Urgent: ok, here is the story, i got a new hard drive, swapped it out with the old one, installed xp, got all the updates, set the drive to master, set the old one to slave, start computer, all is fine.

I attempt to create a multiboot and read about converting the drives to dynamic instead of basic(i think thats what killed my drive) i still cannot get the multi boot to work (i've been using the method of editing the boot.ini) when i select the old os in the boot menu, the computer restarts, i tried in safemode for that os, and it also restarts. the only os that works correctly is the one on the new hd(master).
I have tried to use the single drive(old one) by it's self and it boots up saying "no OS found, please insert a os disk" all the files are present on the disk, i am just wanting to be able to access the drive so i can remove the setting of denying access of other users so i can access my old files. the files on the old drive have alot of pictures and files that have sentimental value, and also inportant papers so a re-format is out of the question(on the old drive). my number one concern is to be able to access thos files. i think the best method of this would be to access the other disk's os and log in and remove the access restriction.
please help

Thank you in advance

Canada_Comp, your situation sounds pretty close to mine when I switched from ME to XP.
I formerly ran ME and when I switched, kept the old HDD as a slave. The process of making the drive a slave blocked access to the OS. As I understand it, ME's still there and all I need do if I wanna get to it is to remove the current 'C' drive, swap the jumper back on the old drive, reinstall it physically, et voila.
Never tried it, but ...
HTH.
Ed in Texas.

Before going into trials/tribulations too deeply... clarify what OS is one original drive; also post the boot.ini (as is at present) here...

I think you are correct about creating dynamic drives killing your system. Try another install, but do not use dynamic drives. If you are going to create a dual OS system, I don't think you want dynamic drives.

Do yourself a favor BACKUP!!!

Hello all
Ed: i have tried that, and it says "Error: OS not found, Please insert an os disk"

trvlr:both drives are running windows XP SP2
i have removed the line on the boot ini for the second drive, but heres what it was:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

another install.. as in format? because i do not want to do that due to the data that is presently on the original drive

It would be good to read... especially the MS caveat/warning in red part way down the page...

http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_10.htm

and this is M$-KB from which that caveat came...

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314343

Pending furthe research etc. by various... as you already have realised... do not reformat or otherwise play with the problem drive. Leave it as and there may be some way to get the contents off...

Dynamic drives are not something I have played with...; so it's learning curve for me too...

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/suse-linux-help/37428-reading-xp-dynamic-drive.html

discusses one solution to a similar situation; it refers to using susie-linux... I think you might achieve the same end result using Knoppix (linux on a CD)?

Thank you all for your fast replies.
i have reformatyted the new hard drive and it is now a basic drive. unfortuneately microsoft kb did not say to back up the data before converting on the article i read. i dont have linux, so that is out of the question.

The number one thing i need to do is to remove the data lock on my old account on the old drive so i am able to access my documents and settings folder. is there any way to remove this lock or bypass it?

There isn't a lock. With your new install you have a new sid. Your new sid doesn't match the sid stamped on the files so you get access denied.

Solution is logon as admin or equal and TAKE OWNERSHIP of all files and folders of the old hard drive. You'll find this on the security tab /advanced. Remember to check the box for inheritance.

You can not make a multiboot just by editin the boot.ini. Did you forget your former drive was installed as c: and when moved to slave is now d:? There is like 4000 registry entries that deal with pointers by drive letter.

If you want to multiboot both XP OS's run a repair install on the slave drive [as slave]. This will correct the registry entries and add the correct entry to the boot.ini.

Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Suggest they internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

Setting an originally Master drive (with a member of the NT OS family installed) to Slave posn. will not prevent it booting as now (via a boot.ini entry that reflects the change of rdisk status...). It will still come up as C:\whatever... too.

The path statements for the NT family are in the registry; this is consulted during boot-up and all goes on as before... (unlike the dos/'9x/ME) systems). Move a drive with any of that latter (dos-based) group around and you "will" have path problems...

Providing he can access/see the drive in its present state of affairs I agree that taking ownership "ought" to allow him to gain access etc. to contents.

However I get the impression he can't actually access the drive - let alone get to its contents; or am I misreadng him in that regard?

The susie-linux "hack" may be one viable way to access those files etc.; and the Knoppis (linux on a CD) util may allow it - using the susie-linux method?

Sadly this is yet another classic example of folks playing around - legitimately experimenting etc. - without taking adequate precautions first - as regards data etc.; and perhaps not really researching the how/why of a given experiment or change etc... before going ahead with it? If we went along that route in my profession... we'd be off the air/out of business...

security tab/advanced on what item(hard disk, folder?) and how to get to that state?

let me reword that, can you please provide steps for taking ownership?

If your XP is pro, it's easier but if it's XP Home you need to boot to safe mode to take ownership. (CLICK ME) to read the procedures.

i_XpUser

Thank you all for your help. that was exactly what i needed to do, take ownership. thank you all very much for your time and help along with the extremely fast replies, all my documents are now accessable and safe. i have learned a vaer valuable lesson of backing up every month as opposed to every season change. thank you!