Win 7, Win XP HDD Problem

[techani]

Hi all! I am facing quite a complex and confusing problem. Plz allow me to explain the problem in detail.
Plz plz plz read patiently.

I have Intel C2D 6420 with 2.13GHz, Asus P5Q-VM motherboard, 4GB ram, 40gb and 160gb Hdd.

I was trying to install Win 7 in 40gb hdd but I was getting an error.
On searching about it, I came to know that I need to disconnect the other hdd.
I did that and I could install Win 7.
But when I connected 160gb, it wouldnt show!
I restarted, now an error msg came saying "Error loading Operating System"
I again disconnected the 160gb and reinstalled the Win 7.
After restarting again the same error.
I decided to load Win XP in 40gb, with 160gb disconnected.
The os isntalled nicely.
On restart, again the same message!
Connected the 160gb, restarted properly, but the 160gb wouldnt show.
Now reinstalled XP with 160gb connected.
After proper installation and with 160gb showing itself, I restarted.
Again the same error msg "Error loading OS"!

Whats happening guys?
Am really fed up.
I hope you all understand my frustration.
Plz help me.
thank you.

[max.4u]

Originally Posted by techani

Hi all! I am facing quite a complex and confusing problem. Plz allow me to explain the problem in detail.
Plz plz plz read patiently.

I have Intel C2D 6420 with 2.13GHz, Asus P5Q-VM motherboard, 4GB ram, 40gb and 160gb Hdd.

I was trying to install Win 7 in 40gb hdd but I was getting an error.
On searching about it, I came to know that I need to disconnect the other hdd.
I did that and I could install Win 7.
But when I connected 160gb, it wouldnt show!
I restarted, now an error msg came saying "Error loading Operating System"
I again disconnected the 160gb and reinstalled the Win 7.
After restarting again the same error.
I decided to load Win XP in 40gb, with 160gb disconnected.
The os isntalled nicely.
On restart, again the same message!
Connected the 160gb, restarted properly, but the 160gb wouldnt show.
Now reinstalled XP with 160gb connected.
After proper installation and with 160gb showing itself, I restarted.
Again the same error msg "Error loading OS"!

Whats happening guys?
Am really fed up.
I hope you all understand my frustration.
Plz help me.
thank you.

i guess when you are connecting with the 160gb hdd, its booting with that instead of the 40gb one... double check the boot order once you connect 160gb HDD..

[Zangetsu]

^+1 & also check the master-slave setup on HDD

[techani]

But when the 160gb is not shown, its not shown in Bios too. So am not getting any chance to set the boot order. Though I checked that repeatedly.

160gb and the dvd drive is on SATA and 40gb is on IDE so how do I check the master-slave setting?

[Sam]

sata should be master by default.

[techani]

But I am selecting 40gb as my boot drive. Still the problem persists.

[whitestar_999]

first connect only 40gb hdd.start system enter bios & set booting device priority order as---dvd drive,40gb hdd.save setting & continue.insert win 7 dvd & format 40gb hdd deleting all partitions & creating a new one of all 40gb.do not connect 160gb drive until you successfully install win 7 on 40gb hdd & verify after restarting to see everyting is working fine.if you can't follw this because of some error then post the exact error msg.

[techani]

@ WhiteStar I followed exactly this process. But got those errors. Anyway I will try it once more and see the result.
Thank you.

Guys I loaded win 7 in 40gb. Deleted all the partitions from 160gb through another pc. When connected it in my pc (with 40gb), the 40gb hdd was not shown in BIOS. Instead Floppy Disk is shown which I dont have.

Now please tell me what to do?

Thank you.

[whitestar_999]

deleting partitions in another pc does not delete MBR which loads the boot entries for operating system.only way to delete mbr is to use a bootable media.
How to fix MBR in Windows XP and Vista

first delete mbr from both HDD by connecting one HDD at a time.

[techani]

But when I connected the 160gb the 40gb is shown as floppy drive.
How do i fix that?

[whitestar_999]

connect only 1 hard disk at a time.also check hard disk connections.disable floppy disk in bios if you have the setting(should be in motherboard/chipset/peripheral or something like it).

[Sujeet]

Originally Posted by whitestar_999

deleting partitions in another pc does not delete MBR which loads the boot entries for operating system.only way to delete mbr is to use a bootable media.
How to fix MBR in Windows XP and Vista

first delete mbr from both HDD by connecting one HDD at a time.

Throughout the thread techani didnt refer to installing of os(win xp) on 160 gb SATA drive..then why is there a need of deleting MBR from it...cuz MBR is created only if os has been installed on drive.!!


Do the following and see if your problem gets solved
1.when was the last time you were able to see your both HDD listed in BIOS boot menu??
2.Why not give up on installing your win xp on IDE HDD 40gb and install it on 160GB SATA HDD instead ..rather it would be better performance wise and may even solve the problem.
3.Keep both drive entact to the system while installing your os on 160gb hdd.

[whitestar_999]

it doesn't hurt to take precaution.if mbr is absent on 160gb drive then the option to repair it won't even come on screen.also there is no reason why xp or for that matter windows 7 can't install on a 40gb ide hdd which is fine.

[Sujeet]

Originally Posted by whitestar_999

........ 40gb ide hdd which is fine.

IT Dont seems that its that fine for NOW!!!

[whitestar_999]

well that is another matter because i said no problem with a fine HDD not op's HDD

[techani]

I am extremely sorry for the late reply.
I was busy coz of exams.
The problem has been solved.

It was taking long time for the POST operation.
So I reset the BIOS by removing the battery for a while.
Then in Bios I was an option showing both the hdd in first, second order.
I selected the 40gb as first. While all this 160gb was shown as first.

And that solved the problem for now!!!


@Sujeet yes performance is lagging in 40gb. But since its old enough I dont want to risk my data on it. Thats why its the os disk.

Thank you so much everyone for actively participating in this thread.