[Silentwolf]

Hey there,

I have a serious problem with my poor computer and I'm relatively sure it's entirely my fault.

I'm running WinXP Pro. Yesterday I invested in a new 500GB Seagate SATA HDD. I installed it fine... that was okay. It was running as drive E:. I initialised it and set it as a basic partition, then formatted it as NTFS. That's all okay.

Then I used a program (DriveImage XML) to copy the entire partition from my 30GB IDE C: drive onto the 500GB E:.

This also worked fine. I even went into the BIOS and changed the boot order, and got it successfully booting from E:. Okay, that's cool. I went into the registry and following the instructions in the windows support area on the microsoft website, I switched the registry entries for C: and E:. E: is now the System Disk. I fix the page file to be on E:. That works okay.

Right. Now the next task is to make the 500GB Drive into C: instead of E:. Problem is, the original 30GB IDE is still set as C:.

Okay, I think. I'll just go into Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Drive Management and switch the 30GB drive from C: to X:, thus freeing up (the drive letter) C:. I'll switch the system disk to X:, change the 500GB drive (E to be the new C:, switch it back to being the system disk and then set X: to E:.

This would, theoretically, make the 500GB drive into my C: drive, and the old 30GB into E:.

So I set out to do this. I changed C: to X: and it asked me to restart for this to take affect and free up the drive letter C:. So I restarted the system, and now it's stuffed.

It loads windows. It loads windows all the way, and gets to the welcome screen, then hangs. By the welcome screen, I mean it loads the blue screen and the winXP logo, but it doesn't load my name or the option to shut down the computer. It just sits there with the logo and I can move the mouse cursor around.

I tried disconnecting the 30GB drive. Didn't fix it. I even tried disconnecting the 500GB SATA and booting from the 30GB, but got exactly the same problem. I tried booting in safe mode from both of them alternatively, to no avail. I even tried running the directory recovery service - which runs chkdsk on each disk. It returned that both volumes were clean and restarted, then ran into the same hang on the welcome screen.

So I got creative. I got the drive out of my laptop (same version of XP) and hooked it up via USB, then tried booting from that, figuring if I could get into XP, I could fix my problem from there. No luck - it got half way through loading windows and blue screened on me. Doh!

So that option is out. I'm left with the 30GB HDD (currently X and the 500GB HDD (currently E:, and the system disk) both hanging on the welcome screen in this manner.

Any ideas how to fix this? Formatting is not an option. I do not have a windows install disc. The partitions on both drives are essentially identical.

 

[chauffeur2]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Hello Silentwolf, Welcome to TSF! :wave:

Don't Panic...this is easily resolved...

Turn the computer OFF...disconnect that smaller HDD which is now X: or something...you can physically leave it in the computer if you intend to use it again (we'll guide you into setting that up), or for this task, just disconnect the IDE ribbon and the molenex (white) power plug; set the 500Gb HDD as "master".
Reboot the computer...this time your 500Gb HDD will be automatically recognised as the C: Drive and boot in to Windows®.

Once thats done, and if you still need the 30Gb HDD, turn the computer off again and set the 30GB HDD as 'Slave' and plug it back in; reboot the computer.
You should now have access to the 30Gb HDD, so that you can change the Drive Letter to one closer to the C:.

Becareful that you do not attempt to boot from this 30Gb HDD or enter any of the Windows System Files that are on it, as this will cause major hassles...you can now also delete all the data on the 30 GB HDD and reformat it in NTFS format.

Give this a try and post back with the result.

Kind Regards,

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Dave,

Could you please tell me how to set them as 'Master' and 'Slave'? I understand that if both drives were IDE, this is done by changing the jumper configurations... but the 30GB drive (the original C: drive) is IDE and my new 500GB drive is SATA - the only jumper configuration on the SATA drive is for changing the speed it runs at.

In the BIOS, the 30GB drive is set as the Master IDE Drive and the 500GB drive is set as the Master SATA Drive on SATA Channel 1.

 

[chauffeur2]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

OK,
There are a series of pins on the rear of the HDD between the IDE Ribbon and the power plug..generally its pin OFF for "Slave" and Pin ON for "Master".

Because you have a mixture of SATA and IDE HDD's in the machine, I would recommend that you remove the IDE Ribbon all together from the Motherboard to allow the SATA Drive to take up the Boot sequence...which by the way you'll need to change in the BIOS too.

The Boot Sequence in the BIOS should read:.
1: CD/DVD
2: Your SATA Drive
3: Other boot devices

Don't forget to Save and Exit the BIOS after you have done the changes.

Try that and let us know the outcome.

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Dave,

Tried everything you said... still not working.

I removed the 30GB IDE entirely. Took out the IDE cable, removed its power... took it out of the case, so I could fix the jumper config later. So that can't be interfering.

I fixed the BIOS boot order, to run as you said: CD/DVD, Hard Drive, Other Devices.

Then I restarted and it tried to boot from the SATA. It loaded windows (as it did before) and got to the welcome screen, then froze. I could still move the mouse around... and the windows logo was there, but my name didn't come up and I couldn't attempt to log in.

