it's because I dont' have boot records on the new hard drive. How do I get the Boot Records from my 'old' hard drive onto this new hard drive and get the New Hard Drive as the Main Hard Drive? Currently, when I have the plugged in, I get the message of my 8GB is the Secondard Master and the 40 GB is the Primary Slave. Is that mixed up??? Any and all help is GREATLY Appreciated. Janet

09-04-2008, 08:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,656 OS: XP Professional	Re: adding new hard drive but keeping old as storage There are a couple of things we need to clear up. First of all, did you load the WindowsXP from this machine or another machine? If you loaded it from another machine, then you will need to do a repair install to have it work and then load the new chipset drivers from your motherboard and things such as SP2. If you need to do that, here are Repair Install instructions The optimal setting would be to put this new drive as the Primary master with jumpers set to master and place it on the end of the ribbon cable. Then, take the old drive and set the jumpers to slave and place it on the Middle connector of the motherboard. Next, enter the bios setup menu and set the Boot Order to: CDRom - 1st Floppy - 2nd Hard Disk - 3rd Then, migrate down to the Hard Drive Priority (may be worded differently) under that same Boot subsection and set the Boot drive as FIRST under that heading. (not all bios setups have that same option) Don't forget to save before you leave the bios setup menu. Give it a try that way and post back. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

09-05-2008, 08:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
JanetBG Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: adding new hard drive but keeping old as storage I will try what you said. Thanks. To clarify, I loaded XP on the hard drive installed on this machine. I added the hard drive and it recognized it so I was able to run the steup on the Cd and get it loaded on the new hard drive. I'll let you know how I do Thanks Janet