I'm at the end I'm not sure where to go from here. I don't if I should reinstall if I should format from Windows then reinstall or what because I'm not given the option to format with the XP cd in the cd rom.

I can't recover the files they're almost all corrupt.
So now it doesn't matter whether I format and reformat and format again.

How do I fix the ntldr problem I've tried everything I could find still doesn't work.

I formatted the drive yet again and not a quick format the long one. Then I installed XP then I tried to boot to it and it says PRESS A KEY TO REBOOT. That's all it does what is going on?

My condolences for all your troubles.

Did XP appear to install correctly? Or is the problem in the installation.

I would recommend having the 200 as the Primary Master and the CD drive as Secondary Master. Remove all other drives. Verify that the jumpers are set to Master or Cable Select.

Then boot the XP CD and run a Clean Install. A good guide here (if needed):

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Also just to verify: you are using a retail Microsoft XP CD? It is not an OEM CD is it?

no it's the retail xp. XP appeared to install fine every time I did it which would be about 4. The problem is it doesn't create a boot.ini file it doesn't load ntldr and it doesn't load ntdetect. For some reason I have no idea why this is the cd I've been using forever. I've done the recovery and I've formatted and reformatted and unistalled and reinstalled and repaired and everything but I haven't ran it as the primary master that could be the problem. I guess I'll just forget about recovering the files and just try to to get the OS to load. I'm goin crazy over this crap.

It used to say I could boot to C:\Windows\XP or D:\Windows XP now it just says XP or XP and for some reason the D drive is first.

I suspect the issue is with the two drives.

Whenever I install an Operating System I remove all drives but the one that I wish to install to.

I always set it as Primary Master (although recently have only been using SATA drives).

Well I'm speaking to you from my 200 GB hard drive it finally worked after pulling everything out and unplugging like you said. As for the files I don't know yet I'm just happy the OS loads WOO!

I appreciate all your help.

Thanks again.

My next question will most likely be how to slipstream SP2 into the XP so I don't have to load it after I fresh install XP. XP without SP1 and Sp2 only recognzies 127 GB so that's what it recognizes my drive as and my Primary Slave is now F: is there a way to change the order?

Originally Posted by PlatinumMoto

Well I'm speaking to you from my 200 GB hard drive it finally worked after pulling everything out and unplugging like you said. As for the files I don't know yet I'm just happy the OS loads WOO!

I appreciate all your help.

Thanks again.