Lengthy but challenging software problem

i ran malwarebytes on a pc that was running winxp. the drive was created from a registered version (no oe disc), that ran out of size.

moved info on OS to new larger gig drive using x clone. ran well for 2 years.

last week i was running a virus scan (malwarebytes), and when i deleted the checked virus files it took the drive with it ( I THOUGHT). The PC would boot but stop at black screen with blinking cursor top left.

I installed the original smaller drive and booted up, using the corrupted drive as a slave.
Using explorer; all files are listed and uncorrupted on the slave drive.

I am migrating piecemeal to another pc, running Vista Home Premium, all the files, I need, but I would like to correct the drive that has all the trouble,since the migration is a copy and paste process, it is tedious, Plus the drive
is serviceable.
Hopefully, I don't have to reformat the reinstall and OS, as many of the files will be not usable (I think)

any advice on what steps and what test, i should run to see if i can reboot, and correct what ever happened.

have working knowledge of PC's and real good about following instructions.

prompt reply and feedback to all advice.

thanks in advance. this forum is great.

 

thanks for your interest.

yes i have tried those suggestions.
it is as if there is no boot process, it has been erased.
I have also reversed the boot order to boot from the CD drive, and insterted the repair disk, or some other bootable disc should come up. still stays as black screen, no action.

 

Others with more experience on this. Please read the post so I'm not going way off base to yuk up his computer.

I had a few thoughts on this. Years ago. Win 95 & 98 you would create a boot disk to replace damaged-missing boot files. Other choice was to put in the start up disk. Get to the prompt. And do a re-install with out a disk. Usings the Windows/options/cab on changing the directory after each was entered into the prompt. Get to W/O/P you would type install or setup. Had to go thru the steps for it to work. Xp has them in the C:\I386 folder.

If he had only the small drive that boots up. Would he be able to make a boot disk from it. -> http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

Then install just the larger drive thats not booting up and use the boot disk to help it boot from the C/D drive 1st? Might be a bios setting to do it 1st.

Other thought was make the smaller working drive master, larger ( non-bootable) a slave. Then use the booting up smaller drive thats working. Go to my computer. Right click on going in my computer on the non-bootable D drive, larger one, to go to propertys. Then use tools to put the check in both boxes on error checks on that drive? Or error check both C and D? Click on start. Get the error message that windows needs to re-start to do it. Restart ad if you get the windows is checking the drives. Before booting to windows. C drive acsessing d drive to correct D. Once done. Try using larger D drive as the master without the smaller C drive. Might help.