# Computer problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248 "2009-01-07T18:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/1 "2009-01-07T18:14:50Z")
I recently bought a new 1TB drive for my media center computer since the 250GB one was pretty much full. Since I don’t have any ghosting software, I figured I’d just install the new drive alongside the old one, install windows on it, and then move all my files from the old drive to the new drive. Which is what I did. The problem is that when I take the old drive out, the computer won’t boot. (NTDLR missing, ctrl + alt + del to restart) What I figure happened is that the bootloader that asks me to select which windows xp i want to load when I turn the computer on is stuck on the old drive. How do I make the new drive bootable? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/2 "2009-01-07T18:29:18Z")
This is a known issue with Vista’s install. It writes something to the other drives that it requires. I solved it the easy way: I made sure no other hard disks or USB drives where on, installed vista again, then re-attached any other drives AFTER I ran vista and updated it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/3 "2009-01-07T18:32:53Z")
Download xxclone and use the Cool Tools utilities on it. Use the option Make Bootable to fix your new drive. [xxclone](http://www.xxclone.com/) Bonus this does a wonderful job of copying your OS to a new drive. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/4 "2009-01-07T19:24:15Z")
> [@Nunavut\_Boy](#): > > What I figure happened is that the bootloader that asks me to select which windows xp i want to load when I turn the computer on is stuck on the old drive. How do I make the new drive bootable? This is almost certainly exactly correct. Remove the old drive, reinstall Windows on the 1 TB drive, reinstall the old drive (better, put it in an external USB caddy), and copy the data across, then remove the old drive again and put it to one side as a backup, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/5 "2009-01-07T19:54:49Z")
To add Make Bootable adds all the necessary changes including the boot loader. It’s much easier than using the OS boot cd and command line instructions to fix your problem. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/6 "2009-01-07T21:00:28Z")
Unplug the old disk and boot to the Vista CD. When you get to the install screen there’s an option at the bottom left to “Repair your computer.” It will run a wizard that will automatically repair boot problems. Plug the old drive back in. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/7 "2009-01-07T22:45:41Z")
xxclone worked perfectly. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem/480248/8 "2009-01-07T22:53:37Z")
> [@Nunavut\_Boy](#): > > xxclone worked perfectly. Thanks! Your welcome.