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Resolved Question

NTLDR missing

Jun 15, 2012 1:33AM PDT

My old motherboard crashed so I replaced with a new computer using Windows 7. Old system had IDE harddrives and some of the data stored had not been backed up. My plan was to install old drive as a backup in the new computer, but it accepts only SATA hard drives. My next plan was to install the old hard drive in an older computer as the C: Drive, then burn CDs and transfer data that way. I had all the necessary application software so this seemed simple.

Old computer had Millenium SE as its original OS and replacement harddrive had XP Pro.

I am now getting a "NTLRD is missing...Press any key" message and cannot complete the boot sequence. Old machine is an HP Pavilion XE 738.

Is this old machine just too wimpy for the XP OS, or, if my plan should work, what should I do? I have the XP installation disk.

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

oiptoner has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Try external drive enclosures
Jun 15, 2012 2:48AM PDT

Unfortunately, you can't boot a hard drive like that every time depending on hardware differences. Unless you want another computer setup, I would get an external enclosure or dock for IDE hard drives in order to get the data off. Otherwise, if you reinstall, you will lose that data. You may be able to do a repair install of windows xp, but if you need the data, I'd get that off first using the above method before trying anything.

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Recomendations
Jun 15, 2012 3:22AM PDT

Makes sense. Can you recomend a specific piece of equipment? Most of what I see are IDE/SATA to USB which may or may not be what I need. Also, will there be a problem hooking the IDE drive with XP into a system running WIN 7?

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You can't "hook up XP with 7!"
Jun 15, 2012 3:37AM PDT

The OS is not going to move to another machine. The drive and the files will be moved but never the OS.

Why not get the usual IDE or SATA to USB case so you can get at those files?
Bob

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Need help
Jun 15, 2012 3:48AM PDT

Hold my hand a little bit here. I am in virgin territory on this issue. Do I want an IDE to USB case which I then plug into the USB port on the new computer? If this drive comes up as an accesable drive under WIN 7 then should I be able to copy and save the files I need? Since I don't need any bells and whistles will a $ 20 to $25 case be good enough?

Second question: A lot of these files are located in Wordperfect 9 (please no lectures...it is what it is). Is there a way to transfer them en-mass without have to go one-by-one? If so, how?

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1. Yes.
Jun 15, 2012 4:02AM PDT

1a. I use those 20 to 25 buck cases on amazon.com too often. I rarely research them but just click the buy button. Some must do research, ask 20 people, etc.

2. Maybe. If I use Windows Explorer and ask it to search for a *.wps files I should be able to select all and copy them to my new folder.

I wonder why all this isn't on some backup. I mean, DROPBOX is 2GB for free and a 32GB memory stick has hit new price lows (I snagged one at 20 bucks.)
Bob

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All questions answered. Thanks.
Jun 15, 2012 4:22AM PDT

I do have an external hard drive, but I was lax in keeping up to date. My bad. Lesson learned.

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Answer
In short, you can't move drives like that.
Jun 15, 2012 2:54AM PDT

The drive moves fine. The OS? No.