I think that I have created a little confusion about the backup.

When I started having the problem with the hard drive, I was not able to restore the hard drive with a backup. I could only boot to safe mode, and I could not restore the files and programs which were on an external hard drive.

I removed the old hard drive and installed a new hard drive. I then installed Windows XP on the new hard drive. The computer would then boot up without any errors.

I then put the December 2007 backup onto the new drive thinking that I would now have the operating system and programs back to the equivalent of the old hard drive as of December 2007. I would then update the files to the current date.

Unfortunately, I got the same error message.

I then formatted the new hard drive and installed Windows XP on it. The new drive is now the Master Hard Drive, and the Old drive (with the problem)is the slave. I can access all of the files on the slave.

The old drive has not been restored with a backup. The backup is on an external drive, and I can not see it running in safe mode.

I have tried several "fixes" on the old drive and have had some success. I no longer get the error message. The old hard drive tries to load Windows XP but reboots before it gets to the welcome screen.

Is the loading of drivers the only difference between running in "normal" and "safe mode"?

If I can boot the old drive in safe mode, does that mean that the boot sector is not the problem?

The only reason that I would like to fix the old hard drive is that I have some software that was downloaded and now unable to obtain replacement.

Thanks ....

As Windows XP backup is not an image backup it would not restore your programs. Only data.

If you wanted your programs restored you would have needed an image backup. This creates an exact copy/clone of a drive. Windows XP backup does not do this but only backs up your data and settings.

The difference between "normal" & "safe" is purely drivers.

When you start the computer do you get a choice of which XP to boot? If so the boot sector should not be an issue but it is probably on your new drive.

You can try a Repair Install of XP on your old drive which, if successful, will retain your programs. This would need to be a different Product Key version of XP as you cannot run two off the same Key.

I reinstalled the problem hard drive and installed a more recent (June 2009) backup onto the problem hard drive. This backup was an image backup created using Norton Ghost.

The computer will bootup in "safe mode" but will not bootup in "normal mode". The computer gets to the loading windows screen but reboots before the welcome screen.

Thinking that something in the start up might be causing the problem, I changed the "start up" to only load the necessary services and drivers. No change.... the problem is the same.

During the bootup process I have a choice of the following:

Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional Edition

There is only one operating system on the hard drive. Why does the computer think there are two operating systems?

Could something be loading in the start up that is causing this problem.

Have you tried both choices?

The backup could have created the new choice.

Anytime you attempt to install an OS it will add to the Boot Sector.

If need be this can be adjusted using the Recovery Console option of BOOTCFG or boot configuration.

Anyway have you tried both options?

I have tried both choices. The end results are the same.

Are you saying that a backup does not overwrite the boot sector?

The computer will boot to safe mode. I assume that different instructions are being used for safe mode.

I have modified and rebuilt the Boot.ini file.
I ran CHKDSK/R/F
I ran FIXBOOT

I believe that somehow the instructions are getting changed. I ran a virus scan while the problem drive was setup as a slave. Is it possible that the boot sector on the slave did not get scanned?