[wdwkr]

I couldn't find a problem like mine on the forum, so thought I'd post this. I have computer#1 that kept rebooting itself, so I took the drive out & put it as a secondary drive in computer#2 & works fine. But when I change the jumpers & try to make it Primary (and the only drive), it won't boot into windows. I just get the option screen & no safe modes work. The jumpers are the same as when it worded in C#1 as primary. I changed the CMOS battery & reset. Unplugged everything except drive at end of primary ribbon. Drive search all AUTO. AMD K7S5A Athlon XP 1800+ & IBM Deskstar 41.4GB 7200RPM MOD IC35L040AVVA07-0.
What am I missing?

 

[bigbear]

Hello and welcome to TGS
If I am understanding correctly, you cant take a boot drive from one machine and expect it to boot in another as it is "configured" to the first machine.( unless it is identical)
You will have to do a clean install of windows

 

[Teck]

A full system reformat is probably in order due to what bigbear said.

 

[etaf]

try this
put it back in original PC

see if it will work ion safe mode tap F8 as booting

then

goto
control panel>
system>
advanced tab>
startup and recovery - settings>
under the title - system failure
untick - automatically restart

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320299

now when it crashes - it willnot restart and the blue screen should stay on the screen
post the info on the screen
it will give the errorcodes and a filename, if caused by a driver.

 

[wdwkr]

Can I clean install Windows & keep data - I think it is the second option? Or do I need to reformat?

 

[schusterjo]

Can I clean install Windows & keep data - I think it is the second option? Or do I need to reformat?

Well you can but its always best to do a clean install. If you have a spare drive (sounds like you do) just transfer all the files you want to save, format the new drive, then transfer the files back. (clean install you need the XP cd and key)

 

[Rich-M]

Why not just put it back in to original pc and do XP Repair...that will keep data and files and only make you re do any added Windows Service packs and updates.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Bear in mind if the drive is old and still would not boot but can be seen as a secondary drive, it could also be the drive is dying. It takes a lot more to boot than to read.

 

[bernardus]

If you have tried to use the drive of another system it will corrupt the drives info.
You can't change a drive wich is adapted to a system and use the same settings.
But the drive should be detected in the BIOS. Perhaps the Bootup record is damaged if you're lucky. Windows repair is almost a garantuee for disaster, after repair it won't boot.

bernardus

 

[Rich-M]

If you have tried to use the drive of another system it will corrupt the drives info.
You can't change a drive wich is adapted to a system and use the same settings.
But the drive should be detected in the BIOS. Perhaps the Bootup record is damaged if you're lucky. Windows repair is almost a garantuee for disaster, after repair it won't boot.

bernardus

I'm sorry, what you say is all totally untrue....