URGENT - Help Needed with TOTAL System Restore

Sorry for the duplicate posting form the other forum, but I'm in a really bad
situation.

I am very diligent about doing a nightly full system backup. I backup to an
external USB drive using Retrospect HD. This software does a progressive
nightly backup of my ENTIRE hardrive, including the operating system.

Two days ago my hard drive crashed. I've installed a new hard drive and
installed the version of XP-Pro that shipped with my Dell desktop about 3
years ago. My plan was to install just the OS and then install my backup
software and use it to reinstall everything from my backup drive. I was
hoping that my backup would overwrite the version of XP with my most recent
backed up version, along with all my programs, data, and settings.

Here's the problem.

I've gone through the process 3 times of reinstalling XP, and then restoring
all of my backed up data. All my data appears to be present -- I can see all
of the files on the system after they are reinstalled, BUT the system will
not boot from the new hard drive after I power down. I get the following
error message:

"Windows could not start because of a hardware configuration problem. Could
not read from the selection boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.

Please check the Windows documentation about hardware dis configuration and
your hardware reference manuals for additional information."

At this point my system get's stuck in a loop and XP will not load. The only
place I can get to is the BIOS. I have confired that my new hard drive is set
to the Primary Master drive.

I'd really hate to have to reinstall all of my programs, settings, etc.
manually. I feel like I'm so close to getting this right , but I'm missing
something.

Was I incorrect to think that simply restoring all of my data would override
the basic installation of XP?

I've been messing with this for 2 days and I'm about to pull my hair out.
ANY suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help--

Signed,

Desperate


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: back up program on XP
    ... Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional, ... reinstall Windows. ... application updates,you have to locate and install all the needed ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: URGENT - Help Needed with TOTAL System Restore
    ... I am very diligent about doing a nightly full system backup. ... My plan was to install just the OS and then install my backup ... "Windows could not start because of a hardware configuration problem. ... I'd really hate to have to reinstall all of my programs, settings, etc. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Drive upgrade advice please
    ... Moreover, if you just reinstall ... Definitely make a new backup after it's running ... right, WHILE it's running right, and before you restore ... do a complete install again unless you want to. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Need advice re crash protection
    ... Yup, though for best results, you would have made a backup right after ... patches in case you do need to reinstall. ... That would be a good way to back up a fresh install once everything's ... Seagate ships software with their external drives that allow you to press ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Need advice re crash protection
    ... Yup, though for best results, you would have made a backup right after ... patches in case you do need to reinstall. ... That would be a good way to back up a fresh install once everything's ... Seagate ships software with their external drives that allow you to press ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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