RECAP: 1) Burning DVD on friday when computer beeps several times (temps and fans were okay). 2) System re-boots and gives the NTLDR is missing error. 3) System will not boot from anything but a floppy. 4) Removed battery and power cord overnight 5) Next day, system would freeze at desktop during boot to SATA RAID, but would boot from cdrom. 6) Saved all files from SATA and IDE RAIDS. 7) Restored System and Program Files from SATA RAID to PATA. Still froze at desktop during boot process on PATA drive. 8) New install of WinXP on blank PATA drive successful.
This is (I hope) the final post on the problem that started last Friday. Over the weekend, I completely dismantled the computer in an effort to identify the location of the problem. After some headway yesterday (a new install of Win XP on a clean drive worked without any issue), I decided to try a repair install of Win XP on the SATA RAID that previously would not boot without freezing after displaying the desktop. A PATA drive with a restored image of the SATA RAID had the same problem. I re-assembled the system and let it boot to the SATA RAID. IT WORKED! It has been operating without issue (knock on wood) for over 4 hours. I tried burning the same disk that I was working on last Friday when the problems began, and it worked. I am at a complete loss as the the cause of this weekend of problems and inconsistencies. If anyone has some insight, please share. If not, thanks for listening and for the hints ans suggestions you have provided during this ordeal. Jim Maki [EMAIL PROTECTED]
