cant boot into Windows

I have a hard drive from my previous computer with Win XP and all programs and files(NTFS) on.I want to attach this to my present comp and exract files etc.I have tried connecting as a slave and as a master but although the bios sees the drive I cannot get windows to load.The present system also has WIN XP and NTFS.It will get to the boot options screen showing Safe Mode etc ,I have tried starting normally and in safe mode but the comp just reboots as soon as I press enter.Obviously both drives are set to active but should that matter as one is set to slave.
My system is:
Celeron 1000
512 ram
Win XP
30 Gb hard drive

 

I believe you have to do a "repair install" on the hard drive...it installed XP with the hardware specs of your other pc (motherboard etc)

 

Thank you for your very quick reply Komodo25,I do not understand what a repair install is.Also,how would one go about it when I cant get windows up?

 

Do as what you would do if your doing a "fresh install" of xp. put your xp disk in the drive...restart....when it says on the screen "press any key to boot from cd"

First screen should should be hit Enter to install windows...2nd screen..agree...then on the 3rd you should have the option of eith "repair" press R and fresh press enter...press R

 

oh almost forgot...set the drive that came from the other pc as master and unhook the other untill this is finished...this way theres no conflict

 

Everything went as you said until the recovery console asked for the admin password, I never use one as I'm the only person who uses this comp.So it looks as if it's a format job.Thank you again for your help.

 

Sorry. no fool like an old fool,and I AM old! Further to my problem,the advice that I got was great but didn't mention why I cant see the old drive as a slave,it doesnt need to know about the MoBo or does it?

 

Have you checked the jumpers on the back of each hard drive. They need to be set both as 'Cable Select' or if that doesn't work one as 'Master' and one as 'Slave'.

Your hard drive from the old PC must be the slave drive - WinXP will not boot from this drive in the new machine as all the settings are based on the old PC. However you should be able to boot WinXP on your new drive and access the old drive as slave. I see no need to do a Repair install based on the facts you have given. (I assume your new PC works fine when the old hard drive is not connected to it?)