Windows XP External HDD issues on boot.

[kreechin]

I recently reformatted my PC cause i felt i needed a clean sweep on it all cause i had so much crap n here i couldn't be bothered to remove it all one by one..
so i reformatted, updated my system got all my drivers blah blah blah but i've noticed that when i restart/turn on my PC while my external HDD is turned on rather than it loading the Win XP splash screen it goes to a black screen with a flashing _ and fails to load the splash screen alltogether, i never had this issue before.
I've been googling about alot and can't find anything that can help me so i thought maybe someone on here could help.
anyone experneiced anything like this or would know how to resolve it?

thanking you.!

[scottish]

Load system into bios (F12 F2 or Delete button usually) then go to the setting to change boot menu and change so your internal HDD is first then your external is second.

[kreechin]

Just looked in the BIOS and theres nothing linked to booting my EHDD first..
CD drive first and then my internal (C:/) 2nd.

[Pyroka]

Are you trying to boot XP from a external Hard drive.

[scottish]

I'd assume not, Kree, there should be one names "removable" which its clearly booting first, is there anything in your CD either?

[Pyroka]

If he's trying to boot from a external HDD, he can't. It'd be connected via USB which isn't actually detected until the OS has detected it.

So you can't boot from an external HDD. :)

[scottish]

Where did i say he can? o.0

[Pyroka]

You didnt lol, I'm just saying if he does wanna do that, thats why he cant. :P

[kreechin]

Nope, im booting XP from my internal, i've never attempted nor ever will attempt to put XP or any other OS on my external.
Theres nothing in my CD drive, no.

[scottish]

Why did i make that last post, you can load from USB, if its listed in the BIOS. As i'm sure i've done it on more than one occasion with Fedora

Try pressing any key when it gives the _ flashing.

[kreechin]

nothing happens when i press any key, i've even left it for a few hours to see if it would load and notning happend, just stayed on the black screen..

[Pyroka]

Nope, im booting XP from my internal, i've never attempted nor ever will attempt to put XP or any other OS on my external.
Theres nothing in my CD drive, no.

Might be the boot.ini file or something? It's not detecting Xp, thats for sure.


Why did i make that last post, you can load from USB, if its listed in the BIOS. As i'm sure i've done it on more than one occasion with Fedora

Try pressing any key when it gives the _ flashing.

Oh can you? I never knew that. :P

[kreechin]

Just used msconfig to check my boot.ini and it all looks fine...

[scottish]

Set the CD to run first then stick in the windows disk, run the recovery program on it and type in chkdsk /r once its checked to make sure nothing wrong with the computer restart (make sure you set to run off HDD) if still black screen then run recovery again and type in fixmbr (MBR = Master Boot Record) if it says you have a problem then run it