What should I do?

 

[mattlock]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Hello Wolf. :wave:

What happens when your try to boot into safe mode with only 500gb drive connected?
Did you attempt to change both drive letters at the same time?

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

The same thing happens when I try to boot to safe mode. It gets as far as the welcome screen and hangs without giving me the option to log in.

I only changed the driver letter from C to X on the 30GB drive. It required a restart before I could change anything else. It was when I restarted that everything went awry.

 

[chauffeur2]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Ok,

This is very strange indeed...

Try reversing everything; that is, disconnect the 500Gb SATA, and reconnect the IDE by itself, and see if it will boot to Windows, while I have a bit of a look around for a solution.

Don't forget to change the BIOS though.

 

[mattlock]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

I've got something for you to try. I'm a little skeptical but others with similar issues have used this method to reset the drive letter in Windows XP and it's worked.

Boot to Windows 98 boot disk (floppy) and type the command FDISK/MBR.

I've never used this method and only found it while looking for a solution to your problem, but I would recommend doing it with only one drive connected. (likely your 30gig)

If it works then follow Dave's instructions in his first reply and see if the 500gig is then recognized as C:.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Dave,

I removed the SATA entirely and replaced the IDE, fixed the BIOS, attempted to boot and got the same problem - stuck on the ever more frustrating welcome screen. I'm starting to panic, somewhat.

Matt,

I've heard of that method before... but not only do I not possess a Windows 98 boot disk, but I don't have a floppy drive, either. Just a DVD/RW.

So even having undone everything that I have done (physically) hasn't fixed the problem.

Possibly, it is a problem with the registry entry that I edited? If there were a way to access the registry on a disk from outside of windows, I could undo it and perhaps that would fix the problem...

The problem (to me) definitely seems to be that I changed the C drive to X drive. That's where everything went wrong. But the registry is also a possibility.

With the registry, the specific entries that I renamed were:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\MountedDevices\DosDevices\C:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\MountedDevices\DosDevices\E:

In renaming these, I simply swapped the drive letters.

I was following this, in an attempt to switch the drive letters:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188/EN-US/

I DID make a registry backup, the registry backup is stored on the desktop of the 30GB drive.

 

[chauffeur2]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Ok Silentwolf,

Is there a possibility of you borrowing a Windows® XP CD form a friend or colleague?
This is critical for the next step that I have in mind, for it to succeed, without it you'll pretty much be 'burnt toast' I'm afraid.

Post back with your thoughts.

Kind Regards,

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

I'm not sure. I don't have one myself... but there are a couple of people I could try. I should be able to get a Windows XP Install Disc, if that's what I need.

Please, go ahead and make suggestions. I'm feeling desperate. I had hoped that perhaps there would be a program I could download and burn to a CD, then boot from that and fix whatever I've done.

But if an XP disc is necessary, I'll try and get one.

What should I do if I get one?

 

[chauffeur2]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Ok,

If you can get your hands on an Install CD that'll do the trick...
You need to access the Recovery Console by inserting the CD and tapping F8 from a cold start.
Once in there, you'll need to give it the command FIXBOOT and then cross your fingers that it accepts it.

P.S: When you enter the Recovery Console, it'll ask for a password...just hit enter.

When doing the FIXBOOT just agree to what it asks.

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

Alright. A friend of mine has offered to lend me his disc, but it'll take a while to get a hold of it. I should have it tonight. Once I've got it, I'll try out your suggestion.

Once I've tried it out, I'll post back here with the results. I really hope it works. I'm at a loss for what to do if it doesn't.

I'm open to the possibility (although I don't particularly like it) of formatting and installing a clean XP onto the 30GB IDE drive, if that would help - possibly, if I did this, I might be able to get into Windows and fix things up. Think this might be a possible strategy? Let me know.

I'll be back later.

 

[mattlock]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

You can also use the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows to access Recovery Console or even edit the registry. It's been awhile since I've used it, but I believe you can even backup some of the data if needed.

It's a free download and an excellent tool to have laying around. :wink:

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

 

[Silentwolf]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

This problem has been resolved.

The XP disc didn't really help... what I wound up doing was installing a fresh XP onto the 500GB drive and accessing the registry on the 30GB one. I fixed the entries that I changed and tried booting from the 30GB, and it worked.

So I copied the partition off of the 30GB drive onto the 500GB. Then I unplugged the 30GB and booted off of the 500GB, and it worked with my partition, and the 500GB is now the C: drive. I formatted the 30GB and it is now connected as an empty E: drive.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions!

 

[mattlock]

Re: Help!! Crash After Drive Letter Change

I'm glad to hear you got it fixed and thanks for the update.

BTW, if you get a chance you should download UBCD for Windows from my previous post. It's basically a live Windows cd that has all sorts of handy tools. What's unique about it, is it gives you the ability to edit the registry of OS on the hard drive.

Thanks again for keeping us up to date. :wave: